Military life in Italy : sketches - Societa italiana di storia militare

CARMELA.
l6l
and was very beautiful ;
that self-possession and reserve, giving
to her movements and attitudes a certain composure and grace,
added an extraordinary brilliancy to the wonderful beauty of
her form. In fact, the few who tried to tempt her became convinced
that it.was a useless undertaking. I was informed that
one of these men, in telling the doctor, one day, something of
his vain attempts, exclaimed " : Women with virtue in their
brains, conscience, hearts, in whatever you like, I have seen
many but women like this one who has it in her blood in her
;
blood ! I confess I have never before encountered." Some said
that in every officer whom she liked or fancied, she saw her
own, the one who had loved and abandoned her. Perhaps this
was not true, because sometimes she would have made some
allusion to what had taken place, but, on the contrary, she never
said any thing. Frequently she was questioned or spoken to
on the subject, but she never gave sign of understanding or
remembering any thing about it she listened
; attentively and
then laughed. When a detachment left she accompanied
it to
the port, and when the ship was moving off she waved her
handkerchief ;
but did not weep or make any demonstration
of grief. She went immediately to offer protestations of her
love to the new officer. The last-comer seemed to please her
more than all the others.
V.
The doctor returned a short time thereafter and related to
the officer all that we have just finished telling. The latter, on
taking leave, exclaimed a second time " : What a pity ;
she is
" "
so lovely
! Yes, indeed ;
and what a proud, noble character
she must have ! added the physician. The officer
"
went