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I cannot！〃 he cried； flinging away the weapon； which buried itself in
the wainscot。
〃Well； then！ have mercy！ have pity！〃 she said。 〃You hesitate to be my
death； and you refuse me life！ Oh！ father； never have I loved you as I
do at this moment； give me Luigi！ I ask for your consent upon my
knees： a daughter can humiliate herself before her father。 My Luigi；
give me my Luigi； or I die！〃
The violent excitement which suffocated her stopped her words； for she
had no voice； her convulsive movements showed plainly that she lay； as
it were； between life and death。 Bartolomeo roughly pushed her from
him。
〃Go；〃 he said。 〃The wife of Luigi Porta cannot be a Piombo。 I have no
daughter。 I have not the strength to curse you； but I cast you off；
you have no father。 My Ginevra Piombo is buried here；〃 he said； in a
deep voice； pressing violently on his heart。 〃Go； leave my house；
unhappy girl；〃 he added； after a moment's silence。 〃Go； and never come
into my sight again。〃
So saying； he took Ginevra by the arm to the gate of the house and
silently put her out。
〃Luigi！〃 cried Ginevra； entering the humble lodging of her lover；〃my
Luigi； we have no other fortune than our love。〃
〃Then am I richer than the kings of the earth！〃 he cried。
〃My father and my mother have cast me off；〃 she said； in deepest
sadness。
〃I will love you in place of them。〃
〃Then let us be happy；we WILL be happy！〃 she cried； with a gayety in
which there was something dreadful。
CHAPTER V
MARRIAGE
The day after Ginevra was driven from her father's house she went to
ask Madame Servin for asylum and protection until the period fixed by
law for her marriage to Luigi。
Here began for her that apprenticeship to trouble which the world
strews about the path of those who do not follow its conventions。
Madame Servin received her very coldly； being much annoyed by the harm
which Ginevra's affair had inflicted on her husband； and told her； in
politely cautious words； that she must not count on her help in
future。 Too proud to persist； but amazed at a selfishness hitherto
unknown to her； the girl took a room in the lodging…house that was
nearest to that of Luigi。 The son of the Portas passed all his days at
the feet of his future wife； and his youthful love； the purity of his
words； dispersed the clouds from the mind of the banished daughter；
the future was so beautiful as he painted it that she ended by smiling
joyfully； though without forgetting her father's severity。
One morning the servant of the lodging house brought to Ginevra's room
a number of trunks and packages containing stuffs； linen； clothes； and
a great quantity of other articles necessary for a young wife in
setting up a home of her own。 In this welcome provision she recognized
her mother's foresight； and； on examining the gifts； she found a
purse； in which the baroness had put the money belonging to her
daughter； adding to it the amount of her own savings。 The purse was
accompanied by a letter； in which the mother implored the daughter to
forego the fatal marriage if it were still possible to do so。 It had
cost her； she said； untold difficulty to send these few things to her
daughter； she entreated her not to think her hard if； henceforth； she
were forced to abandon her to want； she feared she could never again
assist her； but she blessed her and prayed for her happiness in this
fatal marriage； if； indeed； she persisted in making it； assuring her
that she should never cease to think of her darling child。 Here the
falling tears had effaced some words of the letter。
〃Oh； mother！〃 cried Ginevra； deeply moved。
She felt the impulse to rush home； to breathe the blessed air of her
father's house； to fling herself at his feet； to see her mother。 She
was springing forward to accomplish this wish； when Luigi entered。 At
the mere sight of him her filial emotion vanished； her tears were
stopped； and she no longer had the strength to abandon that loving and
unfortunate youth。 To be the sole hope of a noble being； to love him
and then abandon him！that sacrifice is the treachery of which young
hearts are incapable。 Ginevra had the generosity to bury her own grief
and suffering silently in her soul。
The marriage day arrived。 Ginevra had no friend with her。 While she
was dressing； Luigi fetched the witnesses necessary to sign the
certificate of marriage。 These witnesses were worthy persons； one； a
cavalry sergeant； was under obligations to Luigi； contracted on the
battlefield； obligations which are never obliterated from the heart of
an honest man； the other； a master…mason； was the proprietor of the
house in which the young couple had hired an apartment for their
future home。 Each witness brought a friend； and all four； with Luigi；
came to escort the bride。 Little accustomed to social functions； and
seeing nothing in the service they were rendering to Luigi but a
simple matter of business； they were dressed in their ordinary
clothes； without any luxury； and nothing about them denoted the usual
joy of a marriage procession。
Ginevra herself was dressed simply； as befitted her present fortunes；
and yet her beauty was so noble and so imposing that the words of
greeting died away on the lips of the witnesses； who supposed
themselves obliged to pay her some usual compliments。 They bowed to
her with respect； and she returned the bow； but they did so in
silence； looking at her with admiration。 This reserve cast a chill
over the whole party。 Joy never bursts forth freely except among those
who are equals。 Thus chance determined that all should be dull and
grave around the bridal pair； nothing reflected； outwardly； the
happiness that reigned within their hearts。
The church and the mayor's office being near by； Luigi and Ginevra；
followed by the four witnesses required by law； walked the distance；
with a simplicity that deprived of all pomp this greatest event in
social life。 They saw a crowd of waiting carriages in the mayor's
court…yard； and when they reached the great hall where the civil
marriages take place； they found two other wedding…parties impatiently
awaiting the mayor's arrival。
Ginevra sat down beside Luigi at the end of a long bench； their
witnesses remained standing； for want of seats。 Two brides；
elaborately dressed in white； with ribbons； laces； and pearls； and
crowned with orange…blossoms whose satiny petals nodded beneath their
veils； were surrounded by joyous families； and accompanied by their
mothers； to whom they looked up； now and then； with eyes that were
content and timid both； the faces of all the rest reflected happiness；
and seemed to be invoking blessings on the youthful pairs。 Fathers；
witnesses； brothers； and sisters went and came； like a happy swarm of
insects disporting in the sun。 Each seemed to be impressed with the
value of this passing moment of life； when the heart finds itself
within two hopes；the wishes of the past； the promises of the future。
As she watched them； Ginevra's heart swelled within her； she pressed
Luigi's arm； and gave him a look。 A tear rolled from the eyes of the
young Corsican； never did he so well understand the joys that his
Ginevra was sacrificing to him。 That precious tear caused her to
forget all else but him；even the abandonment in which she sat there。
Love poured down its treasures of light upon their hearts； they saw
nought else but themselves in the midst of the joyous tumult； they
were there alone； in that crowd； as they were destined to be；
henceforth； in life。 Their witnesses； indifferent to what was
happening； conversed quietly on their own affairs。
〃Oats are very dear；〃 said the sergeant to the mason。
〃But they have not gone up like lime； relatively speaking；〃 replied
the contractor。
Then they walked round the hall。
〃How one loses time here；〃 said the mason； replacing a thick silver
watch in his fob。
Luigi and Ginevra； sitting pressed to one another； seemed like one
person。 A poet would have admired their two heads； inspired by the
same sentiment； colored in the same tones； silent and saddened in
presence of that humming happiness sparkling in diamonds； gay with
flowers；a gayety in which there was something fleeting。 The joy of
those noisy and splendid groups was visible； that of Ginevra and Luigi
was buried in their bosom。 On one side the tumult of common pleasure；
on the other； the delicate silence of happy souls；earth and heaven！
But Ginevra was not wholly free from the weaknesses of women。
Superstitious as an Italian； she saw an omen in this contrast； and in
her heart there lay a sense of terror； as invincible as her love。
Suddenly the office servant； in the town livery； opened a folding…
door。 Silence reigned； and his voice was heard； like the yapping of a
dog； calling Monsieur Luigi da Porta and Mademoiselle Ginevra di
Piombo。 This caused some embarrass