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Randal delivered Riccabocca's note, which was very short, implying that he feared Peschiera had discovered his retreat, and requesting Lady Lansmere to retain Violante, whatever her own desire, till her ladyship heard from him again. The countess read, and her lip curled in disdain. "Strange!" said she, half to herself.
RANDAL advanced "I fear, Signor Riccabocca, that I am guilty of some want of ceremony." "To dispense with ceremony is the most delicate mode of conferring a compliment," replied the urbane Italian, as he recovered from his first surprise at Randal's sudden address, and extended his hand. Violante bowed her graceful head to the young man's respectful salutation.
See! there is Lenny now receiving his week's wages; and though Lenny knows that he can get higher wages in the very next parish, his blue eyes are sparkling with gratitude, not at the chink of the money, but at the poor exile's friendly talk on things apart from all service; while Violante is descending the steps from the terrace, charged by her mother-in-law with a little basket of sago, and such-like delicacies, for Mrs.
The two females were next lifted in, and Violante felt her hand pressed almost convulsively by the man who stood by the plank. The rest followed, and in another minute the boat bounded swiftly over the waves towards a vessel that lay several furlongs adown the river, and apart from all the meaner craft that crowded the stream.
I will go at once to your sister, whom I think I can influence more effectually than you can; though later I may give you a hint to guard against the chance of her remorse. Meanwhile as, the moment Violante disappears, suspicion would fall upon you, show yourself constantly in public surrounded by your friends. Be able to account for every hour of your time "
"And then you answered her as prettily, I suppose, Signora?" "Nay, it is not in my power to do that," said Violante, with a touch of bitterness; "but I told her, that she did not disturb me in the least; and I spoke to her of the work she was engaged on; and she asked me to come up and look at it; and so we talked on till we became very good friends."
Violante made no answer; but her smile, so sweet and so lofty, humbled the questioner it rebuked. "I may restore to Italy your father," said Beatrice, with an altered voice. "Come!" Violante approached, but still hesitatingly. "Not by union with your brother?" "You dread that so much then?" "Dread it? No. Why should I dread what is in my power to reject.
The old Leslie lands a positive stake in the country the restoration of the fallen family; and on the other hand, either long drudgery at the Bar, a scanty allowance on Egerton's bounty, his sister wasting her youth at slovenly, dismal Rood, Oliver debased into a boor! or a mendicant's dependence on the contemptuous pity of Harley L'Estrange, Harley, who had refused his hand to him, Harley, who perhaps would become the husband of Violante!
It was, as we have seen, without taking counsel of the faithful Jemima that the sage recluse of Norwood had yielded to his own fears and Randal's subtle suggestions, in the concise and arbitrary letter which he had written to Violante; but at night, when churchyards give up the dead, and conjugal hearts the secrets hid by day from each other, the wise man informed his wife of the step he had taken.
"That is my secret," answered Violante, trying to smile with her old frank, childlike archness. "But, tell me, do you think better of her than of her brother?" "Certainly. I believe her heart to be good, and that she is not without generous qualities." "Can you not induce my father to see her? Would you not counsel him to do so?" "Any wish of yours is a law to me," answered Harley, gallantly.
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