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baroness exactly resembled those old women whom Schnetz puts into the
Italian scenes of his 〃genre〃 pictures。 She was so habitually silent
that she might have been taken for another Mrs。 Shandy； but；
occasionally； a word； look； or gesture betrayed that her feelings
still retained all the vigor and the freshness of their youth。 Her
dress； devoid of coquetry； was often in bad taste。 She usually sat
passive； buried in a low sofa； like a Sultana Valide； awaiting or
admiring her Ginevra； her pride； her life。 The beauty； toilet； and
grace of her daughter seemed to have become her own。 All was well with
her if Ginevra was happy。 Her hair was white； and a few strands only
were seen above her white and wrinkled forehead； or beside her hollow
cheeks。
〃It is now fifteen days；〃 she said； 〃since Ginevra made a practice of
being late。〃
〃Jean is so slow！〃 cried the impatient old man； buttoning up his blue
coat and seizing his hat； which he dashed upon his head as he took his
cane and departed。
〃You will not get far；〃 said his wife； calling after him。
As she spoke； the porte…cochere was opened and shut； and the old
mother heard the steps of her Ginevra in the court…yard。 Bartolomeo
almost instantly reappeared； carrying his daughter； who struggled in
his arms。
CHAPTER IV
LOVE
〃Here she is； my Ginevra； Ginevrettina； Ginevrola； mia Ginevra bella！〃
cried the old man。
〃Oh； father； you hurt me！〃
Instantly Ginevra was put down with an air of respect。 She nodded her
head with a graceful movement at her mother； who was frightened by her
cry； as if to say； 〃Don't be alarmed； it was only a trick to get
away。〃
The pale； wan face of the baroness recovered its usual tones； and even
assumed a look of gayety。 Piombo rubbed his hands violently；with him
the surest symptom of joy； he had taken to this habit at court when he
saw Napoleon becoming angry with those of his generals and ministers
who served him ill or committed blunders。 When； as now； the muscles of
his face relaxed； every wrinkle on his forehead expressed benevolence。
These two old people presented at this moment precisely the aspect of
a drooping plant to which a little water has given fresh life after
long dryness。
〃Now； to dinner！ to dinner！〃 cried the baron； offering his large hand
to his daughter； whom he called 〃Signora Piombellina；〃another
symptom of gayety； to which Ginevra replied by a smile。
〃Ah ca！〃 said Piombo； as they left the table； 〃your mother has called
my attention to the fact that for some weeks you have stayed much
longer than usual at the studio。 It seems that painting is more to you
than your parents〃
〃Oh； father！〃
〃Ginevra is preparing some surprise for us； I think；〃 said the mother。
〃A picture of your own！ will you bring us that？〃 cried the Corsican；
clapping his hands。
〃Yes； I am very much occupied at the studio；〃 replied Ginevra； rather
slowly。
〃What is the matter； Ginevra？ You are turning pale！〃 cried her mother。
〃No！〃 exclaimed the young girl in a tone of resolution；〃no！ it shall
never be said that Ginevra Piombo acted a lie。〃
Hearing this singular exclamation； Piombo and his wife looked at their
daughter in astonishment。
〃I love a young man；〃 she added； in a voice of emotion。
Then； not venturing to look at her parents； she lowered her large
eyelids as if to veil the fire of her eyes。
〃Is he a prince？〃 asked her father； ironically； in a tone of voice
which made the mother quail。
〃No； father；〃 she said； gently； 〃he is a young man without fortune。〃
〃Is he very handsome？〃
〃He is very unfortunate。〃
〃What is he？〃
〃Labedoyere's comrade； he was proscribed； without a refuge； Servin
concealed him； and〃
〃Servin is a good fellow； who has done well；〃 cried Piombo； 〃but you；
my daughter； you do wrong to love any man； except your father。〃
〃It does not depend on me to love； or not to love；〃 replied Ginevra；
still gently。
〃I flattered myself；〃 continued her father； 〃that my Ginevra would be
faithful to me until I died； and that my love and that of her mother
would suffice her till then； I did not expect that our tenderness
would find a rival in her soul； and〃
〃Did I ever reproach you for your fanaticism for Napoleon？〃 said
Ginevra。 〃Have you never loved any one but me？ Did you not leave me
for months together when you went on missions。 I bore your absence
courageously。 Life has necessities to which we must all submit。〃
〃Ginevra！〃
〃No； you don't love me for myself； your reproaches betray your
intolerable egotism。〃
〃You dare to blame your father's love！〃 exclaimed Piombo； his eyes
flashing。
〃Father； I don't blame you；〃 replied Ginevra； with more gentleness
than her trembling mother expected。 〃You have grounds for your
egotism； as I have for my love。 Heaven is my witness that no girl has
ever fulfilled her duty to her parents better than I have done to you。
I have never felt anything but love and happiness where others often
see obligation。 It is now fifteen years that I have never left your
protecting wing； and it has been a most dear pleasure to me to charm
your life。 But am I ungrateful for all this in giving myself up to the
joy of loving； is it ingratitude to desire a husband who will protect
me hereafter？〃
〃What！ do you reckon benefits with your father； Ginevra？〃 said Piombo；
in a dangerous tone。
A dreadful pause then followed； during which no one dared to speak。
Bartolomeo at last broke the silence by crying out in a heart…rending
tone：
〃Oh！ stay with us！ stay with your father； your old father！ I cannot
have you love another man。 Ginevra； you will not have long to await
your liberty。〃
〃But； father； remember that I need not leave you； we shall be two to
love you； you will learn to know the man to whose care you bequeath
me。 You will be doubly cherished by me and by him；by him who is my
other self； by me who am all his。〃
〃Oh！ Ginevra； Ginevra！〃 cried the Corsican； clenching his fists； 〃why
did you not marry when Napoleon brought me to accept the idea？ Why did
you not take the counts and dukes he presented to you？〃
〃They loved me to order；〃 said the girl。 〃Besides； they would have
made me live with them； and I did not wish to leave you alone。〃
〃You don't wish to leave me alone；〃 said Piombo； 〃and yet you marry！
that is leaving me alone。 I know you； my daughter； in that case； you
would cease to love us。 Elisa；〃 he added； looking at his wife； who
remained motionless； and as if stupefied； 〃we have no longer a
daughter； she wishes to marry。〃
The old man sat down； after raising his hands to heaven with a gesture
of invoking the Divine power； then he bowed himself over as if weighed
down with sorrow。
Ginevra saw his agitation； and the restraint which he put upon his
anger touched her to the heart； she expected some violent crisis； some
ungovernable fu