cousin."

"I can wait. I am patient when with thee, dearest Gessina."

"Hist!--'Tis my cousin's step. Thou canst go in."

While she spoke, a small bell rang, and the Bravo withdrew into the
inner room, like one accustomed to that place of retreat. He left the
door ajar--for the darkness of the closet sufficiently concealed his
person. In the meantime Gelsomina opened the outer door for the
admission of her visitor. At the first sound of the latter's voice,
Jacopo, who had little suspected the fact from a name which was so
common, recognised the artful daughter of the wine-seller.

"Thou art at thy ease, here, Gelsomina," cried the latter, entering and
throwing herself into a seat, like one fatigued. "Thy mother is better,
and thou art truly mistress of the house."

"I would I were not, Annina; for I am young to have this trust, with
this affliction."

"It is not so insupportable, Gessina, to be mistress within doors, at
seventeen! Authority is sweet, and obedience is odious."

"I have found neither so, and I will give up the first with joy,
whenever my poor mother shall be able to take command of her own family
again."

"This is well, Gessina, and does credit to the good father confessor.
But authority is dear to woman, and so is liberty. Thou wast not with
the maskers yesterday, in the square?"

"I seldom wear a disguise, and I could not quit my mother."

"Which means that thou would'st have been glad to do it. Thou hast a
good reason for thy regrets, since a gayer marriage of the sea, or a
braver regatta, has not been witnessed in Venice since thou wast born.
But the first was to be seen from thy window?"

"I saw the galley of state sweeping towards the Lido, and the train of
patricians on its deck; but little else."

"No matter. Thou shalt have as good an idea of the pageant as if thou
had'st played the part of the Doge himself. First came the men of the
guard with their ancient dresses--"

"Nay, this I remember to have often seen; for the same show is kept from
year to year."

"Thou art right; but Venice never witnessed such a brave regatta! Thou
knowest that the first trial is always between gondolas of many oars,
steered by the best esteemed of the canals. Luigi was there, and though
he did not win, he more than merited success, by the manner in which he
directed his boat. Thou knowest Luigi?"

"I scarce know any in Venice, Annina; for the long illness of my mother,
and this unhappy office of m