"He has
probably not seen many Venetian girls of our class face to face and
unveiled. He is to be congratulated on his good fortune!"
"By my faith!" exclaimed Beroviero, "it is hard to satisfy you!"
"I have asked nothing."
"Do you mean to say that you have any objections to allege against such
a marriage?"
"Have I said that I should oppose it? One may obey without enthusiasm."
She laughed coldly.
"Like the unprofitable servant! I had expected something more of you, my
child. I have been at infinite pains and I am making great sacrifices to
procure you a suitable husband, and there are scores of noble girls in
Venice who would give ten years of their lives to marry Jacopo
Contarini! And you say that you obey my commands without enthusiasm!
You are an ungrateful--"
"No, I am not!" interrupted Marietta firmly. "I would rather not marry
at all--"
"Not marry!" repeated Beroviero, interrupting her in a tone of profound
stupefaction, and standing still in the sun as he spoke. "Why--what is
the matter?"
"Is it so strange that I should be contented with my girl's life?" asked
Marietta. "Should I not be ungrateful indeed, if I wished to leave you
and become the wife of a man I have just seen for the first time?"
"You use most extraordinary arguments, my dear," replied Beroviero,
quite at a loss for a suitable retort.
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