its wrath and fury.

The uncle could hardly realize the present state of affairs, so
unexpected was it to him, Was it to this end he had played the
hypocrite so many years, that he had given away to all the caprices
of a wayward girl, and humored her most annoying fancies? He could
scarcely contain himself. Here was a denouement for the proud old
noble-his niece engaged to an American artist; his Italian blood
boiled at the thought. Petro, too, as we have intimated, little
dreamed of the fire that had been kindled in Florinda's heart-a
flame that all the coldness of her uncle, ay, and his assumed
authority, too, could not possibly quench.

She was an inmate now of her uncle's household, or rather, he had
full charge of her father's house, where she resided; and though in
many respects entirely independent of him, still, in the matter of
forming so important a connection, she hardly dared to proceed
openly and at once contrary to his expressed wish, and even orders.
Immediately on her uncle's return to Florence, Florinda had removed
from the duke's palace to that of her forefathers, in order to
assume, in some degree, the direction of her own affairs. Here
Carlton was peremptorily refused admittance by the directions of her
uncle; and thus poor Florinda was little less than a prisoner, in
her own house, not daring to meet Carlton, if she could have done
so. Thus commenced a drama which was to have a tragical end; and
Florinda and Carlton found a sudden end to their late happy and
joyful intercourse which neither had anticipated.

"Signor Latrezzi," said the duke one day to Florinda's uncle, "this
young American is a noble fellow."