A Sicilian Romance | Page 2

this might be, he soon afterwards married Maria de
Vellorno, a young lady eminently beautiful, but of a character very
opposite to that of her predecessor. She was a woman of infinite art,
devoted to pleasure, and of an unconquerable spirit. The marquis,
whose heart was dead to paternal tenderness, and whose present lady
was too volatile to attend to domestic concerns, committed the
education of his daughters to the care of a lady, completely qualified
for the undertaking, and who was distantly related to the late
marchioness.
He quitted Mazzini soon after his second marriage, for the gaieties and
splendour of Naples, whither his son accompanied him. Though

naturally of a haughty and overbearing disposition, he was governed by
his wife. His passions were vehement, and she had the address to bend
them to her own purpose; and so well to conceal her influence, that he
thought himself most independent when he was most enslaved. He paid
an annual visit to the castle of Mazzini; but the marchioness seldom
attended him, and he staid only to give such general directions
concerning the education of his daughters, as his pride, rather than his
affection, seemed to dictate.
Emilia, the elder, inherited much of her mother's disposition. She had a
mild and sweet temper, united with a clear and comprehensive mind.
Her younger sister, Julia, was of a more lively cast. An extreme
sensibility subjected her to frequent uneasiness; her temper was warm,
but generous; she was quickly irritated, and quickly appeased; and to a
reproof, however gentle, she would often weep, but was never sullen.
Her imagination was ardent, and her mind early exhibited symptoms of
genius. It was the particular care of Madame de Menon to counteract
those traits in the disposition of her young pupils, which appeared
inimical to their future happiness; and for this task she had abilities
which entitled her to hope for success. A series of early misfortunes
had entendered her heart, without weakening the powers of her
understanding. In retirement she had acquired tranquillity, and had
almost lost the consciousness of those sorrows which yet threw a soft
and not unpleasing shade over her character. She loved her young
charge with maternal fondness, and their gradual improvement and
respectful tenderness repaid all her anxiety. Madame excelled in music
and drawing. She had often forgot her sorrows in these amusements,
when her mind was too much occupied to derive consolation from
books, and she was assiduous to impart to Emilia and Julia a power so
valuable as that of beguiling the sense of affliction. Emilia's taste led
her to drawing, and she soon made rapid advances in that art. Julia was
uncommonly susceptible of the charms of harmony. She had feelings
which trembled in unison to all its various and enchanting powers.
The instructions of madame she caught with astonishing quickness, and
in a short time attained to a degree of excellence in her favorite study,
which few persons have ever exceeded. Her manner was entirely her

own. It was not in the rapid intricacies of execution, that she excelled
so much in as in that delicacy of taste, and in those enchanting powers
of expression, which seem to breathe a soul through the sound, and
which take captive the heart of the hearer. The lute was her favorite
instrument, and its tender notes accorded well with the sweet and
melting tones of her voice.
The castle of Mazzini was a large irregular fabrick, and seemed suited
to receive a numerous train of followers, such as, in those days, served
the nobility, either in the splendour of peace, or the turbulence of war.
Its present family inhabited only a small part of it; and even this part
appeared forlorn and almost desolate from the spaciousness of the
apartments, and the length of the galleries which led to them. A
melancholy stillness reigned through the halls, and the silence of the
courts, which were shaded by high turrets, was for many hours together
undisturbed by the sound of any foot-step. Julia, who discovered an
early taste for books, loved to retire in an evening to a small closet in
which she had collected her favorite authors. This room formed the
western angle of the castle: one of its windows looked upon the sea,
beyond which was faintly seen, skirting the horizon, the dark rocky
coast of Calabria; the other opened towards a part of the castle, and
afforded a prospect of the neighbouring woods. Her musical
instruments were here deposited, with whatever assisted her favorite
amusements. This spot, which was at once elegant, pleasant, and retired,
was embellished with many little ornaments of her own invention, and
with some drawings executed by her sister. The cioset was adjoining
her chamber, and was separated from the apartments of madame