"Nothing was said. Camillo stood before the woman who had always ruled his
soul, to whom it was still loyal. The parents stood appalled behind their
daughter. It was a wintry noon in Venice--cold and still.
"'Camillo,' said Sulpizia at length, in a tone not to be described, but
seemingly destitute of emotion--as the ocean might seem when a gale calmed
it--'he has left me.'
"Child, I have not fathomed the human heart; but after a long, long
silence my brother answered only, I know not from what feeling of duty and
of sacrifice:
"'Sulpizia, will you marry me?'
* * * * *
"Cardinal Balbo arranged the matter at Rome, and after a short time they
were married. I was the only one present with the parents of Sulpizia, who
were glad enough so to cover what they called their daughter's shame. My
mother would not come, but left Venice that very day and died abroad. The
circumstances of the marriage were not comprehended; but the old friends
of the family came occasionally to make solemn, stately visits, which my
brother scrupulously returned.
"You may believe that we enjoyed a kind of mournful peace after the dark
days of the last few years.
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