Part 15 (2/2)
restore her reason, and to me the star of my life!”
Camilla turned at these words with a look first of fright, then of a new and wonderful tenderness. It was plain that that compa.s.sionate and forgiving prayer had caused the inmost fibres of her heart to vibrate, and, obeying a mighty and impulsive instinct, she sank into the old sweet sanctuary of her lover's arms. With their heads hidden on each other's b.r.e.a.s.t.s, they dispensed with explanations--they made no new vows--mighty love was healer and interpreter. Tears fell fast from Camilla's eyes, but not sad tears now. A great sorrow and a bitter sin had dethroned her reason--a great pardon and a n.o.ble love set it back again in its happy seat.
CHAPTER XLV. THE HONOR OF THE FLAG
The new arrivals were received with surprise and pleasure by our forest party. The signoras were all conversant with the history of Camilla's misfortunes, and bestowed upon her gentle and considerate caresses.
Something solemn pervaded her whole appearance--a dreamy vestige of the insanity under which she had so long labored. It was a miraculous change which had come over her when she heard that pathetic prayer, and perceived the sudden presence of her lover, and the unutterable feelings of affection and penitence that stirred her soul when she found herself restored to his embrace had transformed her into a new and happy being, but left upon her this air of nameless pathos.
”I pa.s.sed through Viterbo,” said Silvio to Orazio, when their salutations were ended, ”and saw a great commotion there for which I am scarcely able to account. The citizens were running about the streets, endeavoring to get out of the way of the soldiers. The soldiers, reinforced by strong detachments from Rome, are vowing to spear all Italians on the face of the earth, and, by way of a step towards this warlike project, have begun plundering the wineshops, where they lie for the most part dead drunk. The Papal authorities, who wished to keep the peace, were received by the rascals with the b.u.t.t-ends of their muskets, and driven to flight. They have gone off with their agents to Rome, and are not likely to return for some time. The reinforcements were exclaiming that 'their flag had been dishonored, and that the stain must be washed out in blood. 'Flag dishonored!' that phrase calls to our mind the villainy of a certain neighboring Government, which, after infamously violating our territory, and taking, by a deceitful act, possession of our princ.i.p.al sea-port, treacherously attacked our capital, and upon receiving some severe blows, cried out, 'Treason!
treason! our flag is dishonored!'
”But,” said Silvio, resuming his narrative, ”this confusion gave me a favorable opportunity of making observations, and coming on quietly to you, though I might have been hindered by a curious occurrence which happened. I was pa.s.sing the 'Full Moon' hotel as a few officers, newly arrived from Rome, alighted from a carriage. Owing to the universal confusion, they could find no attendant to carry in their luggage, and one of them came up to me, crying out, 'Here, you fellow!' and taking me by the breast, attempted to drag me to the carriage. Fortunately I had already signalled to Camilla to go on in advance of me. My first impulse was to use my poniard, but restraining myself, I tore the man's hand from my breast, and aiming a blow with my fist full at his face, sent him flying against the wheels of the carriage without a single word. As you may imagine, I did not remain to gather the laurels of the victory, but turned on my heel, and walked with a quick step in the direction of the wood, and soon overtook my companion.”
The merriment of his auditors, and the shouts of ”Bravo, Silvio!” here interrupted the narrator for a moment.
”However,” he observed, when the laughter ceased, ”we can not remain long here in security, for I have no doubt that to-morrow, at latest, you will have the whole pack of foreigners on your track.”
”Here in this forest,” said Orazio, ”we could make head against the whole army of the Pope. Were it not that we are so very few in number, and have these precious ladies to protect.”
”Ehi! ladies to protect, indeed!” said Irene with some irony; ”you have soon forgotten, Signor Rodomonte, that these same 'ladies' protected you to-day.”
A burst of laughter broke from all; and the courageous chief of the forest stooped and kissed the hand of his beloved wife with pretty submission.
Meanwhile, the long dark shadows cast by the giants of the Ciminian wood spreading out to the west, announced the setting of the sun, who, wrapped in a glorious and variegated mantle of clouds, was about to hide himself behind the waves of the Tyrrhenian sea. Clelia, perceiving this, addressed Jack, who, fascinated by her beauty and amiability, was her devoted slave, and to whom she had confided the important care of the viands. ”Well, my friend,” she said in English, ”all these true heroes of romance, it appears, do not trouble themselves about supper; and if you do not see to it, I fear we shall have to go to bed without food to-night.”
”Aye, aye, ma'am!” was Jack's reply; and, with the invariable hitch to his waistband, he steered for the spot where the a.s.sistants had unloaded two mules, which carried the chief's baggage as well as the provisions.
But, after such fighting and talk, they must feast at leisure in a fresh chapter.
CHAPTER XLVI. THE RURAL SUPPER
Who does not prefer civilization to barbarism and the usages of savage life? Who would not choose the comforts of a refined home, cool in summer, warm in winter, well supplied with food, and replete with every comfort and even luxury, to the open country, with its inclemency, inconveniences, and vicissitudes of weather?
Yet when one remembers that the few monopolize the advantages of civilization, and that its victims are so many, one can not help doubting whether the world of humanity does reap much benefit from the present highly-developed state of civilization, and whether it might not be desirable to go back to the simple condition of the first inhabitants of the world, amongst whom, if there were no palaces, no cooks, no fine manners, no expensive clothes, no elaborate conventions, no luxuries in the way of food, neither were there any priests, police, prefects, tax-gatherers, or any other of our galling modern innovations; neither was one called upon to give up one's children to serve the caprices of a despot, under the pretense of serving the country and was.h.i.+ng out ”stains from flags.”
However all this may be, a frugal supper in the forest on the soft green turf, hitherto untrodden by any foot of man; the guests seated on the trunks of old trees that furnish also a glowing and dancing fire; by the side moreover, of such companions as Julia, Clelia, and Irene--a supper in such circ.u.mstances must be a more delightful height of enjoyment than civilization could reach. _Per Dio!_ give us such a forest supper, though it consist only of fruit and the luck of the chase, against any grand in-door entertainment. Many a time have we shared such a repast.
But our forest party had more than meagre fare. Gasparo, who was also in charge of the baggage, was commissioned, in company with Jack, to purchase and look after the provisions. He now spread a cold collation before the chiefs, with the sailor-boy's a.s.sistance--garnis.h.i.+ng it with some green branches--which would have tempted even the palate of a Lucullus.
A few flasks of Montepulciano and Orvieto embellished the enamelled table, and, the savory meats, seasoned with the appet.i.te which follows an arduous day's work, disappeared with amazing celerity.
Julia was in high spirits. It was the first time she had shared in such a _fete-champetre_, in the society, above all, of those who were her _bello ideale_ of all that was romantic, chivalrous, and gallant.
Very near to her was her Muzio, disguised in the garb of a Roman model, and who was now known and proclaimed to be the descendant of an ancient n.o.ble family, and one of the richest heirs in Rome, it might yet appear.
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