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142 that the Signora da Carrara looks fatigued. Albert, will you call her attendants?"

"Yes," replied the youth, "And light her myself through all our endless galleries."

Tears rose to Francesca's eyes at even this slight mark of kindness. Albert noticed them, for long indulgence had not yet wrought its usual work of hardness and indifference; and, taking her hand kindly in his, he said, as he led her along, "We are all very new and strange to you now; but we shall be such friends soon! Good night, my sweet sister."

Francesca felt too much to speak: but her grateful look gave Albert more pleasure than any words. Almost immediately dismissing her attendant, she sat down in a large carved oaken settle that was drawn close by the hearth, where the wood-fire threw a multitude of fantastic shapes in rapidly changing shadows around. It was scarcely possible to imagine a more gloomy chamber. The purple velvet curtains of the bed looked almost black in the dim light, and heavy plumes of hearse-like feathers drooped from each corner. The floor of polished wood gave no relief to the general dulness; and the walls were hung with tapestry, where the ghastly figures, large as