He wrote a story to read her, "Leoni, a Legend of Italy," for of course she understood enough English to be read to, no doubt to be wooed in, seeing her mother was English.

The story was of brigands and true lovers, the thing that was popular in the romantic period.

The costumery and mannerisms of the little romance are out of date now, and seem ridiculous, though Mr.
Pringle and the public were pleased with it then, when it was printed in "Friendship's Offering." But the girl of fifteen only laughed the more.
When they left, he had no interest in his tour-book; even the mountains, for the time, had lost their power, and all his plans of great works were dropped for a new style of verse--the love-poems of 1836.
His father, from whom he kept nothing, approved the verses, and did not disapprove his views on the young lady.

Indeed, it is quite plain, from the correspondence of the two gentlemen, that Mr.Domecq intended his friend and partner's son to become his own son-in-law.

He had the greatest respect for the Ruskins, and every reason for desiring to link their fortunes still more closely with those of his own family.