146 PATRICIAN AND PLEBEIAN. 



which she was now required, and, in womanly disinterestedness, 

 was ready to resign. 



And Marco ? Why, he still loved the peasant girl, as well, 

 perhaps, as ever as well as a young patrician (though sprung 

 of merchant princes) might. His heart, such as it was, was 

 still Bianca' s ; but his hand, in accordance with the desire and 

 policy of his father, had been for many months pledged, and 

 in a few days was to be given, to the beautiful and haughty 

 Beatrice, a daughter of no meaner house than that of Doria. 



' O 



With this purposed alliance, long known to all Genoa, Bianca 

 \vns of course acquainted. It was a finale to her misplaced 

 affection only such as might always, sooner or later, have been 

 looked for, and neither resentment nor jealousy embittered the 

 dispensation under which she meekly bowed, as the just and 

 inevitable penalty of her having dared to love before she knew 

 the meaning of either love or rank. In one respect, however, 

 the poor peasant girl was not wanting in strength and dignity ; 

 for she had firmly avoided, not in wounded pride, but in proud 

 yet penitent principle, all interviews with her noble lover, since 

 she had become acquainted with his purposed marriage. But 

 he had still urged her seeing him, and had even contrived 

 means of assuring her, that necessity, not choice, had driven 

 him to a union of policy, which need not, he signified, interfere 

 with one of love. His words of mockery Bianca had committed 

 unanswered to the flames, with a cheek as glowing as the 

 fire which consumed them. Whether it were easy or other- 



