1831.3 Passages from the Life <)j' Frederick IVcllbiirg. 635 



female of the lower class, the hood being drawn around her face so as 

 effectually to conceal its features ; and as she entered with a hurried 

 step, and advanced toAvards the open window, the painter rose from his 

 seat half-alarmed. She threw herself upon the vacant chair, and pro- 

 ceeded to unloose the coarse garment in which she was attired. — " How 

 now. Sir painter !" she exclaimed, when she had shaded the dark tresses 

 from her eyes — " methinks there is small occasion for your weapon here, 

 unless you wish to practise attitude for your morning's study. — Ay — 

 there now — that is well ; a smooth brow and a smile are sweeter for a 

 lady's Avelcome than those tragedy-looks. — Heigho !" 



" Pardon me, gentle lady ; 1 was not prepared for this unexpected 

 pleasure." 



" Doubtless, fair sir," interrupted the lady ; " and, therefore, Adeline 

 di Venuto will do well to announce her coming by the bell of the cathe- 

 dral, in case she should again have occasion to intrude upon the leisure 

 of the most renowned painter, Frederick Wellburg !" 



" The daughter of his patron needs scarcely use so much ceremony 

 with the illustrious painter you mention." 



" Santa-IVIaria ! you grow complimentary, Mr. Wellburg," replied the 

 lady, hastily. " Is it your pleasure to finish the colouring you spoke of? 

 For, in that case, metliinks you will require a somewhat brighter light 

 than this dusky atmosphere can supply." 



" If you have visited my poor dwelling for that purpose, I shall cer^ 

 tainly " 



*' If! Sir painter ! — methinks Adeline di Venuto would scarcely have 

 visited you for any other purpose — except, indeed, it were to furnish an 

 hour's scolding for her trusty duenna, whose tongue, you are aware, 

 needs no such provocative." Wellburg was about to comply with her 

 request, when she checked him ; and a smile of mingled playfulness and 

 feeling beamed upon her face as she gazed upon the changing features 

 of the confused painter. — " Softly, softly !" she added, in an insinuating 

 tone ; " suppose that, after all, I did not come hithe" to be scanned by 

 thy beauty-seeking eyes, and have every feature jotted down by thine 

 immortalizing pencil .''" 



" In that case," replied the painter, whilst a glow of mingled pride 

 and enthusiasm passed his brow — " in that case, lady " 



" You would do — what ? Worship me, I dare say, and stammer a 

 little, and conclude by being ' very proud !' — an old tale, Mr. Well- 

 burg !" 



The painter bowed with an expression of proud humility, as he replied 

 to her half-sarcastic speech, " I might be proud that the Lady Adeline 

 should visit me, whatever were her purpose ; but presumption has never 

 been reckoned amongst the number of my failings." 



" Heyday ! what a romantic monster have we here ! — But I have 

 offended you, and I came not hither for so wicked a purpose. Yet 

 wherefore did I come }" She seemed to startle at her own question, 

 which burst from her lips with an energy unequal to the outward import 

 of the words. Wellburg caught the glance of her eye at that moment; 

 and his heart revelled with a sudden emotion which himself scarcely 

 dared to understand. It was not hope — for the love of one so far above 

 his rij)liL're was a dream too wild even for ///.v tntlmsiastic nature ; and 

 yet, as she had sat before him oftentimes during the progress of hi?? 



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