t."

"With all my heart; let us go to the pavilion."

Our hero and his friend took their seats, and Gascoigne then
communicated the history of Don Rebiera, to which we shall dedicate the
ensuing chapter.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

A LONG STORY, WHICH THE READER MUST LISTEN TO, AS WELL AS OUR HERO.

"I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to
add, that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few
families who possess such large estates. My father was a man who had no
pleasure in the pursuits of most young men of his age; he was of a
weakly constitution, and was with difficulty reared to manhood. When
his studies were completed he retired to his country-seat, belonging to
our family, which is about twenty miles from Palermo, and shutting
himself up, devoted himself wholly to literary pursuits.

"As he was an only son, his parents were naturally very anxious that he
should marry; the more so as his health did not promise him a very
extended existence. Had he consulted his own inclinations he would have
declined, but he felt that it was his duty to comply with their wishes;
but he did not trouble himself with the choice, leaving it wholly to
them. They selected a young lady of high family, and certainly of most
exquisite beauty. I only wish I could say more in her favour, for she
was my mother; but it is impossible to narrate the history without
exposing her conduct. The marriage took place, and my father, having
woke up as it were at the celebration, again returned to his closet, to
occupy himself with abstruse studies; the results of which have been
published, and have fully established his reputation as a man of
superior talent and deep research. But, however much the public may
appreciate the works of a man of genius, whether they be written to
instruct or to amuse, certain it is that a literary man requires, in his
wife, either a mind congenial to his own, or that pride in her husband's
talents which induces her to sacrifice much of her own domestic
enjoyment to the satisfaction of having his name extolled abroad. I
mention this point as some extenuation of my mother's conduct. She was
neglected most certainly, but not neglected for frivolous amusements, or
because another form had more captivated his fancy; but, in his desire
to instruct others, and I may add, his ambition for renown, he applied
himself to his literary pursuits, became abstracted, answered without
h