It was simply furnished. The ground-floor was
allotted to the servants. The upper story contained five rooms, three
of which were of good size, and two closets. In one of these were the
traditionary chair and table of Petrarch, and here, according to their
guides, the master of the house passed a great portion of his time in
study, to which, by their account, he seemed devoted. The adjoining
chamber was his library; its windows opened on a balcony looking on
two lofty and conical hills, one topped with a convent, while the
valley opened on the side and spread into a calm and very pleasant
view. Of the other apartments, one served as a saloon, but there was
nothing in it remarkable, except an admirably painted portrait of a
beautiful woman, which the servant informed them was their mistress.
'But that surely is not a German physiognomy?' said Lady Annabel.
'The mistress is an Italian,' replied the servant.
'She is very handsome, of whatever nation she may be,' replied Lady
Annabel.
'Oh! how I should have liked to have met these happy people, mamma,'
said Venetia, 'for happy they surely must be.'
'They seem to be good people,' said Lady Annabel. 'It really lightened
my heart to hear of all this gentleman's kind deeds.'
'Ah! if the signora only knew the master,' said their guide, 'she
would indeed know a good man.
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