getically,
after Bernardo had been silent a little while. "It is less like him now
than the image I have in my mind, but then that might fade with the
years." She rested her arm on the old man's shoulder as she spoke,
drawn towards him strongly by their common interest in the dead.

"I don't know," said Bernardo. "I almost think I see Bardo as he was
when he was young, better than that picture shows him to me as he was
when he was old. Your father had a great deal of fire in his eyes when
he was young. It was what I could never understand, that he, with his
fiery spirit, which seemed much more impatient than mine, could hang
over the books and live with shadows all his life. However, he had put
his heart into that."

Bernardo gave a slight shrug as he spoke the last words, but Romola
discerned in his voice a feeling that accorded with her own.

"And he was disappointed to the last," she said, involuntarily. But
immediately fearing lest her words should be taken to imply an
accusation against Tito, she went on almost hurriedly, "If we could only
see his longest, dearest wish fulfilled just to his mind!"

"Well, so we may," said Bernardo, kindly, rising and putting on his cap.
"The times are cloudy now, but fish are caught by waiting. Who knows?
When the wheel has turned often enough, I may be Gonfaloniere yet before
I die; and no creditor can touch these things." He looked round as he
spoke. Then, turning to her, and patting her cheek, said, "And you need
not be afraid of my dying; my ghost will claim nothing. I've taken care
of that in my will."

Romola seized the hand that was against her cheek, and put it to her
lips in silence.

"Haven't you been scolding your husband for keeping away from home so
much lately? I see him everywhere but here," said Bernardo, willing to
change the subject.

She felt the flush spread over her neck and face as she said, "He has
been very much wanted; you know he speaks so well. I am glad to know
that his value is understood."

"You are contented then, Madonna Orgogliosa?" said Bernardo, smiling, as
he moved to the door.

"Assuredly."

Poor Romola! There was one thing that would have made the pang of
disappointment in her husband harder to bear; it was, that any one
should know he gave her cause for disappointment. This might be a
woman's weakness, but it is closely allied to a woman's nobleness. She
who willingly lifts up the veil of her married life has profa