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emydismissalIsaid,— 'Wehavehadaverypleasanttalk,andwearequitegoodfriends,arewenot?' 'Quite!'shesaid. IdrewalongbreathasIlefther.IhopedIhadhurtIhopedIhadhumiliatedher.IwishedIcouldhavethoughtofthingstosaythatwouldhavecuthertotheheart.Iwasquiteindifferenttoher,butwhenIremembered—Ihatedher. IkneweveryoneinForlibynow,andasIturnedawayfromGiuliaIhadnolackoffriendswithwhomtotalk.Theroomsbecamemorecrowdedeverymoment.TheassemblywasthemostbrilliantthatForlihadeverseenandastheeveningworeonthepeoplebecamemoreanimatedababeloftalkdrownedthemusic,andthechieftopicofconversationwasthewonderfulbeautyofCaterina.Shewasbubblingoverwithhighspiritsnooneknewwhathadhappenedtomakehersojoyful,foroflateshehadsufferedalittlefromtheunpopularityofherhusband,andasullenlookofangerhadreplacedtheoldsmilesandgraces.Butto-nightshewasherselfagain.Menwerestandingroundtalkingtoher,andoneheardashoutoflaughterfromthemaseverynowandthenshemadesomewittyreparteeandherconversationgainedanothercharmfromasortofsoldierlybluntnesswhichpeoplerememberedinFrancescoSforza,andwhichshehadinherited.PeoplealsospokeofthecordialityofGirolamotowardsourCheccohewalkedupanddowntheroomwithhim,arminarm,talkingaffectionatelyitremindedtheonlookersofthetimewhentheyhadbeenasbrotherstogether.Caterinaoccasionallygavethemaglanceandalittlesmileofapprovalshewasevidentlywellpleasedwiththereconciliation. Iwasmakingmywaythroughthecrowd,watchingthevariouspeople,givingawordhereandthereoranod,andIthoughtthatlifewasreallyaveryamusingthing.Ifeltmightilypleasedwithmyself,andIwonderedwheremygoodfriendClaudiawasImustgoandpayhermyrespects. 'Filippo!' IturnedandsawScipioneMoratinistandingbyhissister,withanumberofgentlemenandladies,mostofthemknowntome. 'Whyareyousmilingsocontentedly?'hesaid.'Youlookasifyouhadlostapebbleandfoundadiamondinitsplace.' 'PerhapsIhavewhoknows?' AtthatmomentIsawErcolePiacentinientertheroomwithhiswifeIwonderedwhytheyweresolate.Claudiawasatonceseizeduponbyoneofheradmirers,and,leavingherhusband,saunteredoffontheprofferedarm.ErcolecameuptheroomonhiswaytotheCount.Hisgrimvisagewascontortedintoanexpressionofamiability,whichsatonhimwithanillgrace. 'Thisisindeedadayofrejoicing,'Isaid'eventhewickedogreistryingtolookpleasant.' Giuliagavealittlesilverylaugh.Ithoughtitforced. 'Youhaveaforgivingspirit,dearfriend,'shesaid,accentingthelastwordinrecollectionofwhatIhadsaidtoher.'AtrulyChristiandisposition!' 'Why?'Iasked,smiling. 'IadmirethewayinwhichyouhaveforgivenErcolefortheinsultshehasofferedyouonedoesnotoftenfindagentlemanwhosocharitablyturnshisothercheektothesmiter!' Ilaughedwithinmyselfshewast