And now
Marco was not less to her, but more, as he had promised; and if the
uncertain hope of that dim, distant, ducal coronet moved her less, it
was not that she would not still do her possible to help Giustinian to
his ambition--but it had become a smaller peak in the distance since the
home life had grown broad enough to bear her calmly when the proud
Senator rehearsed some failure or disappointment, with disproportioned
bitterness.
Thinking of these things she smiled at Marina with new appreciation; the
girl's gentle face seemed to her more lovely and her rare calm and grace
of spirit more truly noble than the Venetian vivacity of charm in which
at first she had found her lacking.
"Thou hast a way of winning," she said, "which many might envy thee; and
in seeming not to ask, thou shalt be served for love. It is the grace of
one born to rule. But hast thou _no_ wish? Is there no one place I may
make all beautiful at thine asking, within thy palace, to prove, sweet
Marina, how thy Marco's mother loves thee?"
She parted her soft hair and kissed her forehead, but neither of them
noticed that it was a first caress.
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