bourhood in Sciacca; but so violent is the rage of party there at present, that no hopes of any friendly intercourse can be indulged in."

On reaching the castle, the cavaliers repaired to the apartments of the baroness, and found both her and the lady Costanza quite recovered from all effects of their fright. The ladies had both felt some curiosity to see more of Pignatelli, of whom they had heard so much at Palermo, from his noble relatives, and still more from Perollo, who had never spoken of him without his vehement regard and affection being manifested.

As frequently happens, he was the very opposite to his friend both in manners and person-Perollo being very tall, singularly handsome, and more than commonly commanding in his appearance, for one so young, and his manners sure to attach those who knew him, but apt to be unattractive to strangers, from their mistaking a natural reserve for hauteur; he did not

shew every new impression, but when received, it was nearly ineffaceable; and his character had in it a deep and ardent sensibility, which felt much, but had the power of concealing it, except from those who knew him very intimately.

Gaetano resembled him in nothing but high honour, steady principles, and the then unusual taste for literature, which they had both received from the same tutor. In person he just escaped being little, but was exquisitely formed; rode and danced better than any body; was acknowledged to have the finest eyes, and most animated countenance, in all Sicily; was the idol of every society, and the favourite of every lady. The little party now assembled at Castel Vetrano could with difficulty be equalled for graces of mind and person.

After the baroness had thanked the friends for their timely aid in her distress, the foregoing evening, she said " We have smiled, this morning, to think how astonished you must have been, signor Perollo, at our rencontre last night; but

you had not left Palermo more than two days, when I received the baron's direc

tions to proceed to Sciacca, and as soon as the arrangements for our journey could be made, we started; your having gone round by Trapani was the fortunate cause of our so providentially meeting with you in our distress."

Costanza was surveying, from one of the windows, the beautiful scenery around; and when the baroness had finished speaking, Perollo walked towards her, and Gaetano observing the subject of her contemplation, said—" My friend Perollo, signora, is a devoted admirer of the beauties of Sicily, but this scene seems to have benumbed his faculties; one poor compliment to Castel Vetrano is all I have been able to extort; do pray try and rouse him to something like a sense of its beauties; for myself, I am so enchanted with them, that I have almost resolved to spend my days here, in a state of patriarchal simpli city."

Perhaps, signor, you can discover

some grotto or hermitage amongst the adjacent hills, where your venerable pur pose may be easily fulfilled, and the contemplative disposition of your friend indulged to its fullest extent," answered Costanza.

"The raptures of Pignatelli," observed Federico, "so far surpassed all bounds of moderation, that nothing remained for me but tacit approbation; he talked of a paradise on earth; had already, in imagination, beaten his sword into a pruning-hook, turned vine-dresser and agriculturist, and surrounded himself with a band of descendants, even to the third and fourth generations; a flight beyond this, I could not soar to; and as my humble applause would have fallen so far beneath his eulogium, I contented myself with merely assenting to his opinions."

"The vehement feelings of don Gaetano are, I fear, somewhat transient," said Cos tanza," and the attractions of the metropolis would perhaps draw him from his rural paradise to the purgatory of Palermo,

where he would soon forget his sheep and his lambkins."

"And inconstancy, no doubt, would be a crime sufficient in your eyes, fair lady, to doom me to remain in my abode of punishment ?"

"No," replied Costanza, "I would send you back to your vineyard and sheepfold, lest the gaieties of the court should charm away all your regrets, and you should be contented with your lot."

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Lady, you are a merciless judge, and I would appeal from your sentence to the angel who, by the original contract, was to have been my partner in the rural life, which you and Perollo hold in such disdain; however, there are few among the dames of Sicily who would not encourage my apostacy, I fear; and that reflection alone seems sufficient to make me delay my intended purpose of turning husbandman in Castel Vetrano."

"For shame, Pignatelli !" exclaimed Federico; "how can you thus doubt the