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mother；see them returned； see the well…known room； venimus ad
larem nostrum （We come to our own house。）； see old Gionetta
bustling at the supper； and hear Pisani； as he rouses the
barbiton from its case； communicating all that has happened to
the intelligent Familiar； hark to the mother's merry； low；
English laugh。 Why； Viola； strange child； sittest thou apart；
thy face leaning on thy fair hands； thine eyes fixed on space？
Up； rouse thee！ Every dimple on the cheek of home must smile
to…night。 （〃Ridete quidquid est domi cachinnorum。〃 Catull。 〃ad
Sirm。 Penin。〃）
And a happy reunion it was round that humble table： a feast
Lucullus might have envied in his Hall of Apollo； in the dried
grapes； and the dainty sardines； and the luxurious polenta； and
the old lacrima a present from the good Cardinal。 The barbiton；
placed on a chaira tall； high…backed chairbeside the
musician； seemed to take a part in the festive meal。 Its honest
varnished face glowed in the light of the lamp； and there was an
impish； sly demureness in its very silence； as its master；
between every mouthful； turned to talk to it of something he had
forgotten to relate before。 The good wife looked on
affectionately； and could not eat for joy； but suddenly she rose；
and placed on the artist's temples a laurel wreath； which she had
woven beforehand in fond anticipation； and Viola； on the other
side her brother； the barbiton； rearranged the chaplet； and；
smoothing back her father's hair； whispered； 〃Caro Padre； you
will not let HIM scold me again！〃
Then poor Pisani； rather distracted between the two； and excited
both by the lacrima and his triumph； turned to the younger child
with so naive and grotesque a pride； 〃I don't know which to thank
the most。 You give me so much joy； child；I am so proud of thee
and myself。 But he and I； poor fellow； have been so often
unhappy together！〃
Viola's sleep was broken；that was natural。 The intoxication of
vanity and triumph； the happiness in the happiness she had
caused； all this was better than sleep。 But still from all this；
again and again her thoughts flew to those haunting eyes； to that
smile with which forever the memory of the triumph； of the
happiness； was to be united。 Her feelings； like her own
character； were strange and peculiar。 They were not those of a
girl whose heart； for the first time reached through the eye；
sighs its natural and native language of first love。 It was not
so much admiration； though the face that reflected itself on
every wave of her restless fancies was of the rarest order of
majesty and beauty； nor a pleased and enamoured recollection that
the sight of this stranger had bequeathed： it was a human
sentiment of gratitude and delight； mixed with something more
mysterious； of fear and awe。 Certainly she had seen before those
features； but when and how？ Only when her thoughts had sought to
shape out her future； and when； in spite of all the attempts to
vision forth a fate of flowers and sunshine； a dark and chill
foreboding made her recoil back into her deepest self。 It was a
something found that had long been sought for by a thousand
restless yearnings and vague desires； less of the heart than
mind； not as when youth discovers the one to be beloved； but
rather as when the student； long wandering after the clew to some
truth in science； sees it glimmer dimly before him； to beckon； to
recede； to allure； and to wane again。 She fell at last into
unquiet slumber； vexed by deformed； fleeting； shapeless phantoms；
and； waking； as the sun； through a veil of hazy cloud； glinted
with a sickly ray across the casement； she heard her father
settled back betimes to his one pursuit； and calling forth from
his Familiar a low mournful strain； like a dirge over the dead。
〃And why；〃 she asked； when she descended to the room below；
〃why； my father； was your inspiration so sad； after the joy of
last night？〃
〃I know not； child。 I meant to be merry； and compose an air in
honour of thee； but he is an obstinate fellow； this；and he
would have it so。〃
CHAPTER 1。IV。
E cosi i pigri e timidi desiri
Sprona。
〃Gerusal。 Lib。；〃 cant。 iv。 lxxxviii。
（And thus the slow and timid passions urged。）
It was the custom of Pisani； except when the duties of his
profession made special demand on his time； to devote a certain
portion of the mid…day to sleep；a habit not so much a luxury as
a necessity to a man who slept very little during the night。 In
fact； whether to compose or to practice； the hours of noon were
precisely those in which Pisani could not have been active if he
would。 His genius resembled those fountains full at dawn and
evening； overflowing at night； and perfectly dry at the meridian。
During this time； consecrated by her husband to repose； the
signora generally stole out to make the purchases necessary for
the little household； or to enjoy （as what woman does not？） a
little relaxation in gossip with some of her own sex。 And the
day following this brilliant triumph； how many congratulations
would she have to receive！
At these times it was Viola's habit to seat herself without the
door of the house； under an awning which sheltered from the sun
without obstructing the view； and there now； with the prompt…book
on her knee； on which her eye roves listlessly from time to time；
you may behold her； the vine…leaves clustering from their arching
trellis over the door behind； and the lazy white…sailed boats
skimming along the sea that stretched before。
As she thus sat； rather in reverie than thought； a man coming
from the direction of Posilipo； with a slow step and downcast
eyes； passed close by the house； and Viola； looking up abruptly；
started in a kind of terror as she recognised the stranger。 She
uttered an involuntary exclamation； and the cavalier turning；
saw； and paused。
He stood a moment or two between her and the sunlit ocean；
contemplating in a silence too serious and gentle for the
boldness of gallantry； the blushing face and the young slight
form before him； at length he spoke。
〃Are you happy； my child；〃 he said； in almost a paternal tone；
〃at the career that lies before you？ From sixteen to thirty； the
music in the breath of applause is sweeter than all the music
your voice can utter！〃
〃I know not；〃 replied Viola； falteringly； but encouraged by the
liquid softness of the accents that addressed her；〃I know not
whether I am happy now； but I was last night。 And I feel； too；
Excellency； that I have you to thank； though； perhaps； you scarce
know why！〃
〃You deceive yourself；〃 said the cavalier； with a smile。 〃I am
aware that I assisted to your merited success； and it is you who
scarce know how。 The WHY I will tell you： because I saw in your
heart a nobler ambition than that of the woman's vanity； it was
the daughter that interested me。 Perhaps you would rather I
should have admired the singer？〃
〃