and dissembled the secret of his grief.  They beholding him in better cheer, departed on their several ways, and the nurse still sat alone beside him.  Then he explained to her what he had at heart, and how he was in love with a maiden whom he had seen on feast-days in the house of Messer Pietro.  But still he knew not Elena’s name; and she, thinking it impossible that such a child had inspired this passion, began to marvel which of the four sisters it was Gerardo loved.  Then they appointed the next Sunday, when all the five girls should be together, for Gerardo by some sign, as he passed beneath the window, to make known to the old nurse his lady.

Elena, meanwhile, who had watched Gerardo lying still and pale in swoon beneath her on the pavement of the palace, felt the stirring of a new unknown emotion in her soul.  When Sunday came, she devised excuses for keeping her four friends away, bethinking her that she might see him once again alone, and not betray the agitation which she dreaded.  This ill suited the schemes of the nurse, who nevertheless was forced to be content.  But after dinner, seeing how restless was the girl, and how she came and went, and ran a thousand times to the balcony, the nurse began to wonder whether Elena herself were not in love with some one.  So she feigned to sleep, but placed herself within sight of the window.  And soon Gerardo came by in his gondola; and Elena, who was prepared, threw to him her nosegay.  The watchful nurse had risen, and peeping behind the girl’s shoulder, saw at a glance how matters stood.  Thereupon she began to scold her charge, and say, ’Is this a fair and comely thing, to stand all day at balconies and throw flowers at passers-by?  Woe to you if your father should come to know of this!  He would make you wish yourself among the dead!’ Elena, sore troubled at her nurse’s rebuke, turned and threw her arms about her neck, and called her ‘Nanna!’ as the wont is of Venetian children.  Then she told the old woman how she had learned that game from the four sisters, and how she thought it was not different, but far more pleasant, than the game of forfeits; whereupon her nurse spoke gravely, explaining what love is, and how that love should lead to marriage, and bidding her search her own heart if haply she could choose Gerardo for her husband.  There was no reason, as she knew, why Messer Paolo’s son should not mate with Messer Pietro’s daughter.  But being a romantic creature, as many women are, she resolved to bring the match about in secret.

Elena took little time to reflect, but told her nurse that she was willing, if Gerardo willed it too, to have him for her husband.  Then went the nurse and made the young man know how matters stood, and arranged with him a day, when Messer Pietro should be in the Council of the Pregadi, and the servants of the palace otherwise employed, for him to come and meet his Elena.  A glad man was Gerardo, nor did he wait to think how better it would be to ask