Volume I Part 67 (1/2)

”I do not care for love,” he answered: ”but I should like to get married in order to have a house of my own”

When I returned to the palace, I told M Dandolo that he arotti, and the count ive any answer, either one way or the other, until he should have seen the young girl, talked with her, and enquired about her reputation As for Count Algarotti, he was ready to be answerable for his God-son, that is to guarantee four thousand ducats to the wife, provided her doorth that aed toinformed Charles that the matter was entirely in my hands, he called on h to introduce hi that it was necessary to devote a whole day to the visit, as she resided at a distance of twenty miles from Venice, that ould dine with her and return the sa He promised to be ready for me by day-break

I immediately sent an express to the curate to inform him of the day on which I would call with a friend of mine whom I wished to introduce to his niece

On the appointed day, Charles was punctual I took care to let hi the road that I had irl and of her uncle as travelling companions from Venice to Mestra about one month before, and that I would have offered uarantee the dowry of four thousand ducats I did not think it necessary to go any further in ood priest's house two hours before mid-day, and soon after our arrival, Christine ca all her pleasure at seeingfrom me whether he was likewise a clerk

Charles answered that he was clerk at Ragionato

She pretended to understand, in order not to appear ignorant

”I want you to look at o and see hted at the praise bestowed upon her writing by Charles, when he heard that she had learned only one month, she invited us to follow her

Charles asked her why she had waited until the age of nineteen to study writing

”Well, sir, what does it matter to you? Besides, I must tell you that I ae”

Charles entreated her to excuse hi at the quickness of her answer

She was dressed like a siirl, yet very neatly, and she wore her handsoold chains round her neck and on her arms I told her to taketowardsobedience We went to her ood wo to sciatica As we entered the roo ht of Charles, and embraced him affectionately I heard that he was the family physician, and the circumstance pleased ood woman, the doctor enquired after Charles's aunt and sister; and alluding to the sister as suffering from a secret disease, Charles desired to say a feords to hi alone with the mother and Christine, I praised Charles, his excellent conduct, his high character, his business abilities, and extolled the happiness of the woman ould be his wife They both confir I said of him could be read on his features I had no ti dinner, as Charles ht possibly be the husband whom God had intended for her

”For me?”

”Yes, for you Charles is one of a thousand; you would be much happier with him than you could be with me; the doctor knows hi which I cannot find tiine all I suffered ingirl calm and perfectly co in my eyes After a short silence, she askedht into Christine's heart and feelings, and quieted all my sorrow, for I saw that I had not known her well I answered that, beautiful as she was, there was no doubt of her being loved by everybody

”It will be at dinner, my dear Christine, that my friend will examine and study you; do not fail to shew all the charms and qualities hich God has endowed you, but do not let hie Is e?”

”No”

”If your friend should feel pleased with me, ould he marry , and you will see ain in the course of the week:”

Charles ca her mother's bedside, took a chair opposite to us She answered very sensibly all the questions addressed to her by Charles, often exciting hisany silliness

Oh! charnorance! thy char anything without ever giving offence! But how unpleasant thou art when thou art not natural! and thou art the masterpiece of art when thou art imitated with perfection!

We dined rather late, and I took care not to speak to Christine, not even to look at her, so as not to engross her attention, which she devoted entirely to Charles, and I was delighted to see hat ease and interest she kept up the conversation After dinner, and as ere taking leave, I heard the folloords uttered by Charles, which went to my very heart:

”You are made, lovely Christine, to minister to the happiness of a prince”

And Christine? This was her answer: