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dog； calling Monsieur Luigi da Porta and Mademoiselle Ginevra di
Piombo。 This caused some embarrassment to the young pair。 The
celebrity of the bride's name attracted attention； and the spectators
seemed to wonder that the wedding was not more sumptuous。 Ginevra
rose； took Luigi's arm； and advanced firmly； followed by the
witnesses。 A murmur of surprise； which went on increasing； and a
general whispering reminded Ginevra that all present were wondering at
the absence of her parents； her father's wrath seemed present to her。
〃Call in the families；〃 said the mayor to the clerk whose business it
was to read aloud the certificates。
〃The father and mother protest；〃 replied the clerk； phlegmatically。
〃On both sides？〃 inquired the mayor。
〃The groom is an orphan。〃
〃Where are the witnesses？〃
〃Here；〃 said the clerk； pointing to the four men； who stood with arms
folded； like so many statues。
〃But if the parents protest〃 began the mayor。
〃The respectful summons has been duly served；〃 replied the clerk；
rising； to lay before the mayor the papers annexed to the marriage
certificate。
This bureaucratic decision had something blighting about it； in a few
words it contained the whole story。 The hatred of the Portas and the
Piombos and their terrible passions were inscribed on this page of the
civil law as the annals of a people （contained； it may be； in one word
only；Napoleon； Robespierre） are engraved on a tombstone。 Ginevra
trembled。 Like the dove on the face of the waters； having no place to
rest its feet but the ark； so Ginevra could take refuge only in the
eyes of Luigi from the cold and dreary waste around her。
The mayor assumed a stern； disapproving air； and his clerk looked up
at the couple with malicious curiosity。 No marriage was ever so little
festal。 Like other human beings when deprived of their accessories； it
became a simple act in itself； great only in thought。
After a few questions； to which the bride and bridegroom responded；
and a few words mumbled by the mayor； and after signing the registers；
with their witnesses； duly； Luigi and Ginevra were made one。 Then the
wedded pair walked back through two lines of joyous relations who did
not belong to them； and whose only interest in their marriage was the
delay caused to their own wedding by this gloomy bridal。 When； at
last； Ginevra found herself in the mayor's court…yard； under the open
sky； a sigh escaped her breast。
〃Can a lifetime of devotion and love suffice to prove my gratitude for
your courage and tenderness； my Ginevra？〃 said Luigi。
At these words； said with tears of joy； the bride forgot her
sufferings； for she had indeed suffered in presenting herself before
the public to obtain a happiness her parents refused to sanction。
〃Why should others come between us？〃 she said with an artlessness of
feeling that delighted Luigi。
A sense of accomplished happiness now made the step of the young pair
lighter； they saw neither heaven； nor earth； nor houses； they flew； as
it were； on wings to the church。 When they reached a dark little
chapel in one corner of the building； and stood before a plain
undecorated altar； an old priest married them。 There； as in the
mayor's office； two other marriages were taking place； still pursuing
them with pomp。 The church； filled with friends and relations； echoed
with the roll of carriages； and the hum of beadles； sextons； and
priests。 Altars were resplendent with sacramental luxury； the wreaths
of orange…flowers that crowned the figures of the Virgin were fresh。
Flowers； incense； gleaming tapers； velvet cushions embroidered with
gold； were everywhere。 When the time came to hold above the heads of
Luigi and Ginevra the symbol of eternal union；that yoke of satin；
white； soft； brilliant； light for some； lead for most；the priest
looked about him in vain for the acolytes whose place it was to
perform that joyous function。 Two of the witnesses fulfilled it for
them。 The priest addressed a hasty homily to the pair on the perils of
life； on the duties they must； some day； inculcate upon their
children；throwing in； at this point； an indirect reproach to Ginevra
on the absence of her parents； then； after uniting them before God； as
the mayor had united them before the law； he left the now married
couple。
〃God bless them！〃 said Vergniaud； the sergeant； to the mason； when
they reached the church porch。 〃No two creatures were ever more fitted
for one another。 The parents of the girl are foolish。 I don't know a
braver soldier than Colonel Luigi。 If the whole army had behaved like
him； 'l'autre' would be here still。〃
This blessing of the old soldier； the only one bestowed upon their
marriage…day； shed a balm on Ginevra's heart。
They parted with hearty shakings of hand； Luigi thanked his landlord。
〃Adieu； 'mon brave；'〃 he said to the sergeant。 〃I thank you。〃
〃I am now and ever at your service； colonel；soul； body； horses； and
carriages； all that is mine is yours。〃
〃How he loves you！〃 said Ginevra。
Luigi now hurried his bride to the house they were to occupy。 Their
modest apartment was soon reached； and there； when the door closed
upon them； Luigi took his wife in his arms； exclaiming；
〃Oh； my Ginevra！ for now you are mine； here is our true wedding。
Here；〃 he added； 〃all things will smile upon us。〃
Together they went through the three rooms contained in their lodging。
The room first entered served as salon and dining…room in one； on the
right was a bedchamber； on the left a large study which Luigi had
arranged for his wife； in it she found easels； color…boxes； lay…
figures； casts； pictures； portfolios；in short； the paraphernalia of
an artist。
〃So here I am to work！〃 she said； with an expression of childlike
happiness。
She looked long at the hangings and the furniture； turning again and
again to thank Luigi； for there was something that approached
magnificence in the little retreat。 A bookcase contained her favorite
books； a piano filled an angle of the room。 She sat down upon a divan；
drew Luigi to her side； and said； in a caressing voice； her hand in
his；
〃You have good taste。〃
〃Those words make me happy；〃 he replied。
〃But let me see all；〃 said Ginevra； to whom Luigi had made a mystery
of the adornment of the rooms。
They entered the nuptial chamber； fresh and white as a virgin。
〃Oh！ come away；〃 said Luigi； smiling。
〃But I wish to see all。〃
And the imperious Ginevra looked at each piece of furniture with the
minute care of an antiquary examining a coin； she touched the silken
hangings； and went over every article with the artless satisfaction of
a bride in the treasures of her wedding outfit。
〃We begin by ruining ourselves；〃 she said； in a half…joyous； half…
anxious tone。
〃True！ for all my back pay is there；〃 replied Luigi。 〃I have mortgaged
it to a worthy fellow named Gigonnet。〃
〃Why did you do so？〃 she said； in a tone of reproach； through which
could be heard her inward satisfaction。 〃Do you believe I should be
less happy in a garret？ But；〃 she added； 〃it is all charming； andit
is ours！〃
Luigi looked at her with such enthusiasm that she lowered her eyes。
〃Now let us see the rest；〃 she cried。
Above these three rooms； under the roof； was a study for Luigi； a
kitchen； and a servant's…room。 Ginevra was much pleased with her
little domain； although the view from the windows was limited by the
high wall of a neighboring house； and the court…yard； from which their
light was derived； was gloomy。 But the two lovers were so happy in
heart； hope so adorned their future； that they chose to see nothing
but what was charming in their hidden nest。 They were there in that
vast house； lost in the immensity of Paris； like two pearls in their
shell in the depths of ocean； to all others it might have seemed a
prison； to them it was paradise。
The first few days of their union were given to love。 The effort to
turn at once to work was too difficult； they could not resist the
charm of their own passion。 Luigi lay for hours at the feet of his
wife； admiring the color of her hair； the moulding of her forehead；
the enchanting socket of her eyes； the purity and whiteness of the two
arches beneath which the eyes themselves turned slowly； expressing the
happiness of a satisfied love。 Ginevra caressed the hair of her Luigi；
never weary of gazing at what she called his 〃belta folgorante；〃 and
the delicacy of his features。 She was constantly charmed by the
nobility of his manners； as she herself attracted him by the grace of
hers。
They played together； like children； with nothings；nothings that
brought them ever back to their love；ceasing their play only to fall
into a revery of the 〃far niente。〃 An air sung by Ginevra reproduced
to their souls the enchanting lights and shadows of their passion。
Together； uniting