remains of one whom so much you honoured and revered !"

"I WARRANT it does, Signiora, for that matter; it is a noble one, I am sure, and a pity it is that it should ever meet a cross or disappointment."

"TRUE, my good girl; and it is a sad one, to return in the hope of being pressed to the tender breast of a parent, and then find that breast chill and senseless."

"AYE; I remember I thought so, Signiora," replied Laurentine, "when my Lady gave me leave to go to Naples to see mine: when I got to the door, my poor mother was a corpse: yet I did not mean that kind of disappointment either, Signiora; I meant love; B 4

'tis

'tis the hardest thing of all to be crost that way."

"LOVE!" said Viola, blushing; "love! is the Signior in love, Laurentine ?"

So Marco tells me, Signiora," answered the girl; "indeed its only what I used to think myself; and if I thought you would not be angry, I'd tell you all about it."

"On no," said Viola, who determined to feel callous to every thing she heard, "I cannot now be hurt at any thing."

"WHY then, Signiora," said Laurentine, who now thinking herself a person of importance, took her seat

near

near the table, I'll tell you all; but, Santa Marie! I forgot you've had no breakfast."

"Nor do I want any," replied Viola, in a broken voice; "I must learn to feed on sorrow."

"DON'T say so, Signiora," answered her companion, half sobbing; "I am sure my poor Lady would walk the castle if she thought so, though I am not such a believer in spirits as some folks." She now proceeded to inform her she had heard from Marco (who was her lover,) that the Marchese was very anxious his son should espouse a Lady at Naples, of whose father he had borrowed large sums of money; but that the Signior had declared openly his attachment to Viola, and refused to listen to the proposition. To describe

B 5

scribe what passed in the mind of Viola at this moment would be impossible; so strong was the fluctuation between despair and that pleasure which, spite of her reason and prudence, she could not resist, that she feared, even by demanding an explanation, to hazard betraying her feelings: with her looks bent on Laurentine, she seemed endeavouring to catch with her eyes, that which she thought her car was tardy in obtaining: "Good God!" she at length exclaimed, "what will become of me?"

"AVE, indeed I don't know," replied Laurentine, in a sorrowful tone; "the Marchese is like a hunted tyger, when he's put up, that's a sure thing."

VIOLA

now demanded by what

means Marco had obtained his infor

mation ?

mation? and whether she was assured of its veracity?

1

"I CANNOT doubt what Marco tells me, Signiora," returned Laurentine; "and you must know, that Marco has often heard the Signior talk of you to himself, and call upon your name so pitifully, that he declares it used to melt his heart to hear him; and so Marco, who adores his master, and between you and I, Signiora, hates the Marchese, went with the carriage to fetch them from the Conte's; and when they returned, after the assembly, my Lord and the Signior had high words; and the door standing open, and Marco waiting in the hall for orders, could not help going a little nearer, and there he heard the Signior di Albenza declare, that he never would any other woman but you, Sig

have

niora ;