PARENTAL POLICY. 147 



wise to banish their unworthy writer from her heart easy it 

 was not for the poor vine-dresser's daughter to banish her 

 young master at all times from her sight. And here was the 

 misery, if nothing worse, to live, as heretofore, within the very 

 shadow of the house, which was to be the future residence of 

 Marco and his bride, who were to abide at the Palazzo of the 

 former's father. How often had Bianca wished that she could 

 flee to some distant land, where, as she fondly but deceptively 

 believed, that if she could never quite forget him, she might 

 sometimes think of him without offence. 



Before the arrival of the present Midsummer, this, her 

 desire, seemed likely of fulfilment. Whether the old Marquis 

 had suspected something of the attachment, commenced 

 almost in childhood, between his son and Bianca, and thought 

 that the latter would now, therefore, be better at a distance ; 

 or whether it were mere accident that favoured her wish ; but 

 so it was, that the Marquis having recently (as was a com- 

 mon custom with the Genoese nobility) purchased an estate in 

 the more fruitful territory of Naples, proposed to the old vine- . 

 dresser that he should take the office of its superintendency. 

 The faithful servant, who would not for promotion have left 

 his " own people," but to whom his master's will was law, 

 urged moreover by his daughter, agreed to the proposal, and 

 they were to sail together for their new southern home in a 

 galley now at anchor in the bay. This was one of a little 

 fleet, the poor remainder of that mighty merchant squadron 



