THE STORY OF A PICTURE.

 be yet about an hour, so that we shall have time to
 look first into my study and then at the new arrange-
 ments in the garden."
 Then they are completed, papa," said Francesca.
 "C I so often wished to see our old grounds laid out ac-
 cording to that plan that you made yourself."
 "But first, my dear Francesca, I will detain you
 for a moment in what you used to call my dull room
 long ago."
 He rose, as he spoke, and conducted them to a large
 room with its windows opening on the garden. It was
 fitted up as a sort of study, where, more from habit
 than anything else, he spent a great part of his
 time.
 "Now," he continued, as they entered it, "there
is something here which was left with me only this
morning, but, on receiving it, I could not refrain from
sending you my note, that you might be here to see it
as soon as possible."
 He went quickly to the farther end of the room,
and drawing aside a screen, uncovered a large picture
standing on a side-table, and resting against the wall.
 Francesca looked at it and at Maria, then inquir-
ingly at her father, and was silent. But Leonardo
exclaimed,-
 How came you by this picture, Signor Vieri; it
is my sister's portrait ? Who was the artist ? What
can this be ?"
 The picture was that of a very beautiful child with
long glossy black curls, and large dark eyes. Unmis-
takably it was the image of Maria a few years before,
and even now the faces were alike.
 And Maria stood there gazing intently upon the
picture. For her it had a deep, a hidden interest that
it had not for any one else who looked upon it.