human
Yes, this will do nicely, Padre mio! she said, when she had reached the top;
gpt
I never was in San Vitale, replied the monk.
human
I have been here fourteen years next Easter, and I have never once been in Ravenna in all that time, nor, indeed, further away from this church than just a stroll within the edge of the Pineta.
gpt
That is the Pineta we see from this window, of course, Padre mio. What a lovely view of it! And how beautiful it is! Where does that road go to, Padre? To Venice?
human
No, figliuola mia. It goes in exactly the opposite direction, southwards, to Cervia. The Venice road lies away to the northward, through the wood that you can see on the furthest horizon. It was by that road I came to Ravenna. I shall never travel it again.
gpt
From Venice, father? Did you come from Venice?
human
From La bella Venezia I came, daughter--fourteen years ago. And once in every month I indulge myself by going to the top of our tower--you can't see it from this window, it is on the northern side of the church--and looking out over the north Pineta as far as I can see towards it. May God and St. Mark grant that no tempter ever offer me the sight of Venice again at the price of my soul's salvation! I shall never, never see Venice more!
gpt
You must be a Venetian, father, surely, to love it so well?
human
A Venetian I am--or was, daughter; as I well knew you were when you first spoke. Might I ask your name?
gpt
Paolina Foscarelli, father. I am an orphan,
human
No! said the monk, shaking his head, with a deep sigh, and looking earnestly into the girl's face, but without any appearance of surprise,--
gpt
No; you are not Paolina Foscarelli.
human
Indeed, father, that is my name, said Paolina, again recurring to her doubt whether the monk was altogether of sound mind, and speaking very quietly and gently;
gpt
Jacopo and Paolina Foscarelli, who lived in the little house at the corner of the Campo di San Pietro and Paolo,
human
I have truly heard that they lived there, said she;
gpt
The child of Jacopo and Paolina Foscarelli, said the monk, in the same dreamy tone, and pressing his thin emaciated hands before his eyes as he spoke;
human
Nay, father, not to find you. I knew not that the padre guardiano of St. Apollinare was a Venetian. I came only to copy these pictures for my employer.
gpt
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful are the ways of God! Paolina Foscarelli, daughter of Jacopo and Paolina, I Fabiano---
human
Look, padre min! cried Paolina, suddenly and sharply, turning very pale, and grasping the parapet rung of the scaffolding as she spoke,