g I will send her to Father Jerome all alone, with
a message so that she will suspect nothing. Then the priest shall speak
earnestly to her. Half an hour afterward we two will come. Then swiftly
to the altar. And even if Marietta should then say No, what does it
matter? The old Priest can hear nothing. But till then, mum to Marietta
and all Napoule."

So the secret remained with the two. Marietta dreamed not of the good
luck which was in store for her. She thought only of Colin's wickedness,
which had made her the common talk of the whole place. Oh! how she
repented her heedlessness about the ribbon; and yet in her heart she
forgave the reprobate his crime. Marietta was far too good. She told her
mother, she told all her playmates, "Colin has found my lost hat band. I
never gave it to him. He only wishes to vex me with it. You all know
that Colin was always ill-disposed towards me, and always sought to
mortify me!"

Ah! the poor child! she knew not what new abomination the malicious
fellow was again contriving.

THE BROKEN CUP.

Early in the morning Marietta went to the spring with the cup. There
were no flowers yet on the rock. It was still quite too early; for the
sun had scarcely risen from the sea.

Footsteps were heard. Colin came in sight, the flowers in his hand.
Marietta became very red. Colin stammered out "good morning, Marietta,"
but the greeting came not from his heart, he could hardly bring it over
his lips.

"Why dost thou wear my ribbon so publicly, Colin?" said Marietta, and
placed the cup upon the rock. "I did not give it thee."

"Thou didst not give it to me, dear Marietta?" asked he, and inward rage
made him deadly pale.

Marietta was ashamed of the falsehood, drooped her eyelids, and said
after a while, "Well, I did give it to thee, yet thou shouldst not have
worn it so openly. Give it me back again."

Slowly he untied it; his anger was so great that he could not prevent
the tears from filling his eyes, nor the sighs from escaping his
breast.--"Dear Marietta, leave thy ribbon with me," said he softly.

"No," answered she.

Then his suppressed passion changed into desperation. Sighing, he looked
towards Heaven, then sadly on Marietta, who, silent and abashed, stood
by the spring with downcast eyes.

He wound the violet coloured ribbon around the stalks of the flowers,
said "there, take them all," and threw the flowers so spitefully against
the magnificent cup upon the rock, tha