At this moment the door opened, and a young girl entered--one of those insignificant, gentle, yielding creatures, generally found amongst the attendants of an artiste--a tete de souffrance, on whom they exhaust their humor, their scorn, and their passion; the humble companion, kept in the background when blessed with the society of distinguished and wealthy adorers. The companion of Barbarina did not suffer, however, from this hard fate. She was Barbarina's sister, and had followed her from tender love to the cold north. The signora loved her sister fondly; she was the companion of her joys and sorrows; she had no secrets from her, and knew that an open ear and judicious counsel were always to be found with her little sister Marietta. Barabrina lay, still dreaming, upon the divan. Possibly she did not know that Marietta stood by her side, and laid her hand upon her shoulder. "Sorella," said she, "get up; many gentlemen are in the saloon, waiting for you." "Let them wait. I will see no one to-day." "It is the hour when you are accustomed to receive, Sorella, and if you do not come they will think you are still unwell." "Well, let them think so." "They will not only think so, Sorella; they will say so, and make malicious comments." "What comments?" said Barbarina, raising herself up; "what comments, Marietta?" "It was indeed unfortunate that your sickness came upon you just as the king appeared," said Marietta. Barbarina's eyes flashed. "Do you think they will put those things together?" said she. "They will say, perhaps, that Barbarina fainted at the unexpected appearance of the king; that the joy of seeing him overcame her; is that your meaning, Marietta?" "Yes, that is my meaning," said Marietta, in a low tone. Barbarina sprang from the divan, trembling and pallid. "They will mock at and scorn me," she cried, raising her arms to heaven as if to call down the lightning to her aid; "they will say I love this cold king!" "They will say that, Sorella," replied Marietta. Barbarina seized her hand. "But you, sister! you will not say this; you know that I have sworn to hate him with an everlasting hatred. You know that I have put an evil spell upon him with my tears; that I never can forgive him for the suffering and agony he prepared for me. Think, think, Marietta, how much I have wept, how much I have endured! My life was like a lustrous May morning, a fairy tale of starry splendor; roses and pearls were in my path: he has obscured my stars, and changed my pearls to tears. Woe to him! woe to him! I have sworn to hate him eternally, and Barbarina keeps her oath."