Volume I Part 64 (1/2)
”One had a rank breath; another painted her face, and, indeed, aluilty of that fault I ae is out of the question for me, because I want, for instance, my wife to have black eyes, and in our days almost every woman colours thee”
”Are h because your eyes certainly appear to be black, but they are not so in reality Neverin spite of that”
”Now, that is ae, yet you say that ly, are now the same as God made them Is it not so, uncle?”
”I never had any doubt of it, my dear niece”
”And you do not believe me, sir?”
”No, they are too beautiful for me to believe them natural”
”Oh, dear ella, I am afraid I have been too sincere”
After that quarrel we reood curate smiled now and then, but his niece found it very hard to keep down her sorrow
At intervals I stole a look at her face, and could see that she was very near crying I felt sorry, for she was a charirl In her hair, dressed in the fashi+on of wealthy countrywoold pins and arrohich fastened the plaits of her long locks as dark as ebony Heavy gold ear-rings, and a long chain, which ound twenty times round her snowy neck, made a fine contrast to her complexion, on which the lilies and the roses were admirably blended It was the first time that I had seen a country beauty in such splendid apparel Six years before, Lucie at Pasean had captivated me, but in a different le word, she was in despair, for her eyes were truly of the greatest beauty, and I was cruel enough to attack theer alone kept back her tears
Yet I would not undeceive her, for I wanted her to bring ondola had entered the long canal of Marghera, I asked the clergyh which place he had to pass to reach P----
”I intended to walk,” said the worthy man, ”for my parish is poor and I am the same, but I will try to obtain a place for Christine in so that way”
”You would confer a real kindness on me if you would both accept a seat in my chaise; it holds four persons, and there is plenty of rooood fortune which ere far froo with this gentleman”
”Why not, my dear niece?”
”Because I will not”
”Such is the way,” I reenerally rewarded”
”Sincerity, sir! nothing of the sort,” she exclairily, ”it is sheer wickedness There can be no true black eyes now for you in the world, but, as you like thelad of it”
”You are mistaken, lovely Christine, for I have thethe truth”
”What means?”
”Only to wash the eyes with a little lukewarm rose-water; or if the lady cries, the artificial colour is certain to be washed off”
At those words, the scene changed as if by the wand of a conjuror The face of the charnation, spite and disdain, took an air of contenthtful to witness She se in her countenance, for the offer of the carriage had gone to his heart
”Now you had better cry a little, nore' will render full justice to your eyes”