rather than among those who should have proved her protectors?
Florinda had ever loved her uncle and, until she had learned some of
the evil traits of his character, had respected him, too. But as she
grew older and more observant, these things forced themselves upon
her attention, and she was obliged to concede their truth to her own
heart, though she never made mention of the matter to another. Of
Petro-she had never loved him; and while they were yet children and
playmates together, they could never agree.

The deep, dark passions that Petro inherited from his father, often
broke out on the most trivial provocation, to the terror of
Florinda, until she more feared than loved him. As both had grown
older, Petro acquired more command over his evil passions, and
Florinda had learned to look upon him with indifference; and yet she
felt his absence for so long a time at Bologna to be a relief from
an unpleasant restraint she felt in his or her uncle's presence.
Signor Latrezzi discovered this growing dislike of his niece for
himself; and this was another argument with himself why he should
resort to the proposed stratagem to accomplish an end which
otherwise appeared to be receding farther and farther from his grasp
every hour.

His earnestness in the matter showed fully that he had some private
purpose in view, and this Petro suspected, and he at length
ascertained his desire to cover up some pecuniary fraud he had
committed upon her estate. But he was willing to let that remain in
obscurity, provided he could get the management of the rest, which
was indeed an immense estate in value.

Such were the uncle and nephew to her. But as they stood now