nsolent, cunning, and revengeful; but not, on the other
hand, without a quick susceptibility to kindness as to affront, a
natural acuteness of understanding, and a great indifference to fear.
Brought up in quiet affluence rather than luxury, and living much with
his protector, whom he knew but by the name of Ursula, his bearing was
graceful, and his air that of the well-born. And it was his carriage,
perhaps, rather than his countenance, which, though handsome, was more
distinguished for intelligence than beauty, which had attracted the
notice of the Tribune's bride. His education was that of one reared for
some scholastic profession. He was not only taught to read and write,
but had been even instructed in the rudiments of Latin. He did not,
however, incline to these studies half so fondly as to the games of his
companions, or the shows or riots in the street, into all of which
he managed to thrust himself, and from which he had always the happy
dexterity to return safe and unscathed.

The next morning Ursula entered the young Angelo's chamber. "Wear again
thy blue doublet today," said she; "I would have thee look thy best.
Thou shalt go with me to the palace."

"What, today?" cried the boy joyfully, half leaping from his bed.
"Dear dame Ursula, shall I really then belong to the train of the great
Tribune's lady?"

"Yes; and leave the old woman to die alone! Your joy becomes you,--but
ingratitude is in your blood. Ingratitude! Oh, it has burned my heart
into ashes--and yours, boy, can no longer find a fuel in the dry
crumbling cinders."

"Dear dame, you are always so biting. You know you said you wished to
retire into a convent, and I was too troublesome a charge for you. But
you delight in rebuking me, justly or unjustly."

"My task is over," said Ursula, with a deep-drawn sigh.

The boy answered not; and the old woman retired with a heavy step,
and, it may be, a heavier heart. When he joined her in their common
apartment, he observed what his joy had previously blinded him to--that
Ursula did not wear her usual plain and sober dress. The gold chain,
rarely assumed then by women not of noble birth--though, in the
other sex, affected also by public functionaries and wealthy
merchants--glittered upon a robe of the rich flowered stuffs of Venice,
and the clasps that confined the vest at the throat and waist were
adorned with jewels of no common price.

Angelo's eye was struck by the change, but he felt a more man