Page:Francesca Carrara 2.pdf/11

8 and good thoughts which I had then. Tell me, does Guido ever speak of me?"

"Nay," answered Francesca, "your pity is unavailing, even if I wished to excite it. Whatever may be Guide's emotions, to me they are holy."

Marie remained a short while in silence, and then said,—"After all, it was not my fault; circumstances threw us together, and over these circumstances I had no control. It was from no choice of my own that I was brought up in an out-of-the-way pallazzo, with nothing to do but to fall in love. Constancy, to say nothing of its not being in my nature, would in my case have been insanity. You might, but I could not pass my life among myrtles and ruins filant le parfait amour. But, come, I must show you the Queen's present;" and, first retrimming the lamp, she opened a casket, containing a lustrous set of emeralds.

"There are some pleasures in matrimony," said she, twisting her necklace round her fingers.

"How beautiful their colour is as you catch the light upon them!" exclaimed Francesca, examining the various ornaments with a very natural delight.

"It is four o'clock, I declare!" cried Marie.