and, as for the Croat, he remained looking at her " "Durissimo," added the Dalmatian, and, what is a great deal more, either unjust or blind, for I am sure this child is innocent, and that being the case, her father's letter has no more to do with the matter." But the Croat took no notice of these remarks, and only said in reply, "Digia Dolomir, I summon you to follow me to Pago." "My good, good Knapen," murmured the Pagota thereupon," do not be unpitiable. I can not go!" "When you are of age," was the Croat's response, "you may walk the streets of Venice as a courtesan, if you choose; but at present you are but eighteen years of age, so you must make up your mind to live elsewhere some years yet!" no Upon hearing this, the agony of the Pagota was intense. Knapen, however, had no pity for her; but, if he had not, the Albanian had; and "Sir soldier!" said the latter to the Croat, " more insults, in the name of heaven! Listen, young man. At the end of the month, I set out for Trieste, Pago, Zara, and if, in three weeks the Pagota is not married, I promise to conduct her to her father in my brigantine." But Knapen did not answer. He only said, in a stern tone, "Digia Dolomir, once more-yes or no? Are you a rebel to the authority of your father, or are you not? Do you refuse to return with me!-for the last time, yes or no?" "I will obey," replied the young girl. "When do you set out ?" he saw what he had done, and how he had lost his intended wife, the poor gondolier sat down on a stone, and cried like a child. CHAPTER VI. Even Paris, par excellence the city of pleasure, MIDNIGHT in our climate is as dull as need be. transforms itself into a silent convent as soon as the bells have struck the twelfth stroke. Everything then closes, all lights are extinguished, and the visitor finds himself shown to the door of the café. But in Italy this is not so; and at the hour at which the Parisian finds himself driven from all public places, and compelled either to go to bed or let his vigils be kept in his own house, St. Mark's Square in Venice is the most charming salon imaginable, in which one chatters with the ladies in the open air, or plays at chess, or does anything else that he fancics will suit him better. One splendid night in August, the engineer of advanced hour, before a table in the Café Florian, the salt-works and myself were seated, at a very devouring with the utmost zeal large quantities of the most delicious ices ever tasted. The engineer was about to set out on a visit to the salt-works of Istria and Pago, and, in consequence of his amiable desire to have me for a companion, cellent reasons why I should quit with him these he occupied himself with producing most exseas of warm and stagnant water, and this collection of stone buildings, three parts calcined by the sun, amongst which, he said, we sometimes dined in an oven, and sometimes in a bainmarie. It is true that the dog-days had brought with them the terrible zauzares, the fear of whose sting kept us all in a state of perpetual alarm, and, that the heat of the weather was in many respects almost intolerable. But Venice is like some of those dangerous and frail beauties whom one loves almost the more for their faults; and I could not induce myself to consent to the engineer's proposal. I told him that I would oppose a mosquito curtain to the zauzares, and hire a gondola by the month, to take me about like a Sybarite, whilst the warm weather lasted; but that to leave Venice whilst I could stay in it, was an utter impossibility. "But, since you are going to Pago," I added further, "just have an eye to Digia Dolomir. Try if you cannot do something in her favour," and, if she still loves the nicolitto, if you cannot persuade them to let you bring her back to Venice. From this day I will take Marco into my own service, and the hope of recovering the Pagota will hinder him from being unfaithful to "To-morrow, by the Trieste Boat." Accordingly, on the morrow the passengers by the Trieste boat were diverted for a few moments from their anxiety respecting their baggage by a violent quarrel between two men upon the shore. Marco, having assumed an attitude like that of a gladiator, was opposing the embarkation of his mistress. Knapen advanced with a calm and determined air, with his eyes fixed upon those of his adversary, equally prepared for attack or for defence. The Albanian and the old Dalmatian were upon the spot, and they vividly admired the academic pose and the elegant form of the handsome Nicolitto, beside which the stiff, short Croat, with his thick legs, seemed like a block of wood; but they could not help fearing that the gondolier made too many demonstrations in the preliminaries of the combat. The spectators who interested themselves in the affair would have pre-her, I have no doubt." ferred to have seen him make use of fewer words, and exercise more promptitude of action, for they doubted not that he could easily have overcome his enemy. And he would in reality have got the better of his antagonist, had he only employed his strength and skill, instead of his eloquence. As it was, however, the Croat did not suffer himself to be intimidated, but marched right towards the man, and dealt him a heavy blow, which Marco avoided, by leaping a little on one side, in such sort, however, as to leave the passage free; and thus ended the affair. When "I shall find it more difficult, perhaps," responded the engineer, "to overcome the obstinacy and prejudices of a countryman, than I should to obtain a decree from the Aulic chamber. But, in order to please you, and to give me a field for the exercise of my powers of persuasion, I will plead her cause as well as I can." The next day, as I conducted the engineer to the Trieste boat, I reminded him of his promise, and, as soon as he had departed, I repaired to the neighbourhood of the palace of Faliero, near which I found Marco, profoundly asleep in his 54 gondola. He was not ignorant of the interest I had taken in his amours; and when I proposed that he should enter into my service, I could not restrain him from kissing my hand, in token of most joyful acquiescence. "I warn you, however, before you go too far," I said, "that I have not the honour of being descended, either in a direct or indirect line, from the defenders of Fagmouste, or the assassins of François Carrare. But I will pay you a fortnight's wages in advance, and that, too, in good silver Napoleons, and, upon my recommendation, the signor engineer will bring back Digia to you." The delight of the gondolier upon hearing this was beyond bounds. He declared that he would gladly serve me for only bread and water, and made a thousand other and similarly foolish declarations, At last he was, for a wonder, calm enough to be able to ask whither he should take me. "To the general archives of the Frai," I reponded, and instantly the gondola was in motion, at a speed greater than it would have been had all the customs' officers in Venice been in pursuit of it. But Marco, not content with serving me in this excellent fashion as a gondolier, wished additionally to serve me in quality of valet-dechambre. He awoke me in the morning, brought me my clothes and shaving-water, and so quarrelled on all occasions with the servants for the privilege of waiting on me, that, as they could not believe that mere gratitude could inspire such an amount of zeal, they came to the conclusion that I must have recently inherited a large fortune. One day, it seemed to me that Marco, while washing his gondola, sang with some little more voice and gaiety than bespoke an almost despairing lover; and, when he came to me for my orders, I observed that his hair was dressed with a greater than ordinary, and, indeed, a quite ridiculous care, hung in long curls over his ears, like those of a woman, and that he wore in his button-hole a large and beautiful moss-rose. I asked him who had given him the rose, and he answered, in his own, euphonious and graceful dialect, " Xé una bela tosa paron." 66 A pretty young girl," I replied, "would not "Go pregá, gier si," was his response. "Gently, gently, your excellency!" cried Marco, in alarm, "The dyer of the street of the Fabri has dwelling with him a young niece, whom I knew when she lived at Murano. She is the most laughing little creature in the world. When I pass by her door, she throws water on me, and calls me a vilain noir. Can I endure these attacks without responding? Be just, most noble signor, be just to me; you would not have me act like a misanthropic and philosophical enemy of women, and you know very well that it is all badinage-nothing more." "But such badinage may carry you too far, Marco, and I do not approve of it." "Well; but, pardon, the Muranelle is clever, and her uncle has plenty of money; And who knows that the engineer will succeed in bringing Digia ?" "There is a French proverb which forbids one to run after two hares at once," was my only answer.' "Ah!" responded the gondolier; "but this is a different matter! To run after two hares at once is impossible, but two girls are very different things. Let Digia return, and I shall marry her; but, nevertheless, I shall strive to entrap the other. Can you see any harm in my so doing?" I had quoted French proverbs to the Nicolitto; and if he had had a little more acquaintance with them, he might have strengthened his position by adducing that which counsels one to have "two or three strings to one's bow." As it was, I warned him to remain faithful for a day or two, canon of and then went out upon a stroll. I had not gone far before I met the learned AbbéSt. Mark. We had chatted together a little while, concerning certain documents I was seeking relating to the death of Stradella, when the abbé pointed out to me a young girl, with a large Murano veil, who was approaching, with her eyes cast down, by the street of the Fabri. "Look!" whispered the abbé to me-what a charming model of a virgin!" These flattering words reached the ears of the Muranelle, and she acknowledged them by a smile and an inclination of the head. "I'll be bound," replied the abbé to me, “that no Parisian belle would have so gracefully ac knowledged a compliment, at least in the street." He was going to say something more, but he was interrupted by Marco, who at this moment "It is the niece of the took hold of my coat, and drew me on one side, to whisper in my ear, dyer, signor. Tell me if you think she is like a hare, and, therefore, if I do ill to run after her?" "I certainly think you do," was my response; "but you must do as you please, thorough Venetian that you are. Only take care that you never have to repent of your conduct, Marco." CHAPTER VII. Whilst the fascinations of the dyer's niece were thus tempting Marco out of the narrow way, the French engineer, in the midst of all his grave pre-occupations, still managed to find a little time to devote to the interests of poor Digia. Gifted with extraordinary force of will, and accustomed to do battle with obstinacy and prejudice, he was just the man to understand such a hard enterprise. In the little-frequented port of the little island, he chanced to encounter both the Dalmatian and the Albanian, of whom I had spoken to him. The first of them was seeking, from town to town, piastres for the Queen of Bavaria; and the other, having sold his cloves, was returning to Zara in the brigantine of his new friend. The engineer imagined that their two picturesque figures would be calculated to aid him in his task, and he therefore prayed them to accompany him to the house of old Dolomir. They both gladly consented, and all three were then conducted to the door of the little vendiza in which the father of Digia sold most execrable beer. At the sight of these three strangers, so magnificently clothed, Dolomir, only accustomed to serving ploughmen and farm-labourers, stared as he would have done had he received a visit from the renowned Haroun-al-Raschid. A rapid coup d'ail sufficed to enable the engineer to judge exactly of the man before him, and to lay his plans accordingly. Digia recognised immediately both the Albanian and his frieud, and retired into corner, pale and trembling. Half a dozen children, some stupified, and some terrified, ran into a stable, or were pushed in by their mother, who commanded them, with threats, to preserve silence. All eyes were fixed upon the red clothes of the Albanian; and when the engineer began to speak, which he did before any of the others, he was taken merely for an interpreter. "Dolomir," said the engineer, "we are come to try to take your daughter away from you. But do not intend to contest your parental authority; we hope that the step we advise will be found most pleasing in even your eyes. Answer us, therefore, candidly this one question: what were your motives for recalling your daughter from Venice ?" It was designedly that the engineer attacked his adversary on the weakest side, by obliging him to speak at the commencement of the conference. He knew that by so doing he should intimidate the tavern-keeper, as he did in reality. Dolomir began to blubber. "Excuse me," he said, as well as he could, "and let your lordships pardon me my ignorance. A poor Pagote does not know how to express himself in fine language." แ "Speak how you like, in your own fashion," replied the engineer, "provided only that it be candidly and with freedom." Thereupon the father of Digia commenced an obscure and trivial story, in which he said that he had believed that the gondolier had seduced his daughter; the only foundation for this belief hinted at being the evil reputation of the nicolitti. "You are entirely deceived, then," interrupted the engineer; "your daughter was really about to marry Marco, when you sent for her to return home. This thrice puissant Albanian siguor, and this thrice honourable Dalmatian noble, are come here as witnesses in Digia's favour, and to assert her innocence. It is strange that a father cannot recognise for himself the truth of such a matter. But you must have been imposed upon. We three are all friends of your daughter, and wish to see her made happy. You have deprived us of the pleasure of marrying her." "But I have found her another husband," said Dolomir, gathering a little assurance. "Yes, François Knapen, is it not?" asked the engineer; "the same who has excited you to so ill-treat your daughter, and who has also foully calumniated her." "Magari !" exclaimed Dolomir, "would to God he had calumniated her!" "You have a hard head, I see," responded the engineer. "And you, Digia, why do you not protest the truth ?" "Alas! I do, your excellency," replied the maiden; "I have done so from morning to Knapen has perfectly night, but all in vain. bewitched my father." "Yes, bewitched-that is just the word," put in her mother. "Well, we will try to break the charm," said the engineer. "Let François Knapen be found, and brought before us." "I am here," said the young Croat, coming out of his hiding-place behind the cellar-door. "Come forward, monsieur," said the engineer, whom Knapen was regarding with an insolent look-"come forward, monsieur, and let us talk to you. We are come here on purpose to prove that you have calumniated Digia, and occasioned disorder in this family." "I should like to know how," was the answer of the young Croat. Well, we will try to tell you," responded the engineer. "But first let us ask one question, it is this:-if a girl of abandoned manners were offered to you as a wife, would you marry her?" "No, signor," replied the soldier, "certainly not." "What would you call him, then, who sought to marry another's mistress?" The Croat felt the blow, when too late, and did not answer. "We should all say that he was a vile wretch," continued the engineer. "Well, monsieur, this being agreed upon, one of two things is true :either you have deceived Dolomir, and calumniated his daughter, or you are the man whom we and decency, since you have sought Digia in have just spoken of, lost to every sense of shame marriage. Which do you choose? What have you to answer?" Knapen, disconcerted, could only throw an angry glance at his interlocutor, and murmur, hesitatingly, "when one loves, one passes over little things, and "But this is not a little thing," interrupted the engineer; "it is the more than life, the reputation of a young girl. You cannot deny that, either out of love or jealousy, you have used unlawful means to gain your end, and dispose of your rival. You have robbed your mistress of the affection and esteem of her father, in order to assure to yourself a woman whom you deem worthy of your own esteem, who you know is innocent, and possessed of an excellent heart and many virtues. Neither love nor jealousy can excuse so grave a fault, or so cruel and dishonest a proceeding. But you can still in some measure atone for it, by confessing it with humility, or repairing the evil, by sacrificing to justice and to truth a love which is not reciprocated by its object, and by thus restoring to the young maiden the tenderness of her father, and that husband of which your culpable manoeuvres have deprived her. If you resign yourself with a good grace to this painful effort, you will play, after all, by far the best part in the drama. We will endeavour to console you, and will confess that the love which could drive to such extremities a young man capable of so much generosity and devotion was great indeed. In fact, this is what you had on all account better do, for your first position is not tenable, and if you persist in the endeavour to sustain it, you will condemn your honour. If anything further be needed to convince you, just look at the sorrowful countenance of your intended father-in-law, who at last comprehends his error and his injustice." The Croat saw that he was lost, and now only looked for an outlet for his pride, for he was not disposed to occupy the humble position which his adversary proposed by any means. "Since Digia cannot resolve upon herself to love me," he said with emotion, "I renounce her. With that be satisfied. This conspiracy against my happiness, which you have plotted so far off, has now succeeded to the full extent. I have nothing more to say, and ask for neither consolation nor reparation of my honour." "Good, Knapen !" replied the engineer, "that is rather courageous. I like you for it, and am sorry if I have hurt your pride. I made your ease as bad as I could, in order to bring you to the sacrifice. You have made it like a man, O give me your hand, just for once, for I may never be in Pago any more, and you have made me quite your friend!" The soldier aid as he was bidden, and a flash of joy lit up his eagle eye as he gave his hand to his late adversary, who thus so entirely reversed in a single moment his strain of address. The engineer was fearful that after his departure the vanquished lover would endeavour to overturn the new state of things, and he therefore said to Digia's father, "Master Dolomir, I must take your daughter with me. So you must please procure us a boat to cross the water in; and in the meantime let your wife get dinner ready." "My daughter, a boat, and dinner!" exclaimed the astonished tavern-keeper. "I do not give people to eat, your excellency; my house is only a bierrerie " ! "Ah!" cried the Frenchman, laughing, "you are opposing to me, as usual, the great word with you Italians, non é-usta'-it is not customary Why, man, you are not half a tradesman yet! In France, if you went to a baker for a horseshoe, he would get one, if he were only sure you'd pay for it!" 46 Signor François," said the Albanian upon this, "my basket of provisions is at the service of the company, and I should feel myself highly honoured, I assure you, if you would prevail upon all present here to dine with me." He did not wait for a reply, but sent his servant to the brigantine to fetch a supply of cold provisions and good wine, which, when he arrived, were spread out on the table of the vendiza. The three foreigners ate together with a good appetite, but Dolomir and Knapen went out before the meal began, and Digia occupied herself during its progress with waiting upon the three signors, and her mother with the preparation of her daughter's baggage. Just as Digia was putting the desert, which consisted of almonds and apples, upon the table, Dolomir and Knapen, who had been to engage a boat, returned, and brought word that no padrow would put to sea that evening, in consequence of the prevalence of contrary winds." "Ah!" whispered the old Dalmatian to the Frenchman, when he heard this, "they are scheming to delay the girl's departure, that in the night they may carry her into the interior of the island, and so prevent her ever leaving Pago, or, at any rate, her going away with us." 66 My brigantine fears not the weather," said the Albanian; we will go together in it as far as Fiume; that is, however, if we can find a proper pilot, one used to the passage." Digia ran out to fetch the ablest pilot in the island, the old sailor who was acquainted minutely with the whole coast, but he declared pointedly, on his arrival, that the passage was impossible. Between Pago and the coast of Croatia is only a very narrow and a very rocky channel, and this the pilot declared, with such a wind as was then blowing, it wouid be madness to attempt to cross. "Do you hear this?" said old Dolomir, addressing himself to the three foreigners, whilst Knapen added, "if your excellencies are at all desirous of getting drowned, you have here the finest of all possible opportunities." (To be continued.) DOMESTIC LIFE IN THE MIDDLE AGES. Rude were the manners then; man and wife ate off the same trencher; a few wooden handled knives, with blades of rugged iron, were a luxury for the great; candles unknown. A servant girl held a torch at supper; one, or at most two, mugs of coarse brown earthenware formed all the drinking apparatus in a house. Rich gentlemen wore clothes of unlined leather. Ordinary persons scarcely ever touched flesh meat. Noblemen drunk little or no wine in summer-a little corn seemed wealth. Women had trivial marriage portions-even ladies dressed extremely plain. The chief part of a family's expense was what the males spent in arms and horses, none of which however, were very good or very showy; and grandees had to lay out money on their lofty towers. In Dante's comparatively polished times, ladies began to paint their cheeks by way of finery, going to the theatre-and to use less assiduity in spinning and plying their distaff. What is only a symptom of prosperity in large, is the sure sign of ruin in small states. Florence he might very well deplore what in London or Paris would be to cause a smile. Wretchedly, indeed, plebians hovelled; and if noble castles were cold, dark, and dreary everywhere, they were infinitely worse in Italy, from the horrible modes of torture, characteristic Few of the cruelty, too frightful to dwell on. infamous structures built at the times treated of, stand at present. Yet their ruins disclose rueful corners.-History of the Order of St. John, of Jerusalem. So in The belief that guardian spirits hover around the paths of men covers a mighty truth, for every beautiful, pure, and good thought which the heart holds is an angel of mercy, purifying and guarding the soul. A drunkard cursing the moon, a maniac foaming at some magnificent statue, which stands serene and safe above his reach-or a ruffian crushing roses on his way to midnight plunder, is but a type of the sad work which a clever, but heartless and unimaginative, critic often makes of works of genius. I promised, dear Fanny, to warn you, Greek, Latin, French, Hebrew, and German; Theology, History, Science, From all fountains of learning she'll quaff; And walk like a moral giraffe. When once she has got her degree. There's a chance for you yet then, sweet Fanny; I should like you love, better than any, A duchess were nothing to me; DORTHE. FROM THE DANISH OF HENRIETTA NIELSON. -'probably,' as Marion the housemaid expressed it, with the intention of burying her mammon.' The council began by my mother making a proposal, which was opposed by my sister Julia— and two parties were thus immediately formedmy mother, however, being in the majority, as her proposal was adopted by the cook, the house. maid, and the fat old woman who weeds the gargirl who tends the poultry, but who spoke so den; while Julia was supported only by the little shrill, that it was very evident it was not every day she was allowed to speak at all. I stood by in moody silence, feeling that I had no sensible proposal to make, when suddenly all deliberation was put an end to by the appearance of a peasant was urging to its utmost speed, and who, in passgirl rounted on a poor jaded mare, which she ing the parsonage, cried out in a voice of terror: "They are coming! they are coming! Run, run for your lives! What else can we poor helpless women do?' But her words, by increasing our alarm, only made us more irresolute and helpless than before; and were staring at each other in stupid dismay, when Dorthe, rushing in, caught our invalid grandmother in her arms, and calling to us to follow her to the cellar, bore the old woman thither, and deposited her gently on a heap of bed-clothes she had prepared for her. with strong sunburnt arms and hands, and, on Dorthe was a stout square-built peasant-girl, ordinary occasions, a composure, almost amounting to the phlegmatic, was spread over her whole being. This, together with an uncommon degree of reserve, had rendered her so uninteresting in our eyes, that we had given much less attention to her than we usually bestowed on our servants; and thus, although she had already been six months in our service, she was still quite a stranger to us. But, as is ever the case in decisive moments, the master-mind had taken the lead; and in a few moments we were all busily employed in carrying out the orders of our hitherto so little esteemed brewery-maid, whose energy and decision seemed to inspire us all with new life. She explained to us in a few words that she had walled up the cellar windows-this is what she had used the spade for-and advised us to transfer ourselves and as many of our valuables as possible, to this place of safety, the entrance to which was in a remote part of the house, and might easily be concealed by a large chest or some such large thing. This Dorthe proposed to place before it when we were all in safety. And you, Dorthe,' I asked in amazement-'will you remain here quite alone to receive those notorious vagabonds?' . A TREMENDOUS panic seized upon our whole neighbourhood, when suddenly one day, during the war of 1848, the report was spread that the German free-corps had penetrated as far as our northern part of Jutland, had taken Aalborg, Viborg, and other towns, and were now advancing in our direction. The church-bells were instantly put in motion, and were immediately answered by those of the adjoining parish. All the young men of our village and the environs sallied forth, armed with scythes and pitchforks, to meet 'I am not alone while I have this,' she anthe enemy, who, it was said, were approaching swered in a somewhat sad but earnest tone, taking the H-bierg Hills. Even our otherwise calm up a gun which was placed against the wall, and and quiet parsonage was in a state of tumult and which, the other servants afterwards told us, had confusion-we women being entirely left to our belonged to her father, who had been a gameown devices, for my father was absent on busi-keeper, and which she looked upon as her greatness, and our male farm-servants had joined the other volunteers. In her perplexity, my mother summoned the maid-servants to a council of war; and all made their appearance, with the exception of Dorthe, the brewery-maid, who had been seen going to the back of the house with a spade in her hand est treasure. 'Can you fire it, Dorthe?' I again exclaimed in surprise. 'No,' she replied, and her countenance now assumed a lively roguish expression; but I can take aim; and my father often told me that, in time of war, the empty barrel of a gun might, in |