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Updated: June 8, 2025
Ludovico hastened to the house in the Via di Santa Eufemia on quitting that in the Via di Porta Sisi, not unhappy, not even uneasy; with no recognized doubt, but with a germ of doubt in his mind. Signora Orsola had gone out per fare le spese, to make the marketings for the day; and he found Paolina alone.
You do not doubt, darling, do you?" said Ludovico, as he sat holding one of her hands in his. She sat silent for awhile, and with her face turned away from him, though she made no attempt to take her hand from his. "You do not doubt it, Paolina?" he asked again.
It is quite certain that Paolina, if the question, whether it was in anywise on the cards that the Marchese Ludovico di Castelmare had conceived, or was likely to conceive, any project of marrying her, Paolina Foscarelli, had suggested itself, or had been suggested, to her at any time during those eight months, would at once have replied to her own heart or to any other person, that such an idea was utterly preposterous and out of the question.
And it might not be unlikely that in such a case they had been tempted to spend a few hours in the Pineta. And with these possibilities Signora Steno was obliged to tranquillize herself as she best might. She returned home not without some hope that she might find that Paolina had returned during her absence; but such was not the case Paolina was still absent.
Old Orsola did not know exactly at what time to expect Paolina back; but she knew that Paolina's purpose on that Ash Wednesday morning was merely to walk to the church, and, having seen the preparations that had been made for her work, to return, without on that occasion remaining to begin her task.
"You must be a Venetian, father, surely, to love it so well?" said Paolina, after a minute or two of silence. "A Venetian I am or was, daughter; as I well knew you were when you first spoke. Might I ask your name?" "Paolina Foscarelli, father. I am an orphan," said she, softly.
What `but' can come between us, if there is no such doubt to come between us?" urged Ludovico, gently drawing her towards him by the hand he still held locked in his own. Again Paolina paused some minutes before replying, less apparently from hesitation to speak what was in her mind, than because she was applying her whole mind to the better understanding of her own meaning.
Her father had gained his living by copying in the gallery. The old woman, Orsola Steno, with whom she lived, was no relation to her, but had been the dear friend of her mother, and had taken the orphan to live with her out of pure charity. They were very poor, very poor, indeed. But Paolina was beginning to do something. She had already sold one or two copies of small pictures.
Tell her that I begged you to say, as from me to her, that in the teeth of all appearances I am innocent in thought, word, and deed in this matter. I think she will believe it; I must go, my love, my own!" "Pray God, it be not for long, tesoro mio. I shall pray to the Holy Virgin for you morning and night." "Addio, Paolina mia. Yet one kiss, anima mia, addio,"
And the special ground of this approval was Manutoli's strong advocacy of the projected marriage between Ludovico and the Contessa Violante, and his consequent disapproval and discouragement of his friend's friendship and admiration for Paolina.
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