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The future, that sweet world which is hope's own, Lay fair before."Anon.

now became the land of promise to the Carraras; their youthful connexion with the nieces of Cardinal Mazarin might have encouraged the most ambitious hopes; but they knew too little of the world to be worldly: Guido dwelt only on the thought that he should again see Marie Mancini; and Francesca remembered that it was so much nearer England. Her expectations were, however, of a more subdued kind—the very depth of a woman's affection casts its own shadow, and love and fear are with her twin-born. With a natural sensitiveness, she exaggerated dangers, and with natural timidity mistrusted the effects of absence. Months had passed away, and she had heard nothing of Evelyn. Alas! how many old stories had she been told of change and falsehood!