as any Goth's, a contrast to the swarthy child she carried in her
arms. Immediately the daily ovation began, and each of the three
persons began to worship the baby in an especial way. There was no
more conversation, after that, for some time. The youngest of the
Saracinesca absorbed the attention of the family. Whether he
clenched his little fists, or opened his small fat fingers,
whether he laughed and crowed at his grandfather's attempts to
amuse him, or struck his nurse's rosy cheeks with his chubby
hands, the result was always applause and merriment from those who
looked on. The scene recalled Joseph's dream, in which the sheaves
of his brethren bowed down to his sheaf.

After a while, however, Orsino grew sleepy and had to be taken
away. Then the little party broke up and separated. The old prince
went to his rooms to read and doze for an hour. Corona was called
away to see one of the numberless dressmakers whose shadows darken
the beginning of a season in town, and Giovanni took his hat and
went out.

In those days young men of society had very little to do. The
other day a German diplomatist was heard to say that Italian
gentlemen seemed to do nothing but smoke, spit, and criticise.
Twenty years ago their manners might have been described less
coarsely, but there was even more truth in the gist of the saying.
Not only they did nothing. There was nothing for them to do. They
floated about in a peaceful millpool, whose placid surface
reflected nothing but their own idle selves, little guessing that
the dam whereby their mimic sea was confined, would shortly break
with a thundering crash and empty them all into the stream of real
life that flowed below. For the few who disliked idleness there