Page:German Stories (Volumes 2–3).djvu/385

Rh to Venice, a young beauty had just made her appearance there, who had hitherto been educated at a distant convent, but now suddenly emerged like an angel from the clouds, and excited the admiration of the whole city. Felippo’s parents, who had heard of Clara, but looked on his adventure with her as only one of those love affairs which may be made up one day, and forgotten on the next, introduced their son to this young stranger. Camilla, for this was her name, was distinguished not only for her beauty but for her wealth and high birth. Representations were made to Felippo, what influence he might gain in the state by means of an alliance with her; the licentious gaiety of the carnival, which now drew on, favoured his addresses, and, in a short time, the recollection of his engagement at Leghorn was almost banished from his mind. His letters to Clara became always more and more cold and laboured, till her complaints of this change induced him to give up the correspondence altogether, and to make preparations as soon as possible for his marriage with the rich and very beautiful Camilla. The trembling hand, and traces of many tears which now appeared in Clara’s letters, had no effect