THE PURSER'S DAUGHTER. CHAP. VIII. (Concluded.) BY LADY S Profuse and heartfelt were the thanks he tendered to La Signora Martelli and her excellent husband, for the excessive kindness they had displayed to his dear wife during a most trying portion of her early married life. After the first delightful hours of being again united had passed away, there came, alas, a painful reaction, sad thoughts intruded, which threw a dismal cloud over their happy dream; for the common, but necessary question of money matters had to be privately discussed; how were the newlymarried pair in future to live? what were they to subsist upon ? figure had regained its former pretty shape, the effects of her two months' penance and fasting The next day Beatrice called at a small house, with the Lady Abbess and her nuns were where in poverty, but with everything about no longer perceptible, and when Antonio, with them arranged with the greatest cleanliness, excessive joy and rapture, again clasped his order, and regularity, was found the poor bed- Carissima Sposa in his arms, he beheld her as a ridden mother, and her daughter, Lucia Fiosco, still more handsome and captivating Beatrice working by her side. A piano stood in than the one he had been so unfortunately the room; and the bed upon which reposed separated from. La Signora Fiosco, a small sofa, which did the double duty of a seat by day and a bed by night, two or three chairs, a few volumes that had evidently known better days, and a little more necessary furniture, was all the apartment contained, with the exception of a small table near the invalid, on which was placed a book, two oranges on a plate, and a small vase filled with a few wild flowers. This room opened into a tidy kitchen. The suffering mother, though evidently enduring great pain, was most patient, and even cheerful. Their misfortunes, she said, were even a source of great thankfulness to her, as it proved in the most beautiful manner, the goodness and extreme devotion of her dear daughter. This was said when Lucia had gone into the kitchen to make some coffee. After a time the conversation turned upon music, and Lucia's anxiety to obtain an engagement at the opera. In the meantime she did her best to eke out their very small pittance by the sale of her embroidery, giving lessons in music and dancing. This day was a holiday. Beatrice was much pleased with her visit, deeply touched with the pious resignation of La Signora Fiosco, and the truly filial affection and duty displayed by the pretty Lucia. Upon her return to Casa Martelli, she did all in her power to interest the kind-hearted mistress of the house about the Fiosco's, and succeeded so well, that she obtained some large orders for the fair hands of Lucia to execute in embroidery. Happily, except for her separation from her husband, did this month speed for Beatrice. A fine healthy colour had returned to her rounded cheeks, her Antonio's pay, with a small allowance from his mother, had only as yet barely sufficed for his wants; to live upon love seems all very charming in verse or in idea, but wedded lovers find it very meagre diet. From whence could they obtain the necessary funds for living, even in the most frugal manner? To tell the plain truth, Antonio had been dismissed the service with a severe reprimand, so adieu to all future hopes in a military career. His widowed mother lived in a very plain manner in a small apartment in Florence. To her Antonio had applied for a little extra money, without her maternal consent, which is thought after having confessed his fault in having married more of in Italy than in England. The pardon had been readily granted, but she was deeply wounded by his secrecy and his total want of confidence in this the most important step in life. Had he consulted her, he might have made a far better match, or conducted this one in a more sensible manner, so as to have first obtained the father's consent, and probably a little money Y in hand. She ended her letter by saying she sincerely hoped this hasty union might conduce to his happiness; she also expressed a kind wish to become as speedily as possible acquainted with his young Sposa; and should he have to leave his regiment, owing to his late scrape, she thought she need hardly remind her own dear son and child that to him, her ever darling boy, her house was always open, and that he would perhaps do well had he to leave Sienna, to bring his handsome English wife to the shelter of his mother's roof; that in the room he used to occupy when with her she would make some trifling alterations, and it would do then very well for them both; his wife being young, she would the sooner become accustomed to Italian ways. In Italy it is generally the custom for the married son to bring his wife to the maternal roof, there they live, there their children are born. I have frequently seen four, and even five, generations living together in this patriarchal manner, and they appeared to live with one another in the utmost peace and concord. After a long and earnest conversation, it was at length settled to accept the motherly invitation of La Signora Fiengo; so they bade a grateful adieu to the kind Signora Martelli and her good husband, whose thoughtful hospitality had indeed been most seasonable. Before their departure they paid a farewell visit to La Signora Ginbeletti, in which visit Antonio accompanied his wife. They did not forget either to say some kind words to Catterina, whom Beatrice had often walked to see during her residence at La Casa Martelli. They also wished good-bye to the interesting Lucia Fiosco and her afflicted mother, hoping the young girl might have every possible success at La Pergola, at Florence, where she had recently, to her great joy, obtained an engagement. This news not a little delighted Beatrice, as she should now often hope to see her friend. They parted with many caresses and affectionate words. found abroad in bed-rooms; its only redeeming point being that the window looked out upon the Arno, which gave it a lively effect, and was the only thing Beatrice liked in the room. In the domestic duties the bride soon found she was expected to take her full share, but her ignorance of even the most simple details soon caused her new mother to beg her to give it up and to practise her music instead, as poor Beatrice only spoilt every dish she attempted to cook. After they had resided about a month in Florence, Antonio informed his bride that, having had a long conversation with his mother a few days previous respecting pecuniary matters, he found, from what she had told him, that it was absolutely necessary that he should seek some employment so as to make a little money and defray in a measure the additional expense consequent on their presence in her small household. He was glad to say his uncle Stephano had kindly exerted himself to procure a situation for him in one of the first banking houses in Florence, where his uncle had some interest, he had been accepted, and he was to attend regularly to his employment from the following Monday morning. Though Beatrice's own good sense showed her the necessity of this step, she yet felt how lonely would now be her fate; no Antonio to walk out with her and point out to her the many beauties of Florence. She, however, wisely said as little about it as she possibly could, and Antonio promised he would take her to the pretty Cascino on fine evenings when his duties for the day were over. This Cascino is quite the Hyde Park of Florence. There all the high-born of the place assemble and walk: even the royal family condescended to show themselves, and likewise take their exercise. It was now in all its beauty. After this matter of his own was settled, Antonio again addressed his wife: domestic matters, you ought likewise on your side to try what can be made of your pretty voice, endeavouring to turn it to some account, and so on your part also earn a little money." "But, Beatrice, as I must work for our living-and I shall have to work hard, I can The young people were kindly received by La assure you-I quite agree with my dear Signora Fiengo. The floor she occupied in mother's sentiments upon the subject, that as Florence was in a good-looking house, command-you, she tells me, are of no assistance in ing a fine view of the Arno and its handsome bridges; but as it was situated on the cold side of the river, and alas, up several pairs of stairs, this, with its absence of sunshine, combined to make the rent cheaper. In summer, of course, it was cool and pleasant enough, but in the winter months, it must be owned, it was bitterly cold; however, it being now fine summer weather, it was delightful. Beatrice found her mother-in-law's housekeeping rather meagre fare, and she felt it all the more from its wide difference from the generous hospitable abundance that prevailed at La Casa Martelli. The bed-room allotted to herself and husband was exceedingly small, and was almost destitute of any common comforts. Not a bit of carpet was there to be seen; all was dreary and miser able; the bed, a very hard one; only two chairs; none even of the usual accessories generally Beatrice was much astonished and not a little grieved at this proposition of her husband's. She had married, had ran away from her father's protection to avoid the life of a public singer. Antonio, as a lover, had repeatedly promised her she never should be asked to go on the stage; but utterly regardless of all former promises, here was the same person, now he had become her husband, and that only a short time proposing this hateful life to her. Beatrice, overcome by various emotions, fairly burst into a passionate flood of tears, entreating, pleading in her prettiest possible manner that this measure might not be forced upon her. CHAP. IX. It is a difficult thing to refuse the request of a newly-married wife, begging for some object in all the charm of her youthful beauty. "Well, cara mia, we will say no more about it at present. Dry your tears, darling. Do not spoil your pretty eyes. Put on your bonnet, and we will walk up this fine evening to San Miniato." move from her own firm purpose. When she had settled the affair with the father-confessor and herself, nothing could change her stern resolution. Beatrice's wishes and inclinations were as nothing to her in the scale. Beatrice was a young girl; she must do as she was bid. What were the inclinations of this child-wife to do with the important matters of business upon which, probably, part of the comfort of a whole family might depend? They were, in her opinion, not worth a moment's thought, when weighed in the balance with such serious, important subAntonio's return from the bank, instead of finding a smiling wife ready to receive him, Beatrice's reception of him was an uncomfortable one, she looking most miserable, and showing evident marks of recent tears on her face. He spoke kindly to her; but when, at his earnest request, she related the incidents of the morning, he repaired to the general sitting-room, where he found his mother, spectacles on nose, busy mending her household linen. This is certainly a most lovely walk. With its many olive trees always in leaf. You are well rewarded for the steep ascent by the magnifi-jects, settled by older and wiser heads. Upon cent view you obtain when you have climbed up to the church (a handsome and curious edifice), the prospect commanding an extensive range of the whole city of Florence and its environs, interspersed with the windings of the far-famed Arno, with the many prettily-situated Casas on its banks. This spot is at all times of the year pretty; but doubly so in the lovely summer sunshine of a June evening. Our heroine was soon consoled; her husband was kind; she felt amused and gratified with her pleasant excursion, and trusted in those happy moments, that the late disagreeable topic might be avoided-at least for some time, if not for ever. In this, however, she was mistaken, for the subject was soon resumed. On the following Monday Antonio departed for his new employment; he had not long left the house when la Signora Fiengo called her new daughter, and very plainly told her she considered it her duty so to exert her musical talents that she might practise her voice, and so in this way earn some money to increase the general fund for housekeeping, for it would be absolutely necessary that some further addition should be made to the small remuneration her husband would rereceive for his daily labour: "Remember you brought no money into the family, not even the usual trousseau or jewelry brought by a bride, and you are of no use in domestic matters." To Beatrice's assurance that, to the best of her belief, her voice would fetch but very little in the market, also that she had had the greatest possible repugnance to lead the life of a public singer, La Signora replied: "You are, my dear, but a child; you must be directed; you must obey our wishes. What I see is for our mutual advantage you must do. If you do not possess the good sense to do it willingly, I shall speak to my Confessor, and the words of that pious, excellent, good man will no doubt carry their proper conviction to your mind. I shall also talk the matter again over with my son, and, in spite of your silly likes and dislikes, fine airs, and bad tempers, Uncle Stephano and Antonio will insist, young lady, on your exerting those talents Nature has endowed you with, for the family benefit. It is no use giving way to ill temper, Signora; I do not care for your tears, they are of no effect with me." Poor Beatrice severely felt this lecture of her mother-in-law. She seemed to her a cold woman, whom no entreaties, however earnest, could At the expiration of a long weary hour, spent by Beatrice in painful anxiety, her husband returned to her, informing her, in a quiet but firm manner, she must positively agree to his mother's wise plan for their future comfort, and she must accede to his wishes, for he found it was absolutely necessary-and, in short, he insisted upon it. Poor Beatrice then, like many another woman, found a little too late she had made a serious mistake, and that her fond girlish dream of ardent passionate love was over, never, alas! to be realized. She little knew, even then, she had been married partly for her fine voice; for without this talent, the cautious Italian, however much he admired her, would hardly have run off with her, penny less as she was, even had she been twice as handsome. Had her father left her some money it might have been different; they then might have waited a longer time before asking her to do this violence to her feelings. So, with a heavy heart, she found she must submit to the plan laid down for her future life, which was, that when she had received some more instruction, to seek an engagement for her at the Theatre of La Pergola. To give her a greater chance of success, a singing-master, the best Florence could produce, was engaged for her. A good piano was placed in the family sittingroom, and there la Signora Madre installed herself regularly with her needle-work or book of devotion, not only during the lessons given to Beatrice, but also during the long hours she was now obliged to devote to the instrument. No sooner had Antonio departed for his daily employment than Beatrice found she was expected to begin her practising under, to her, the tiresome, ever-vigilant eye of La Signora-not (to do her justice) that she ever found her mother-in-law violent; no, for an Italian she was wonderfully cool, always collected, even when vexed, never putting herself out of temper, but most stern and determined, maintaining, when not pleased, a most vexatious series of |