Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. II.djvu/445

Rh consider herself as his wife; for the capricious Princess Elsa has all at once become transformed into the good, affectionate, ministering little wife. It is very pretty and touching to see her in this new character, and I believe it to be the pleasure of this which keeps him in his easy-chair and dressing-coat a little longer than there is any absolute necessity.

“For you must not suppose that I am always going to be so very pious and good,” she ventured to say this very day, “it will only last whilst you are ill.”

“It is a very good thing to know that!” he said.

" In the mean time a drive has been ordered for him to-day, and we are all three going out in a carriage in the afternoon to take the air on the beautiful Marina of Palermo.

Whilst the lovers play at husband and wife, come to a thorough understanding of the past, and between sport and earnest, lay plans for the future—little Ella has just now formed one in case Napoleon III. conquer Piedmont and they should become poor, which is to set up a little shop and to sell, I know not what wonderful little packets—a scheme which makes him laugh immoderately. Whilst, therefore, they talk and laugh, I will relate to you, my R——, the various particulars that I have heard about this wonderful island, the gem of the Mediterranean, with Etna as its centre, the blue waves as its setting; with the legends of the giants, and those pleasant pastorals, with Hercules and Ceres as divinities; Dion, Timoleon, and Archimedes, as heroes, and Theocritus as poet; the island with the grand antiquity, and then the long middle ages, when she, like the whole of Italy, became