1829. ] Mine Ilost’s Last Story. 247 
« My dear friend: I have lost no opportunity of writing to you, 
anxious, as you must be, to know all that is possible about your dear 
Gianina. I will proceed, in order of time, to relate all that has happened 
since our departure from Syracuse. On the morning of making sail, I 
was too unwell to remain long on deck, and so betook myself to my cot, 
though the weather was tolerably fine, until the evening. Being then 
seized with an oppressive thirst, I called lustily for some wine and water, 
or coffee, or whatever else their stores would afford me. A gruff voice 
answered that my boy would bring me something. Not fully hearing, 
and not at all understanding this speech, I was yet too indolent to de- 
mand an explanation; and accordingly waited until a little fellow in 
the common dress of a servant, brought me a glass of acqua vita and 
water. He handed the glass to me, spilling some of its contents ; and as 
he delivered the rest, he laid his soft gentle hand upon mine, and uttered 
the word ‘Hush!’ in a low and well-remembered voice.—It was your 
daughter! I sprang from my bed, and in a few minutes we were 
together in an unobserved corner of the deck, where she explained the 
mystery of being there and thus detected. She said, that hearing of my 
intended departure, she felt her spirit breaking ; and fully convinced that 
flight with me, or madness if left, was her alternative, she determined to 
abandon her kindred for my sake, trusting implicitly in my honour, and 
content if she might remain as she then was—my menial servant! She 
had gazed beneath the rising moon to the point where lay hid her quiet 
home, but she smiled as she looked upwards at me, and said that her 
world was there! I will not tire you with a narrative of feelings that 
are now past, or a statement of plans which fate has marked out for me. 
I ask your blessing on our nuptials ; they will be consummated as soon 
as we are permitted to land ; but this place is in a state of consternation 
from the appearance of their old malady, and if it continue, I know not 
what we shall do, for no seaport will receive vessels coming hence.—She 
is in perfect health, and cheerful as she used to be in her own happy 
home. I cannot express all I feel towards you; to Madelena what shall 
I say ?>—Adieu !” 
« After this letter, we did not hear for a long time. The next thing 
that came was the intelligence that he had fallen ill of the fever, and that 
no entreaty could keep her from him. She watched him most carefully 
to the end of his disorder, and was providentially guarded against it her- 
self. Upon his recovery they were united according to the ceremonies 
of both churches—for she would not forsake that of her forefathers— 
‘and not long after took ship and returned to Sicily. When we received 
them, we were all struck with the falling off of poor Gianina’s looks, 
partly from exhaustion during his illness, partly from the voyage ; but 
more than all, I fear, from a suspicion that he had married her on a 
point of honour, rather than from love, and the constant and nervous 
solicitude to win his heart by acts of kindness done at any personal risk 
or sacrifice. Yet, to do him justice, he never displayed any thing less 
~ than an unbounded and genuine affection for his little wife. Whatever 
might be defective, arose perhaps from the greatness of her ambition to 
be loved, or was traced by those little indications which are felt only by 
the principals in such cases. As for her sister, all jealousy towards her 
was now out of the question. She was about to be espoused in a few 
days to a substantial merchant of Palermo, and so seldom was she out of 
' the company of her promesso sposo, that my English son had no means, 
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