It would hardly, therefore, have done in any way for him to have
been visiting the young artist in the Cardinal Legate's chapel.
The intercourse, however, between Ludovico and Paolina was much
pleasanter and more unrestrained than it had been before that
explanation, which had ensued between them. He was a frequent
visitor at the house in the Via di Sta. Eufemia in the evening; and
the happy hours were passed by them on the perfectly understood
footing of mutual betrothal.
And Ludovico was perfectly honest and sincere in all that he said to
Paolina. He said nothing to her that he did not equally say to
himself. And if his conduct under the circumstances was not exactly
what a father or brother of Paolina might have desired it to be, the
fault arose from the indecision of character, which belonged to a
weak man accustomed to self-indulgence. There was difficulty and
annoyance before him; and instead of meeting it, as a strong man
would have done, he turned from it, and was content to put off the
evil day, contenting himself with the enjoyment of that which was
passing. He marvelled somewhat at the ease, with which he was
permitted to pass evening after evening with his mistress,--at the
absence of surveillance, of which he was conscious,--and at the
silence of his uncle as to both his visits to Via di Sta.
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