But it was impossible to convey anything to Marina by a half-concealed thrust, her nature was so essentially ingenuous, incapable of imagining intrigues of any sort.
\"Yes, it is indeed an honor!\" she answered, with her ready, trusting smile. \"It is good of them, they are so much more interesting than the others; and to-night the talk was quite delightful! I would thou hadst been here, my Marco! Life is so much more beautiful since we have been to Rome! Everything that was delightful came with our marriage,\" she added, turning her radiant face toward him.
He smiled, too, quite disarmed by her beauty and candor, and a little amused that this life of a Venetian princess should be so lightly included in this \"everything\" which marriage had brought to this maiden of Murano; but he could not help thinking how easily she wore her honors, and how she graced them; all Venice was at her feet, and she preferred the dull talk of a few ecclesiastics to the vivacious gallantry of the brilliant young nobles who thronged her salons—the more anxious to please this queen of the day, that their efforts won only the dignified and gracious, yet reserved, recognition that was extended to all her guests alike. She was the very reverse of Venetian in character and manner, but since she had been so honored by the Republic that difference was recognized as her distinction and charm.
\"I doubt not,\" Marcantonio said, laughingly, \"that if nuns might take part in our social functions thou wouldst prefer them also to thine own maidens and all the noble ladies of the Canal Grande. But who held part in this interesting ridotto to-night?\"
\"Truly, Marco, I think some day perchance I may get a dispensation and have all the nuns of San Donate for baby''''s festa in the oratory—would it not be beautiful to hear them chanting in our own palazzo! But that is only a dream; I know not if it may ever be.\"
She came toward him, in her shimmering festal robes, with the unconscious, happy grace of a child, dropping into a low seat close beside him, leaning back and letting her hands fall in an attitude of complete repose, while she gave him, without effort, the detail of the evening''''s talk. He was a little surprised at the way in which she made this graphic recital of a discussion he would have supposed beyond her comprehension—or at least beyond her concern—and he was not wholly pleased. He had quite forgotten that one of the charms of Marina upon which he had insisted in the days when he had made much of this maiden to his patrician mother was that in capacity for thought and in force of character she was far above the maidens of ancient lineage, from whom the Lady Laura would have had him choose his bride.
Marina had named, among others, Fra Francesco, her own spiritual director, a Servite friar of gentle and winning demeanor, who was much beloved both in his convent and in other circles where his duties called him. He was a man of simple habits and the most exemplary life, whose whole force lay in his extreme devotion to duty and his passionate love for the Church; his sole anxiety was for her glory, and he would have been supremely happy in the life he had chosen, were it not for his growing anxiety lest from her own sons she should receive dishonor. He was always a welcome visitor at the palazzo Giustiniani, and already the little prince of the household had a special smile for him.
\"Ah, Fra Francesco, of course!\" said Marcantonio, in an indulgent tone; \"our own friars and ecclesiastics are welcome. But, carina, these foreign priests are often of a different way of thinking; and Don Fernanzo Lillo, that fluent Spaniard—verily I would have thee don thy most freezing dignity when he comes again.\"
\"But, Marco mio, thou doest him injustice; he is most interesting; he was telling about the frescoes of the Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel; he knoweth them well, yet I think he liketh them little.\"
\"It matters not,\" said Marcantonio, a little disdainfully; \"thou hast already seen them; thou canst have thine own opinion of their merit.\"
\"But to hear all the allegories explained and all the illusions to the history of our Holy Church is most interesting,\" Marina pursued calmly; \"for the dear padre of San Donate had but little instruction; I must know about all these things for baby''''s sake—he is growing so fast.\"
\"He is not going to be an artist,\" his father answered shortly; \"and if he were, we could find a better person to instruct him than a Spanish member of the Jesuit College.\"
\" Marco !\" exclaimed his wife, with a long note of surprise; \"is not our Holy Church one? and are not her sons scattered over the whole world? I knew not he displeased thee,\" she continued, in a changed tone, after a little pause. \"Of course I will not see him again. But is it Don Fernanzo Lillo himself, or—or—Marco—it cannot be the order! Thou canst not be so narrow!\"
\"At this time, Marina, with matters thus between Venice and Rome, I do not care to entertain any of their order or any foreign priests in our home; they do not place things in the proper light, and we have always held a special position of loyalty toward Venice. When she is in difficulties all the Ca'''' Giustiniani should seem to remember it; it could make no other difference.\"
\"I do not understand,\" she answered, looking at him with perplexed brows.
\"Why shouldst thou!\" he exclaimed, glad to change a distasteful topic; \"such weariness is not needful for thee. I will not bring the worries of the Council Chamber into thy boudoir.\"
\"Nay, Marco, it would please me,\" she answered eagerly, rising instantly from her languid attitude to come and stand over him, laying one hand on his shoulder, half in caress and half in command. \"Thy father tells these matters to the Lady Laura; and for baby''''s sake I should understand these troubles which touch our Republic. He will ask me questions very soon.\"
\"Well, then,\" he consented ungraciously, \"what is it thou wouldst ask?\"
She laughed at his reluctance, pressing her hand with a firmer and yet more loving touch on his shoulder. \"Because I am a Giustinian,\" she began, with a plea which invariably won him, \"tell me about this question of Vicenza which occupies them all so much—I could not understand. Who is this Abbott of Nervessa?\"