anna, my troubles are at an end."

"To tell you the truth, Signor Pasquale," said Salvator, "if one did
not know you to be a serious man, of great intelligence, very well
aware what is suitable to his advanced period of life, one would be
disposed to fancy that you were idiot enough to be in love with this
niece of yours (a child of sixteen) yourself."

The old man closed his eyes again, and groaned and lamented over the
terrible sufferings he was enduring, which had returned with double
force.

The morning-red came streaming through the window. Antonio told the old
gentleman it was time to take him to his own house in Strada Ripetta.
He answered with a deep, melancholy sigh. Salvator and Antonio lifted
him out of bed, and wrapped him in a large cloak of Dame Caterina's,
which had been her husband's. The old gentleman implored, for the love
of all the saints, that the shameful ice-cloths which were upon his
bald head should be taken away, and that he should wear his periwig and
plumed hat; also that Antonio should, as far as possible, arrange his
moustaches, so that Marianna should not be too much alarmed by his
appearance. Two bearers, with a litter, were waiting at the door. Dame
Caterina, continually scolding at the old gentleman, and quoting
proverbs plentifully, brought down bedding, in which, carefully packed,
and attended by Salvator and Antonio, he was got home to his own house.

When Marianna saw her uncle in this terrible condition, she gave a loud
cry, and a flood of tears burst from her eyes. Without paying any
attention to her lover, who was present, she took the old man's hands,
pressed them to her lips, and lamented over the sad misfortune which
had befallen him. Such was this good girl's compassion for the old
fellow who tortured her with his insane fondness for her. All the same
the inborn nature of woman within her displayed itself, for a few
significant looks of Salvator's were amply sufficient to let her
understand the whole position of matters. It was only then that she
gave a stolen glance at the happy Antonio, blushing deeply as she did
so, and it was marvellous to see how a somewhat roguish smile
victoriously dispelled her tears. On the whole, Salvator had never
thought that she was so delightful, so wonderfully lovely
(notwithstanding the Magdalene picture) as he now found her actually to
be. And whilst he almost envied Antonio his good fortune, he felt
doubly the necessity of getting the po