A LAST LOOK. 197 



the cottage, all, with itself, to be left behind. He almost 

 felt as if he were about to part with everything he loved even 

 his darling child though she was to be the companion of his 

 exile. Not only was he sad, but also weary with preparations 

 for departure ; and that he might be all the fresher for the 

 morrow, Bianca persuaded him (after one last look from 

 between the olive trees at the illuminated city, and after they 

 had offered up together their evening orisons) to repair early 

 to his bed. With one hand clasped in his, she sat beside him, 

 till he fell into a quiet sleep; then kneeling by the bedside 

 implored the Divine blessing on their morrow's voyage, and 

 the change it was to bring them ; and she prayed, also, that 

 no guilty repinings no vain regrets connected with one 

 left behind, should ever disincline her to the cheerful per- 

 formance of her duties, those especially she owed to him, her 

 kind old father. On rising, she gently kissed his forehead, 

 and treading lightly, left the chamber, meaning presently to 

 seek her own. 



Ah, Bianca ! which of the sweetest enticements of that 

 Midsummer night could break thy purpose, and lure thee to 

 go forth? Was it the evening breeze whispering among the 

 trees close by, or the distant murmur of the placid sea ? Was 

 it the breath of the evening-scented flowers, or the shouts of 

 revelry rising from the illumined city ? It was none of these ; 

 but it was an impulse, sudden, irrresistible, which urged her to 

 take one last, one little look at that dear garden, where she 

 had been used to play, and not alone always, in her childhood. 

 From the garden three minutes would take her through the 

 olive grove, and give her a parting glimpse just only one of 

 the terrace walk beyond, that walk connected with remem- 

 brances more recent and more dear than all. But one thought 

 made her hesitate, might she not meet him ? Oh no. 

 There was that night, at the Palazzo of the Marchese, a grand 

 masked ball in honour of the evening's festival, and also of 

 the approaching bridal. The ducal family of Doria was to be , 



