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The garden consisted of about thirty square feet, and grew only salad herbs and a fine fig tree. It had not a good crop, and I told her that I could not see any figs. "I can see some at the top," said Barberine, "and I will gather them if you will hold me the ladder." "Yes, climb away; I will hold it quite firmly."

I made Barberine another present of twenty sequins, I swore to love her always, and went on my way. At the time I certainly meant to keep to my oath, but that which destiny had in store for me could not be reconciled with these promises which welled forth from my soul in a moment of excitement. The next morning Righelini took me to see the lodging he had spoken to me about.

She stepped up lightly, and stretching out an arm to get at some figs to one side of her, she put her body off its balance, holding on to the ladder with the other hand. "My dear Barberine, what do you think I can see?" "What you have often seen with my sister." "That's true! but you are prettier than she is."

After I had inspected her two rooms and her little kitchen, and had admired the cleanness which shone all around, Barberine asked me if I would like to see their small garden. "With pleasure," I replied, "for a garden is a rarity in Venice." Her mother told her to give me some figs if there were any ripe ones.

The year before the jury had only awarded her two secondary prizes; not that she had not deserved the first, but that on account of her youth they had thought it wiser to keep her back for another year. The young artist was to compete for tragedy in the first act of Phedre, for comedy in Alfred de Musset's Barberine. The dawn of the fifteenth was clear and quiet.

I made Barberine another present of twenty sequins, I swore to love her always, and went on my way. At the time I certainly meant to keep to my oath, but that which destiny had in store for me could not be reconciled with these promises which welled forth from my soul in a moment of excitement. The next morning Righelini took me to see the lodging he had spoken to me about.

Barberine, Tonine's younger sister, came to kiss my hand. I thought her charming, and I gave her all the silver in my pocket. I then left, telling Laura that I should expect her at my house. She soon followed me, and gave her child a mother's blessing, telling her that she and her family could go and live in Venice for sixty sous a day. Tonine embraced her, and told her that she should have it.

As I was going Laura asked me to take her back in my gondola, and as we had to pass by the house in which she lived she begged me to come in for a moment, and I could not hurt her feelings by refusing. I owe it to my honour to remark here that I was thus polite without thinking that I should see Barberine again.

I went to Barberine at an early hour, and as soon as she saw me she said, "My mother will not be back till the evening, and my brother will take his dinner at the school. Here is a fowl, a ham, some cheese, and two bottles of Scopolo wine. We will take our mess whenever you like:" "You astonish me, sweetheart, for how did you manage to get such a good dinner?"

The garden consisted of about thirty square feet, and grew only salad herbs and a fine fig tree. It had not a good crop, and I told her that I could not see any figs. "I can see some at the top," said Barberine, "and I will gather them if you will hold me the ladder." "Yes, climb away; I will hold it quite firmly."