“Like the foot of your bronze St. Peter, worn smooth with oft-repeated, fervent kisses,” the gentleman said, with a gravity that hid a
smile.” You may say that it has only the vowel shape of a foot, the consonant angles quite kissed away.”
The Signora lifted her head a little, and immediately changed the subject. Decidedly, she thought, it would be necessary to correct Mr. Vane’s conversation. But it would not be pleasant to do so the first day.
They lingered at the table nearly an hour, talking over old times and friends, and who were dead and who were married; till presently, it having got buzzed about among the select number of flies in the room that there was fruit at hand, they reminded the company to retire.
“Tea at five and supper at nine,” was the Signora’s parting reminder. “And now, a pleasant rest to you!”
CHAPTER II.
“AY DE MI, ALHAMA!”
Those who knew little or nothing of Mr. Vane usually fancied that they knew him perfectly, and were in the habit of describing him with epigrammatic brevity: A kind, honorable man, indolent of mind and body, very tolerant, has no strong convictions, and seems, not so much to live, as to be waiting to live, and waiting quite comfortably—as if a fish out of water should find itself for a few days in wine and water.
Those who knew him best hesitated to describe him; but all agreed that he was kind and honorable. We will not attempt any dissection of his character.
Twenty-three years before we find him in Rome he married a beautiful girl born in New Orleans of Spanish parents. He had long admired her, but had been kept at a distance by her coldness; and