noonday near the shaft of the Campanile.

His companion was manifestly a lady of rank and a most lovely
female, satisfying the eye at the first glance, and constantly
pleasing the longer it dwelt upon her. When we describe an Italian
lady as being beautiful, she must be so indeed; for there is no half
way between beauty and the opposite extreme here. There are but few
really handsome women in Tuscany, but these few are of a class of
beauty that may well have ravished the rest of their sex in this
fair clime. Her countenance was radiant with thought and feeling,
and her large and dewy eyes of blue--nature's own sweet tint--rested
fondly on him by her side.

Her rich and abundant dark hair was parted smoothly across her
unblemished forehead, which might have been marble, so smooth and
pure, but for the warm blood that flowed through those delicate blue
channels. The mouth and features were of the Grecian model, and when
she smiled she showed a ravishing sweetness of expression, and teeth
that rivalled those of an Indian. In form, her person was slightly
voluptuous, though strictly within the most true female delicacy.
Such is a sketch of the two whom we at the outset denominated as
lovers; and such they were, as the progress of our story will
disclose.

"There is much between thee and me, Florinda," said her companion,
sighing heavily; "and of a metal worse than all others-pride and
gold! jailors both of the daring heart!"

"Nay, dear Carlton, thou art ever foreboding ills," said the lady
persuasively, and in a voice as sweet as that of the idolized Pagoda