"Don't preach, darling; believe me, this is not a mad prank," said Bianca, with a contemptuous smile at her own past follies. "I am no longer a child, and this is an event which decides the fate of my life. Oh! Elvira, I am an altered creature since I last saw you; something has happened which has softened my disposition -I resemble you more now, dearest; I feel I could even now be almost as good as you-I could make any sacrifices; but at the same time, if my only wish, the desire of my heart, is thwarted, if-if-" she continued, assuming a lofty air, while her dark eyes flashed fire; "if!" and she mused long and deeply; "oh, then I shall die at last," she said, starting at some frightful picture her imagination had conjured up.

"You terrify me, dear Bianca; try to explain what has so altered you. Oh, let me hear your joyous laugh again; I would rather see you thoughtless, and even wildly joyous as of yore, than a prey to such passionate feelings."

"Well, I will try to tell you; and yet I feel unwilling to clothe in language, in words which

are the medium of communion between common minds, those feelings on which I now secretly live, which form a very part of my being. Methinks these hallowed thoughts would be desecrated."

Elvira smiled; she was struck more than ever by the change in her friend's whole appearance; she felt that she loved her better, that there was now a new bond of sympathy between them, and she began to suspect that Bianca loved. "I should like you to divine my thoughts," said Bianca, after a pause; 66 answer me one question do you love your future husband?"

Elvira started. She answered not, but the look of exulting, of unspeakable joy, which shone like a brilliant sunbeam on her beautiful countenance, was enough for the observing Bianca. "Then you can understand me," she

said.

"Are you then betrothed ?—have you seen the person who is destined to be your husband ?"

"I have seen the only being who can ever claim that title," exclaimed Bianca, with anima

tion; "I have seen the most perfect of mortals; but," she continued, with a desponding look, "but I know not even his name; still less whether he be a Guelf and a noble, such as my mother would select for my husband."

“Ah, dearest Bianca, how imprudent !—and your mother, is she aware of your love?"

66

"I saw him again since I came from the convent," continued Bianca, whose attention had been so absorbed by her own train of thought, that she had not heard Elvira. "I beheld him this very morning; he was mounted on a white charger, his dark——”

"Then you are sure your affection is returned?" said Elvira, with hope.

"Not a word passed, and yet I feel convinced that he loves me,” replied Bianca.

"This without a word," thought Elvira, comparing the sanguine temper of her friend with her own late want of faith in the affection of a man who had sued for her hand: "but, dearest Bianca, are you right in remaining so late?— surely-"

"Ah! I forgot. I am so happy to think you

now understand my feelings. I forgot to implore your protection. I am terrified at I know not what; I cannot ascertain why I have been sent for from the convent. Strange preparations are going on in the palace; I thought it might be for my brother's marriage, but all is so mysterious, I can hear nothing—a vague yet horrible suspicion sometimes oppresses me, that may be the person, that I--"

I

Bianca paused, and turned deadly pale; but soon resuming the proud air which was her most habitual expression, she said, “But I shall not consent; I would rather die a thousand deaths-I shall fly, I shall implore protection from you."

"But would you disobey your mother?" said Elvira, in a solemn tone; "would you forget the holy precepts which we have learned?—would you incur the malediction of a parent, and disappoint all our dear instructors, and poor sister Agnes, who loves you so much?"

Bianca trembled, yet tried to smile, and said, "Do not anticipate such misfortunes-all may be my own fancy. I will at least not torment my

self before the time; all I know is, that no power, no consideration, not even your entreaties could prevail, to make me alter my determination. Hark! what noise is that?-some one Adieu-I will not run the risk of offending my mother by the discovery that I secretly visited a Ghibelline house. Adieu."

comes.

Hastily throwing on her dark cloak, Bianca Donati glided away, and soon disappeared among the pine-trees which bounded the palace garden.

CHAPTER III.

""Twas in a narrow street,

North of that temple, where the truly great
Sleep, not unhonoured, not unvisited;
That temple, sacred to the Holy Cross-

There is the house, that house of the Donati-
Towerless, and left long since; but to the last
Braving all assault. All rugged, all embossed
Below, and still distinguished by the rings
Of brass, that held in war and festival time
Their family standards.
ROGERS.

IT was late the guests had departed from Count Amidei's halls. One by one the lights