They
went into the little parlor, and presently the abbess entered veiled. My
brother, who had not seen her since she was his playmate, could not pierce
the veil; and as calmly as ever told her briefly the name of his friend,
said a few generous words of him, and, rising, promised to call at sunset
for Luigi, and departed."
The Marchesa now spoke very rapidly.
"I do not well know--nobody knows--but Sulpizia raised her veil, and Luigi
adjusted his easel. He painted--they conversed--the day fled away. Sunset
came. Camillo arrived in his gondola, and Luigi came out without smiling.
The gondoliers pulled toward the city.
"'Is she beautiful?' asked Camillo.
"'Wonderful,' responded his friend, and said no more. He trailed his hands
in the water, and then wiped them across his brow. He took off his hat and
faced the evening breeze from the sea. He cried to the gondoliers that
they were lazy--that the gondola did not move. It was darting like a wind
over the water.
"The next day they returned to the island--and the next. But at sunset,
Luigi did not come to the gondola. Camillo waited, and sat until it was
quite dark. Then he went through the garden of the convent, and inquired
for the painter.
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