Everybody agreed that she was admirable in the first
respect; and there was not a man there, who had not some anecdote to
tell, which he had heard from the very best authority, tending to
set forth the rare perfection of her beauty, and the wonderful power
of fascination she exercised on all who came near her.
She was to arrive quite early on the morrow. It was understood that
she purposed passing the previous night,--that night in short, which
those who were discussing her were spending at the Castelmare ball,
at the little town of Bagnacavallo, a few miles only from Ravenna.
Such a scheme looked,--or would have looked in the eyes of any other
people than Italians,--rather ridiculously like the ways and
fashions of royal progresses, and state entries into cities. But the
Ravenna admirers of the coming "Diva" neither saw nor suspected the
slightest absurdity; and it is to be supposed that La Lalli knew all
the importance of first impressions, and that she did not choose to
show herself to her new worshippers for the first time under all the
disadvantages of arriving tired and dusty from a long journey.
CHAPTER XII
The Arrival of the "Diva"
On the morrow of the Marchese's ball was the great day of the
arrival of the divine songstress. And it was as lovely a day for the
gala doings, which had been arranged in honour of the occasion, as
could be desired.
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