_1st Student._ Why, on that matter he could never be supercilious enough. How should we be other (he said) 105 than the poor devils you see, with those debasing habits we cherish? He was not to wallow in that mire, at least; he would wait, and love only at the proper time, and meanwhile put up with the _Psiche-fanciulla_. Now, I happened to hear of a young Greek--real Greek girl at 110 Malamocco; a true Islander, do you see, with Alciphron's "hair like sea-moss"--Schramm knows!--white and quiet as an apparition, and fourteen years old at farthest--a daughter of Natalia, so she swears--that hag Natalia, who helps us to models at three _lire_ an hour. We selected 115 this girl for the heroine of our jest. So first, Jules received a scented letter--somebody had seen his Tydeus at the Academy, and my picture was nothing to it: a profound admirer bade him persevere--would make herself known to him ere long. (Paolina, my little friend of the _Fenice_, 120 transcribes divinely.) And in due time, the mysterious correspondent gave certain hints of her peculiar charms--the pale cheeks, the black hair--whatever, in short, had struck us in our Malamocco model: we retained her name, too--Phene, which is, by interpretation, sea-eagle. Now, 125 think of Jules finding himself distinguished from the herd of us by such a creature! In his very first answer he proposed marrying his monitress: and fancy us over these letters, two, three times a day, to receive and dispatch! I concocted the main of it: relations were in 130 the way--secrecy must be observed--in fine, would he wed her on trust, and only speak to her when they were indissolubly united? St--st--Here they come! _6th Student._ Both of them! Heaven's love, speak softly, speak within yourselves! 135 _5th Student._ Look at the bridegroom! Half his hair in storm and half in calm--patted down over the left temple--like a frothy cup one blows on to cool it! and the same old blouse that he murders the marble in! _2nd Student._ Not a rich vest like yours, Hannibal 140 Scratchy!--rich, that your face may the better set it off. _6th Student._ And the bride! Yes, sure enough, our Phene! Should you have known her in her clothes? How magnificently pale! _Gottlieb._ She does not also take it for earnest, I 145 hope? _1st Student._ Oh, Natalia's concern, that is! We settle with Natalia. _6th Student._ She does not speak--has evidently let out no word. The only thing is, will she equally remember 150 the rest of her lesson, and repeat correctly all those verses which are to break the secret to Jules? _Gottlieb._ How he gazes on her! Pity--pity!