tattle, which soothed him to sleep, in which he dreamed of other times and other children, among whom was one child early habited in a solemn separate robe and divorced from life. In the face of that dream-child Padre Giuseppe seemed to see his own features, but deli cate and youthful, without wrinkles and snuff-stains. And so the placid confessor dreamed until dinner-time, and feared, as he arose and found that he must wipe the moisture from his eyes, that he was getting old and rheumy.
Maddalena was taught the duty of all good children—to confess and pray, and guard her mind from thoughts of men; never to tell lies, and always to obey her elders. She listened and learned. In the silent old convent-garden she read and mused, and vague hopes and yearnings fluttered sometimes across her mind as she saw birds floating in the sky, or bright leaves whirling and whirling, and then dropping, dropping, until they were lost upon the ground. Sixteen eventless years thus passed, and Maddalena Ondella was a woman.
One day, after having confessed to Padre Giuseppe, she went into the garden at sunset, and sat upon a pedestal whence a statue had long ago fallen. The vesper bell had ceased ringing; there was no wind to stir the leaves, and the darkening twilight touched her beauty with more exquisite grace as she sat motionless, gazing at the West, longing and hoping, with all the passionate possibilities of life glim- mering in her luscious lips. That moment she was summoned by the superior, and informed that she was to go to Rome immediately.
"Thank the Holy Virgin, Maddalena," said the abbess, "that you are to be married to a noble and worthy man. In all things, my child, remember our instructions, and obey your husband."
Padre Guiseppe's soft soul was touched. He shed tears as Maddalena bade him farewell. The good Padre did not know how beautiful she was, but the Marquis di Sangrido had accompanied the Countess Ondella to Venice, three years before, and had then seen her niece. Three years being past, he considered that he was sixty, and concluded to marry. He came to Rome in the state-carriage, and proposed to the Countess for Maddalena.
The aunt apprised the niece, and the day for the nuptials was appointed. The Marquis di Sangrido had returned to his country-
