Among all the poor people of Pisa, she was perhaps the very
last whose curiosity could be awakened, or whose attention could
be attracted by the rumor of gayeties at the Melani Palace.
But she could not confess all this; she could only listen with
great humility and no small surprise, while the steward, in
compassion for her ignorance, and with the hope of tempting her
into accepting his offered engagement, described the arrangements
of the approaching festival, and dwelt fondly on the magnificence
of the Arcadian bowers, and the beauty of the shepherdesses'
tunics. As soon as he had done, Nanina ventured on the confession
that she should feel rather nervous in a grand dress that did not
belong to her, and that she doubted very much her own capability
of waiting properly on the great people at the ball. The steward,
however, would hear of no objections, and called peremptorily for
Marta Angrisani to make the necessary statement as to Nanina's
character. While this formality was being complied with to the
steward's perfect satisfaction, La Biondella came in,
unaccompanied on this occasion by the usual companion of all her
walks, the learned poodle Scarammuccia.
"This is Nanina's sister," said the good-natured sick-nurse,
taking the first opportunity of introducing La Biondella to the
great marquis's great man. "A very good, industrious little girl;
and very clever at plaiting dinner-mats, in case his excellency
should ever want any.
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