The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-12-26


sentences, classic quotations, lines OF
poetry, newspaper diction, things that
everybody repeats because everybody
has begun by saying them. do not
speak of proverbs; they were vigorously
| prohibited. At first for awhile they
amused themselves by citing proverbs
upside down, at the cost of causing a
shudder to the mighty Solomon and all
other collectors of proverbial philosophy;
but it was jest that soon became CON-
mon, and they let it go. The marquis
Twas always upon guard, fearing to see a
smile of scorn appear upon the beauti-
| full mouth of the countess for some in.
voluntary offense against esprit on his
| part. And on the other hand the coun-
tess was wary as to her words, blushing
| to be caught In moment of weakness
in which she should resemble too much
any other woman.
But by too great subservience to their
reputation, Flavia and Ernesto began to
become rather tiresome; that is to say,
not to themselves, but to the people who
| frequented them. 1t is natural that
brilliant people have many exactions, it
is natural that they live life different
from that of the multitude. For ex-
ample, when they met at ball, Ernesto
saluted the countess and spoke with her
for one moment, then took little turn
and came back to say something to her,
without even stopping long, but return
ing often, and people around said that
he was right to do so, because she alone
could understand him. They frequently
danced together for the same reason
and the other admirers of the witty
countess were left badly off, disap-
pointed of the mazurka or quadrille
hoped for in vain. When Flavia went
away the marquis moved about the
rooms for a little while longer with a
bored air; then put on his overcoat and
departed because he had no longer any
one to talk with.
At the theater Ernesto remained
much longer than was his duty in her
box, for it is very common to make short
visits to ladies. If some poor mortal, in
form of dark youth in dress coat,
marmoreally polished shirt front and
the relative crush hat, presented him.
self to the Countess Flavia-if this I'M
happy but contemplate young man
dared venture the customary compli-
ments-an impertinent little laugh
stirred the lips of the marquis and cut
ting reply came from the rosy mouth of
the countess. The result was the pre-
cipitate fight of the young man There
was a rumor that the Marquis Ernesto
had paid assiduous court to the young
Duchess Cesira Galbiati, very beauti-
full young woman, tall, with statuesqe
outlines, great Junonian eyes, long gold
en- hair, a'fiower of womanhood, but in
the way of intelligence, a goose of the
ingenious and conscientious sort; well,
it was to be supposed that the Countess
Flavia had exploded more than one cpl
gram at the marquis, for he ceased to
hover around the Duchess Cesira.
Again, the countess and the MARQUIS
had reserved to themselves the privilege
of many, very many strange ideas,
which they never failed to put in to exc
cution. When all the stream of car
riages was at the Riviera di Chiaia.
Flavia made hers turn by the corner of
Piedigotta and go by the Corso Vittorio
Emanuel; Ernesto described circle,
went by way of the Toledo and the Sal
vator Rosa and came to meet her. In
the winter season, in midst of the
amusements, festivals, balls, Flavia fed
away all alone to Sorrento, and after
three days Ernesto appeared there, bored
by the city. At first Flavia had recep-
ton day, then annuled it, seeing that ali
the other women, her friends, had one,
and also because the marquis made fun
of days.
The marquis had lost his inveterate
habit of going to hunt every year in
Calabria. So, little by little, certain
isolation was made around them; the
world confessed aloud that in those two
was contained the entire wit of Naples,
but added, soto voce, that it was bet
ter to leave the two models of wit to
fight it out between themselves. Flavia
and Ernesto did not perceive this, and
when the tardy moment came, in which
they found themselves alone, one facing
the other, it seemed to them very sim
pie thing. The public had withdrawn
itself-but not in vain was the invention
of art for arts sake.
One evening, be it known, in autumn
the conversation between those two lam
guished, exhausted. Not that they found
nothing more to say, but certain sense
of WEAKNESS descended upon them. All
the evening their wit had sparkled bril-
liantly, and the charming epigram, deli
cate ironies, courteous implications,
biting amiabilities had showered unin-
termittently. Now they were silent.
The countess extended herself slightly
in her armchair; she was adorable under
the quiet lamplight; but the marquis,
while recognizing this fact, had the good
taste not to speak of it, He was playing
with a mother of pearl pen handle.
Marriage is very fine thing" he
murmured, with pretended air of con-
viction.
"For the unmarried, yes" the countess
quickly retorted.
And she adjusted her lace cravat.
Ernesto took book from the table, read
the title and laid it down again.
'Do you know what they say down
there about us?'
81 do not know. And do not care to