ITALIAN FIKE-FLIES. 141 



blue, and shining forth in regal splendour, there are stars of 

 the earth radiant galaxies of Italian fire-flies, which, rising 

 from the low underwood, or falling from, the lofty trees, shoot 

 through the air in scintillating streams of living light. 



Away from the glare of the city, and from its noisy revelry 

 which rose at intervals on their unheeding ears, a youth and 

 maiden were wandering in the garden of one of those villa 

 palaces then numerous on the outskirts of Genoa. They were, 

 of course, lovers ; for none others, so near their scene, would 

 have been absent from that evening's festivities. The figure 

 of the young man was commanding, and correspondent with 

 his dress, which bespoke him to be of noble rank. His features 

 also were of uncommon beauty ; but an eye, well versed in the 

 lines of character, might have detected about them a certain 

 expression of weakness a wandering of the eye, and an effem- 

 inate softness of the mouth, which gave suspicion of the like 

 defects of disposition ; and one, certainly, who should have so 

 read his countenance would not have very greatly wronged 

 the character of young Marco, only son to the Marchese Bas- 

 sano, owner of the stately villa, in the grounds of which he 

 and his companion wandered. The latter was a fair girl a 

 fair Italian with eyes deeply blue, like her native skies, and 

 rich brown hair which seemed to have stolen of its golden 

 gleams. She was this, and more ; but she was not, like her 

 lover, of patrician birth, and her lowly rank was indicated both 

 by her peasant's dress and the air of simplicity ; yet, withal, 



