Tessa

A pretty, stupid contadina who goes through amock marriage ceremony with Tito Melema, and believes herself to be his wife. "A young girl, apparently not more than sixteen, with a red hood surrounding her face, which was all the more baby-like in its prettiness from the entire concealment of her hair." "This creature who was without moral judgment that could condemn him, whose little loving ignorant soul made aworld apart, where he might feel in freedom from suspicions and exacting demands, had a new attraction for him now. She seemed a refuge from the threatened isolation that would come with disgrace." Tessa is the pretty contadina in the Mercato Vecchio from whom Tito Melema, a hungry stranger in Florence, begs a "breakfast for love". At the San Giovanni festa, Tito rescues her from annoyance, and later, at the Fierucola, goes through a mock marriage ceremony with her, which, as he is really in love with Romola, means nothing to him. After his marriage to Romola, finding that Tessa has taken the mock ceremony seriously, Tito establishes her in a house of his own, and two children, Lillo and Ninna, are born. Tito is really fond of the children, and, gradually, as he loses Romola's affection, he finds relief in Tessa's stupidity and her unquestioning devotion. When he plans to leave Florence he arranges to take Tessa and the children with him, but his death leaves Tessa stranded and in despair, until she is found by Romola, who looks after her and the children.

<em>Romola</em>

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