154 FATHER AND CHILD. 



their simple breakfast, ever and anon, in the midst of his 

 occupations, going to listen at his daughter's chamber door. 

 "How soundly she is sleeping," whispered he; "but hark! 

 there's the Annunciata striking six ; we're to be on board by 

 seven ; so wake her I must." 



He tapped gently louder more loudly. "Bianca! Bi- 

 anca ! wilt thou never awake?" 



A death-like silence answered, and something of chilling 

 augury smote upon the old man's heart, even before he 

 opened the door, and saw that the room was tenantless the 

 bed unruffled. 



Then he ran wildly forth calling as wildly on his child. 

 The early chirp of the birds in the garden and the olive 

 grove was his sole response. 



But he soon found her, and he (poor miserable old man !) 

 was soon found with her, sitting under the half-dead olive 

 tree ; her head supported on his knees, and he smiling in 

 childish vacuity, as he tried to disengage her luxuriant hair 

 from the clots of blood which confined it. 



The father and his child were thus discovered by two 

 mariners, sent by the master of the galley to summon his 

 expected passengers, and assist in taking on board their 

 luggage. 



Whilst one of the seamen remained with old Jacopo, who 

 would neither move from the body of his daughter, nor allow 

 it to be touched, the other hastened to the palazzo, with 



