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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/78258-0.txt b/78258-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2a008fb --- /dev/null +++ b/78258-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,15742 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78258 *** + + + TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: + +In the plain text version text in italics is enclosed by underscores +(_italics_) and small capitals are represented in upper case as in SMALL +CAPS. + +A number of words in this book have both hyphenated and non-hyphenated +variants. For the words with both variants present the one more used +has been kept. + +Obvious punctuation and other printing errors have been corrected. + +The original cover art has been modified by the transcriber and is +granted to the public domain. + + + * * * * * + + + LEILA + + + + + LEILA + + BY + ANTONIO FOGAZZARO + + AUTHOR OF "THE SAINT" + + TRANSLATED BY + MARY PRICHARD AGNETTI + + GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY + NEW YORK + + _Publishers in America for Hodder & Stoughton_ + + + _Printed in 1911_ + + + + + CONTENTS + + PAGE + + CHAPTER I + + A MYSTIC PRELUDE 2 + + + CHAPTER II + + DISTAFFS AND THREADS 39 + + + CHAPTER III + + THE WOOF 94 + + + CHAPTER IV + + SHEARS 128 + + + CHAPTER V + + THE SHADOW OF SIGNOR DA CAMIN 192 + + + CHAPTER VI + + IN THE TOWER OF PRIDE 199 + + + CHAPTER VII + + FROM THE HEIGHTS TO THE DEPTHS 227 + + + CHAPTER VIII + + HOLY ALLIANCES 251 + + + CHAPTER IX + + THE VILLINO OF THORNS 272 + + + CHAPTER X + + THE GAME BEGINS 286 + + + CHAPTER XI + + AWAY FROM LOVE AND THE WORLD 301 + + + CHAPTER XII + + CONCERNING A SOUL 316 + + + CHAPTER XIII + + "AVEU" 336 + + + CHAPTER XIV + + A DROP OF THE PATERNAL BLOOD 351 + + + CHAPTER XV + + OH! POOR ME! 374 + + + CHAPTER XVI + + NIGHT AND FLAMES 396 + + + CHAPTER XVII + + THE WHITE LADY OF THE ROSES 427 + + + + + CHAPTER I + A MYSTIC PRELUDE + + + I + + +"Signorina!" called Giovanni the footman, entering the dining-room +breathlessly, after looking for her in the garden, in the drawing-room, +and in her own chamber. It was nine o'clock, and his master and +Signorina Leila had finished dinner before eight. The master had +withdrawn to his study almost immediately; the Signorina had gone into +the garden. But now she was in the dining-room again by the window. + +Her eyes were fixed on the grove of chestnuts to the east, over beyond +the ravine, where a brawling stream makes its way from a small lake +hidden behind the green shoulders of the lofty peak of Priaforà. But +she was straining her ear to catch a far-away sound that rose and +fell--the rumbling of a distant train speeding towards the Val d'Astico +above which the villa is situated. She turned suddenly at the servant's +call, crushing a letter in her hands. + +"What is the matter?" + +"The master is unwell." + +Leila uttered an exclamation. + +The fellow gazed stupidly at her. She started forward, then, pausing, +spoke again to the slow-witted footman. + +"Where is he?" + +"In the study, I think." + +Leila ran towards the salon and met the maid Teresina coming towards +her with outstretched hands. + +"It is nothing--nothing," Teresina said quietly, diverting Leila's +attention to a locket that had fallen open from her belt. The girl +chafed with impatience while the maid carefully closed it for her. +Nevertheless, the action calmed her. + +"Giovanni, go and prepare the guests' room," said Teresina, addressing +the footman, who stood listening, half dazed, half curious. + +Leila trembled. "Is there something Giovanni must not know?" she asked. + +"No, Signorina, no!" said Teresina, speaking with the accent of her +native Trent. + +But it struck Leila that the maid was deliberately delaying her +explanation. + +"Why don't you speak?" she burst out. + +Teresina cast a quick glance towards the study door. She was anxious +to spare the Signorina, who was delicate and nervous, and so easily +excited. + +"If he should come out," she whispered, "and find us here talking, he +might suspect something. We had better go away." + +Followed by Teresina, Leila hurried across the salon and entered the +dining-room. Anxious though she was to hear the maid's story, she +listened a moment to the whistle of the train, wondering whether it was +signalling from San Giorgio or from the station of Seghe. Then.... + +"Tell me!" she demanded. + +Well, as usual, Teresina had carried the master's letters to him in +his study. From the threshold she had seen him bend his head first +backwards and then towards his left shoulder, close his eyes, open them +with a wild stare, and again close them, only to strain them wide once +more, so that the balls showed white. She had sprinkled some water upon +his face and had sent the footman in search of the Signorina, for, +to tell the truth, she had really felt somewhat startled at first. +Meanwhile the master had sighed deeply and had muttered something about +a sudden drowsiness. Then he had opened his letters and papers, and +seeing that she was hesitating whether to leave the room or to remain, +he had dismissed her. Outside she had listened, but had heard only the +rustle of papers. So.... + +A bell sounded twice. + +"The master!" Teresina exclaimed, and hurried away. + +Leila followed her a few steps, but stopped in the drawing-room, +watching the maid's retreating figure, watching the billiard-room door, +that closed softly behind her, listening, and waiting for Teresina to +come back. + +Meanwhile the train was whistling beneath the heights of Santa Maria, +just before running into the terminus station of Arsiero. From the +station it was a walk of some ten minutes to "La Montanina," the villa, +so called because, with its gabled roofs and its back to the hill, +among groves and fields that stretch downwards to the deep Posina, it +is so like one of those peasant women who come wearily down from the +steeps of Priaforà, and pause to rest awhile upon the bundle of wood +they have gathered in the forests. In this villa lived Leila and Signor +Marcello Trento. + + * * * * * + +Teresina, as devoted to Signor Marcello as she had been for twenty +years to his wife, who had now been dead two years, knocked at the +study door, trembling lest her master might have been seized again +with illness. Encouraged by the sound of his "Come in!" she entered, +smiling, that he might not notice any signs of her recent fright. + +The door opened on the left of the easy-chair in which Signor Marcello +was seated at a table littered with papers, and in the light of an +antique Florentine brass lamp, which had shone upon his father's grey +head, and now shed its glow upon his own, in which the grey and auburn +were mingled. His hair was wild and rough and of that coarse texture +perhaps characteristic of virile natures. As Teresina entered he turned +towards her a face showing a moustache and tuft upon the chin that +were lighter in tone than his hair, and, beneath a low and wrinkled +brow, eyes that were terrible in anger but most gentle in moments of +tenderness. Just now it was the face of the unrelenting inquisitor, and +the woman was conscious of a blush that flamed to the roots of her hair. + +"How is it," he demanded, "that I am all wet?" + +"I don't know," she answered. + +"You don't know, indeed? Who poured water upon my hair? Don't you +understand me?" + +Teresina felt that further denial would only make matters worse. + +"You fell asleep," she began, "and I thought you had fainted, so I +sprinkled a little water over you. I beg your pardon!" + +"How stupid you are!" Signor Marcello exclaimed. "At first I could not +understand, but then I guessed it must have happened in that way. But +it was stupid of you." + +"Yes, sir, I fear it was." + +Teresina was greatly relieved. She could hardly have hoped for anything +better than that her master should believe he had been asleep. She was +about to withdraw when Signor Marcello stopped her with a wave of his +hand. + +"I want to know whether the train from Schio has arrived." + +"I don't know--non so no," Teresina stammered, and then quickly begged +him to excuse a phrase savouring of the dialect of Trent, which never +failed to irritate Signor Marcello. She passed slowly in front of her +master and took up the snuffers, intending to mend one of the wicks of +the Florentine lamp, which had begun to smoke. + +"Let it alone!" he growled. "Do you suppose I cannot snuff a wick +better than you can?" + +Again the servant asked his pardon and left the room, walking on tiptoe +lest the noise of her steps should cause him further irritation. She +had hardly begun to tell Leila about her master, when she was once more +summoned by the double ring. + +"What does he want now?" Teresina wondered anxiously. + +She saw at once that Signor Marcello's face had changed--that it was +now all gentleness. + +"Forgive me," he said kindly. "Perhaps, after all, it is I who am +stupid. Were my eyes open or closed when I was asleep?" + +"They were closed." + +"Did I not open them at all? Did you not see the white of my eyeballs?" + +Teresina's blood ran cold, and she hesitated an instant before +answering in the negative. Her master was scrutinising her with that +inquisitorial glance that always made her shiver. She became confused, +and instead of insisting in her denial, declared she really could not +remember. + +"And where did you get the water?" Signor Marcello asked quietly. + +Teresina had filled a glass at the washstand in his bedroom beyond +the study. She saw that by confessing this she would be admitting +that the questionable nap had lasted a certain length of time. She +failed, however, to find a fitting lie on the spur of the moment, and +so answered truthfully, but with the hesitation of one who confesses +reluctantly. + +Signor Marcello gazed searchingly at her a little longer, and then said +gently: + +"You can go now, my dear. Let me know when Signor Alberti arrives." + +Teresina left the room, alarmed, she knew not why, by his extreme +gentleness. It was the third time in two-and-twenty years that he had +addressed her as "my dear." He had pronounced the words carelessly +enough the first time, when she had presented herself to him on +entering his service. He had uttered them a second time, impelled by +profound emotion, upon the death of his only son, Andrea, when he had +thanked her for her part in the nursing which she had shared with +himself, the mother being incapacitated by the disease that killed her +a year and a half later. The quiet tenderness of this third _cara_ was +something quite new. + + * * * * * + +Alone once more, Signor Marcello rose slowly to his feet. His face +was colourless. Turning to the broad window, he joined his hands +as in prayer, gazing with reverent eyes at the dark sky above the +Torraro and the army of mighty chestnuts extending from the slope +of Lago di Velo to the ravine of the Posina. He was close upon his +seventy-second year--his father's age on that night when a similar +attack of arteriosclerosis had overcome him, and the doctor's verdict +had prepared the family for the old man's death five months afterwards. + +The silent flame of the lamp that had been found burning by his dead +father's side seemed a living symbol of that tragedy. But to Signor +Marcello the moment was not tragic; it was the solemn warning of the +coming of a welcome day, the happiest that God could now grant him, of +departure and eternal reunion with beloved ones. His heart was full +of tenderness, and yet fear of the God of love who is also the God of +justice swayed him. His soul glowed and quivered, but was speechless, +like the wavering flame of the lamp. + +Teresina suspected that her master had been thinking of his father's +death. She said nothing of this, however, to the Signorina, who was +probably ignorant of those circumstances. She determined only to inform +the doctor of what had happened and, for to-night at least, to spare +Signor Marcello an interview with young Alberti, who had been his poor +Andrea's dearest friend. Alberti was really coming to Velo to visit the +curate of Sant' Ubaldo, but the priest, being unable to put him up, had +begged the hospitability of the Montanina for his friend. + +"And of course he must needs arrive on this particular evening!" +grumbled Teresina. + +Leila thought she heard steps in the garden. + +"It is surely he," said the maid. "The train whistled long ago." + +Leila started. "Don't call me!" she ordered, and ran out by the door +to the servants' stairway, which she ascended very slowly, pausing +at intervals to listen. In her own room she crossed to the window. +There was no sound of steps, nor could she hear voices. Impatient with +herself, she thought: "After all, what is it to me?" and turning from +the window, she once more read the crumpled letter. She read it with +knitted brow, from time to time raising her eyes--strange eyes of an +indefinable colour--letting their stern glance follow some thought from +the letter seemingly into space. Again her hand crushed the sheet, and +she flung it on the floor. + +At that moment the sound of distant voices floated through the open +window. Leila started and raised her head to listen. The voices came +from lower down, from the foot of the garden by the entrance, close +to the tiny church of Santa Maria ad Montes. Her light eyebrows +contracted quickly once more, and her small, whimsical face assumed +an indescribable expression of fierce pride. She rose, picked up the +letter, and closed the window. What was this Alberti to her? + +She was neither the daughter nor a relation of Signor Marcello. She +was a pure flower that had blossomed amidst foulness upon an evil stem. +The only son of the house of Trento, poor Andrea, had loved her when +she was still little more than a child, and had wished to make her his +wife. When he died his parents, who had always strenuously opposed this +marriage, had taken Leila into their home, buying her, as it were, with +gold, that this maiden who had been so dear to him might be preserved +from the corruption of this world, and prompted also perhaps by a sense +of affectionate remorse for the grief they had caused their beloved. + +From her earliest girlhood Leila had had no illusions about her +parents, especially her mother, whom she judged with precocious insight +that sprang from the early recognition of certain tendencies within +herself, when the experiences of her own home seemed to tell her +that life held no further secrets. These tendencies she despised and +hated with all the strength of her proud spirit, as in her heart she +despised her mother, her contempt at times breaking through her rigid +self-imposed restraint. From the age of twelve to fifteen she went to +the convent school of the Sacred Heart, where she was distinguished for +her talents, her love of study, and her pronounced musical ability. +At sixteen she became engaged to Andrea, who was then about eighteen, +and was studying mathematics at Padua, her native town. Her parents, +Signor Girolamo Camin and his wife Chiara, had appropriated the "da," +denoting noble origin, and were known as _da_ Camin. Signor Girolamo +was a vulgar intriguer, who had more than once been declared insolvent, +and also dabbled in politics. + +Signora Chiara, who had seen much and not inglorious service in the +ranks of gallantry, left her husband unceremoniously at about the +time the student Andrea Trento was beginning to fall in love with her +daughter. Although already middle-aged, she settled in Milan in the +company of an elderly Austrian, who died almost immediately, and left +her a comfortable fortune. She then gave herself up to a life of piety, +and opened her house to priests, friars, and nuns, who were easily led +to believe her a widow. Girolamo, on his part, employed a vulgar woman +as his housekeeper, carefully concealing his weakness for her, but +showing himself too tolerant of the airs of a mistress which the coarse +creature was quick to assume. + +Motives of gratitude and a girlish sense of vanity at being admired +and desired, rather than love, had prompted Leila to accept Andrea. He +was too young for her, too light-hearted, too immature to understand +the moral conflict that was stirring in the depths of her soul. +Handsome, intelligent, and generous, Andrea Trento was humble of mind, +underrating his own talents but quick to admire those of others. + +Of all his friends Massimo Alberti of Milan was his favourite. The ties +that bound them were rather those resulting from a long friendship +between the two families than any that had sprung from their university +life together. Massimo Alberti, who was several years older than +Andrea, was at Padua finishing the medical course he had begun in +Rome when Andrea entered the university. His friend's talents, his +broad culture, and the sobriety of his mode of life filled Andrea with +admiration. Leila he also looked upon as vastly superior to himself, +and often talked to her of Alberti, whom she had never seen. On one +occasion he even told her, in a transport of love and humility, that +Alberti was much more worthy than himself to become her husband. Leila, +who was far from meek, and whose habit it was to follow any assertion +to its ultimate consequences, had reflected that such language was +doubtless virtuous, but most unpleasant and inopportune. This was not +her idea of love. On one pretext and another she had always managed to +avoid meeting her lover's friend. + +Andrea's death grieved her so deeply that she formed an exaggerated +estimate of her affection for him, confusing it with her compassion. +When her father whiningly informed her that he had been asked to make +a great sacrifice for her benefit, that Andrea's parents wished her to +live with them as their daughter in memory of the son they had lost, +and that, although his heart might bleed, he was prepared to accept a +proposal so advantageous to her, she immediately guessed the nature of +the bargain he was hiding from her, and flung out an indignant refusal +in a transport of offended pride, vindicating, for the moment, her +right to maintain the family honour, so ill defended by this despicable +father of hers. But afterwards, since her rage against him was so +great and her loathing of the filth he had dared to drag to the very +hearthstone was so intense, she withdrew her refusal, her thoughts +dwelling the while on the poor lad who was dead. + +She accepted the Trentos' offer, but the act of entering their house +as a thing paid for was a severe trial. She soon perceived that one +of the conditions of the bargain was that her father should not enter +the precincts of the Montanina, and this condition was a source of +relief and yet of sorrow to her. Her attitude towards the Trentos was +at first cold. She seemed to be trying to show them silently that she +felt no gratitude; that she was aware they had desired her only as a +sort of relic of their dead son; that, after all, they were the persons +benefited, and that she had consented to become their benefactress only +in memory of him, and not from motives of affection towards themselves. +Under these conditions Signor Marcello's fiery temper made a rupture +probable, and, after his first most affectionate welcome, many storms +did indeed arise between them. But Signora Trento's gentleness and +Leila's musical accomplishments combined to save the situation. The +husband softened under the influence of his wife's gentle virtues +and at sight of the suffering which soon brought her to the grave. +Music did the rest. Signor Marcello, who was a fair pianist, found in +music a mystic expression of his deepest grief, hope, vague memories, +and regrets. He and Leila both brought to the piano the same intense +passion and the same tastes. Secret antagonism might indeed long dwell +within the hearts of both, but their sympathy in music facilitated a +mutual recognition--albeit measured and intermittent--of the beauty +that lay in the nature of each, and a mutual tolerance, also measured +and intermittent, of what in one was displeasing to the other. + +Signora Trento's death brought about a crisis in their relations to +each other. Little by little Leila had allowed herself to be won +over by the lady's gentle ways; and her care of the poor invalid had +softened Signor Marcello's heart. His attitude towards Leila grew +day by day more tender and paternal; day by day he failed somewhat +both in look and bearing and grew more indifferent to the things of +this world, except music and, to a certain extent, flowers, becoming +ever more absorbed in thoughts of the things of eternity; and thus +at last the girl came to feel a filial reverence for him, and the +feelings she had experienced on entering his house for the first time +no longer ruled her. This recent loss of consciousness, which Signor +Marcello had failed to realise, and Teresina's face, more than her +words, stirred Leila deeply, despite the fact that her mind was so full +of the expected arrival of Massimo Alberti. Three years had passed +since Andrea's death, and since his friend's funeral Alberti had not +visited the Montanina; but he never allowed New Year's Day and certain +other anniversaries to pass without sending some word of greeting to +Signor Marcello. The old man appreciated these attentions, and would +often speak of them to Leila, sometimes expressing regret that he had +not again had the pleasure of meeting Alberti. Leila always let the +subject drop as soon as possible. Poor Andrea's unpleasant words had +never faded from her memory; the tenacity of this recollection annoyed +her, and she despised herself for dwelling upon it. Whenever Signor +Marcello mentioned Alberti's name she invariably experienced a sense of +persecution and irritation, for he rarely did so without adding some +word of praise and of affection. This real sense of repulsion increased +rather than diminished with time. She could not help associating it +in her thoughts with a fading memory of Andrea and with other dim +emotions of her soul--a nameless gloom, flashes of inexplicable gaiety, +which she found it difficult to check, tears provoked by music, and a +sense of brief but almost fearful intoxication imparted by the life +of Nature, by flowering fields, and woods in the vigorous freshness +of June. The meaning of these vague feelings did not entirely escape +her. The idea that she was yearning towards love, that blind instincts +inherited from her parents were dragging her towards it, was bound up +with the dread that one passion might develop within her heart and +take firm root there. Thus she explained to herself her aversion to +Alberti's name and personality, and her clear analysis of her own mind +only increased her irritation with herself. She felt that it was her +duty never to love again, her duty towards Andrea's memory and towards +Signor Marcello, which she had tacitly acknowledged by accepting the +part of living relic of the dead; but, above all, she felt it was her +duty towards herself, for she would never stoop to the life of most +women, she to whom, in spite of dishonoured parents and tainted blood, +destiny had offered the opportunity of a life of glorious purity. In +such a state of mind the very act of considering that lurking memory +in which a germ of passion might be concealed sent the blood rushing +to that particular nerve-cell, and something was indeed generated by +the plastic power of the blood itself. Signor Marcello's delighted +announcement that Massimo Alberti was to be a guest at the Montanina +made her shudder, but a quick revulsion of feeling brought anger that +was akin to remorse. Nevertheless, when she cried out, "What is this +Alberti to me?" Leila was conscious, alas! that she was insincere. + +Before going to bed she kissed Andrea's likeness, which she wore in the +medallion, and a little ring he had once given her as a peace-offering +after a sharp quarrel. Then, having put out the light, she turned her +face to the wall, drew the sheet over her head, and burst into tears. + + + II + +As he wended his way upwards from the station of Arsiero to the +Montanina, Massimo Alberti, who had arrived from Milan after a journey +of nearly eight hours, amidst dust, smoke, and noise, in all the heat +of burning June, thought he must be dreaming. The moonless sky was +cloudy, folds of white mist lay around the brow of Priaforà and the +cliffs of Summano, which point up into the sky like the teeth of a +saw lying above softly wooded heights; the light mountain breeze was +flinging wild odours across the uplands, and the many voices of small +waters, falling into the hollows of the ravines, sounded in his ears; +but nowhere was there a note of human life. The road gave out the scent +of wet earth, which was pleasant after so much dust. Where it turns, +entering a ravine, and revealing, higher up, a clump of chestnuts +crescent-shaped below a black diadem, formed by the points of towering +pines beyond, the peasant from Lago di Velo, Simone, commonly called +_Cioci_, who was going on ahead carrying Massimo's luggage, waited to +inquire if the Signore were going to Velo, to Sant' Ubaldo, or to the +Montanina. + +"What do you mean?" Massimo exclaimed in amazement. "I am going to Don +Aurelio's, at Sant' Ubaldo." + +Whereupon his quick-witted guide, who at the station had contented +himself with proffering Don Aurelio's excuses, saying he had remained +at Velo to attend to a sick old man, now answered quietly: + +"Because the priest has no room for you, you know." + +Massimo was astonished. No room? Had his friend not written that there +was a room ready for him? Cioci explained the case after his own +fashion. + +"It is because of Carnesecca, you see." + +This explanation only added to Massimo's bewilderment. _Carnesecca?_ +What was _Carnesecca_? + +"Because he has taken him into his house, you see." + +Massimo gave up trying to understand. Then where was Don Aurelio +sending him, as he could not have him himself? With some difficulty he +drew from his guide the information that Don Aurelio had ordered him to +take the stranger to the Montanina. Why, then, good heavens! had he not +said so at once? + +"I thought you would ask in time," said Cioci. + +Massimo ordered him to lead on to the Montanina. He was annoyed, and +he reflected that priests, even the best and dearest of them, are +sometimes just a little wanting in tact. He had the greatest respect +for Signor Marcello, but he was unwilling to grasp hospitality that +had not been offered. He was annoyed also at the thought of meeting +other guests at the Montanina, of not being able to enjoy that freedom +and quiet for which he so longed, and which he had promised himself +on leaving Milan. He was, moreover, displeased at not having been +informed of this change in time. He might easily have postponed his +arrival. When they had gone another hundred yards honest Cioci stopped, +and once more turned to address Massimo. + +The priest had sent word that Signor Marcello was very grateful to him +for going to his house. + +At the last turn, where the road to the Montanina branches off from +that leading to Velo, Cioci made a final pause and shot out a final +message--the priest had said that if the gentleman had luggage in the +van he was to tell the station-master, and they would send for it next +morning with a cart. + +Massimo could not suppress a smile. No, he had nothing in the van. This +time Cioci laughed also. + +"Cossa vóla, sior! What would you, sir! There were so many of them!" + +To the Montanina, then. The annoyance Massimo had at first experienced +gave way to other thoughts. His heart ached as he recalled his friend, +who had died so young, who had been so good, so dear, so frank and +full of spirits; who had told him with so much enthusiasm of Velo +d'Astico and of the Montanina, of his faith in his mother's gentle +kindness, which would soon lead her to consent, and would then obtain +his father's consent as well, to the union for which he yearned. Andrea +had also described to his friend the little apartments which would be +the scene of his future bliss--three rooms and a terrace on the west +side of the villa. And now, where were the joy and the sweetness of all +those hopes? where was that fair head, that beautiful face sparkling +with life and spirits, that warm and honest heart? Beneath the sod; +while the woods, the hills, the voices of deep-flowing Posina and the +murmurings of small and plaintive waters all went on as before. Here +was the old chestnut-tree with its trunk split like a three-branched +candelabrum; here, at the turn of the road, the strange little church +loomed in dim whiteness; and now, farther up, the villa showing +palely, and the dark brow of great, pensive Priaforà. + +A year before Andrea's death he and Massimo had talked together, +beneath this chestnut-tree, of the Camin family, and of the necessity +of keeping them all, even her father, away from Leila after her +marriage. Andrea was convinced of this necessity, and said that the +girl wished it as much as he did. He had been enthusiastic in his +praise of her high-mindedness and the precocious maturity of her +intellect. At this point he had confessed that he had not been quite +honest with his parents concerning Leila's age. The girl was about +sixteen, and he had said she was eighteen. + +Instinctively Massimo paused and placed his hand upon the trunk of +the chestnut, this surviving witness; and he thought of the lad with +God. It seemed to him that the tree, the modest little church, and the +frowning mountain were sharing the thought with him. + +"Are you tired, sir?" asked Cioci, who had also stopped. Massimo roused +himself. + +"No, no. Let us be getting on," said he; and, to free himself from his +sad thoughts, he began talking with Cioci of the priest. The people of +Sant' Ubaldo must be well pleased with their priest. + +"Ah, cossa vóla! What would you!" Cioci exclaimed. The expression was a +panegyric; it was as if he had said: "How can I be expected to express +the inexpressible?" And he added, "A great head, I tell you!" + +As they were passing the little church of Santa Maria ad Montes a +woman's voice called from above: + +"Cioci! This way, Cioci!" + +"Signora!" Cioci answered, pausing. + +The Signora was Teresina, who soon appeared at the gate to the footpath +beside the church. She admitted Cioci, and sent him on towards the +house with his load, while she detained Alberti. + +He remembered her as the maid who had bandaged a sprain he had managed +to get coming down from Colletto Grande with Andrea. She was eager to +tell him that her master, Signor Marcello, was delighted to be able to +entertain him, but that his health was none too good, and that this +meeting would surely move him deeply. She therefore took the liberty of +begging Massimo to pretend he was greatly fatigued after his journey, +and to withdraw early, so that the master might follow his example. +This was the Signorina's wish as well. + +The Signorina? Of course--Massimo had not thought of her. Signorina da +Camin now lived at the Montanina. Massimo, accepting Andrea's word, as +Andrea himself had accepted that of Signor Girolamo, had always called +her thus instead of by her true name, Camin, and Leila herself believed +in her right to the "da." Massimo had seen her but once, and that in +the street and at a distance. He had, however, seen two photographs of +her, which his friend had shown him, and he distinctly recalled the two +entirely different impressions they had conveyed. He remembered the +dainty head of a girl of sixteen, with hair carefully dressed, somewhat +irregular features, and smiling eyes that seemed to be gazing into the +object-glass and inquiring, "Is that right?" + +He remembered another dainty head with somewhat disordered hair, a +head drooping slightly forward and looking down, so that the eyes were +hidden. He had paid but little attention to the first, but the second +had struck him. This face might have been that of a being conscious of +deep guilt or of an unhappy fate; it might have been a face upon which +love was gazing, and which was striving to conceal love; it might have +been simply the face of a young girl lost in thought. Compared with the +other it was the more youthful face of a deeper soul; it was the face +of a child of fifteen who, both morally and intellectually, was as +mature as any woman of thirty. The very idea of having her photograph +taken in that position pointed to something strange and strong in the +mind of the poser. Massimo had been fascinated by the picture, but +upon restoring it to his friend had refrained from confiding to him +his doubt as to whether this tempting creature, with her air of a +grieving and thoughtful sphinx, would fit his nature and be capable +of forming his happiness. He remembered now that for many days the +face of the girl-sphinx had haunted him with troubling insistence. As +he followed Teresina, the image of the two small, fair heads, that +were so distinct, once more flashed across his mind. In his thoughts +the question which one of the two he would find was already forming +itself, but he dismissed the thought as an unfitting one. Nor did +Teresina succeed in distracting his thoughts by her account of how, +since early morning, Signor Marcello had been eagerly looking forward +to his arrival. He had invented an excuse for getting herself and the +footman out of the way, yes, and the Signorina also (who, however, had +seen through his stratagem), that no one might see him enter the room +prepared for his guest. First he had gone into the garden and gathered +some roses with his own hands. These he had taken to the room in all +secrecy. Not that he expected his action would remain unobserved, +for, of course, the servants would have to go into the room before +the guest's arrival to put fresh water at the last moment and to see +if everything was in order. It was that he did not wish to be under +observation whilst going in and while he remained there, probably +because he felt that he would be exposing his inmost emotions to a +witness, and this was a thing he abhorred. + +Before reaching the villa Teresina and Massimo met Cioci, who, freed +from his burden, and desiring, for no very unperceivable reason, to +pay his respects to the stranger, had chosen this far less easy way +to Lago, instead of going straight there through the upper part of the +garden. + +"Well, sir, good-night to you," he said, taking off his cap. + +Having received what he was waiting for and having thanked the generous +traveller, he told Teresina that her master was close behind him on his +way down. + +"There!" cried the woman, "it is just as I thought!" + +They met Signor Marcello near the level space on which the villa +stands. It was dark, and he was advancing with stooping shoulders +and unsteady tread. Massimo hurried upwards to join him, and was +immediately clasped in a close and silent embrace. He began at once to +offer his excuses for thus intruding, laying the blame at Don Aurelio's +door, the old man repeating the while, in a voice that betrayed his +feelings: + +"You do not know, you do not know what a joy it is to me to see you, to +embrace you once more!" And again he strained Alberti to his breast. + +They crossed the level space, and passing through the dining-room, +entered the salon, Signor Marcello leaning upon Massimo's arm. He +expressed the wish that his guest should be conducted to his room +without delay, saying they would have a talk together afterwards. +Massimo would have preferred to remain with him at present for a little +time, so that Signor Marcello might soon be free to go to bed. But +Signor Marcello would not hear of this, and Teresina, who knew well +how many childish whims her old master's heart contained, divined how +anxious and impatient he was that his guest should see how he had +prepared his room. She therefore added a gentle invitation to her +master's, thus conveying to Massimo that it would be wiser to yield. + +As he was leaving the room Signor Marcello remarked that he would wait +for him there, and that they would have coffee together. + +Teresina accompanied the visitor to the very apartment in which, in his +dreams of the future, poor Andrea had pictured himself with Leila. She +ushered him into the small room that opened upon the west terrace. The +light revealed to her all her master's preparations, and she exclaimed +softly: + +"Poor, poor Signor Marcello!" Then, amidst many excuses, she advised +Massimo to let his host understand that he had observed everything, +without speaking openly of all the arrangements. Thereupon she withdrew. + +On the marble top of the chest of drawers a beautiful white rose bent +its head from a tall crystal cup, above a photograph of Andrea. Upon +the bedside table rested a handsomely-bound copy of the "Imitation +of Christ," and a small packet of letters tied together with a black +ribbon. This packet Massimo opened, not without curiosity. They +were his own letters to Andrea. He then proceeded to examine the +"Imitation," expecting that this also was a souvenir, and found written +within its cover the words: + +"To dear Andrea, on the day of his first Communion. Rachele Alberti +Vittuoni." + +It was his mother's name, and she, too, had long been dead. He pressed +his lips to the writing. Through the open window the deep voice of +Posina and the soft murmur of the Riderella, that hurries through the +garden close by the villa, alone broke the silence. Amidst the hush +and the repose of Nature, in the majesty of the night, the small room +with its many memories seemed a sanctuary. Still praying silently, he +put out the light and left the room. Teresina was waiting for him in +the corridor. The master, she said, seemed somewhat excited, and she +was anxious that he should retire early. As a matter of fact he had +complained of Leila's absence, and was upset at her having withdrawn, +but this the maid refrained from mentioning. + +Massimo did not find Signor Marcello in the drawing-room, but in the +garden, where he was seated upon one of the benches on the west side of +the villa, having preferred that their talk should take place there in +the dark. Alberti would have kissed the old man's hand, but this Signor +Marcello would not allow, and making Alberti sit beside him, he put his +arm around his shoulder. + +They sat silent for some time in the chill breath of black, overhanging +Priaforà, Signor Marcello staring into the shadows with unseeing +eyes, while Massimo listened to the voices of Posina and of the +Riderella, which led him back to the chamber of memories, and watched +almost unconsciously the lights of Arsiero, scattered like a swarm +of fireflies amidst the gloom, lower down on the right, beyond the +Valley of Posina, in the hollow below the heights of San Rocco and +the sky-piercing peaks of Caviogio. Presently Massimo referred to the +lateness of the hour, but Signor Marcello drew the young man towards +him with an impetuous movement. + +"No, no!" he cried, and began to question Massimo eagerly concerning +himself and Don Aurelio. Massimo had to tell him, in as few words as +possible, how, when a medical student in Rome, he had met the present +priest of Lago; how Don Aurelio and he had had a mutual friend, a man +of whom much had been said, both in praise and in condemnation--a +species of lay apostle. Massimo was sure Don Aurelio must have spoken +of him, and was greatly astonished to find that the name of Piero +Maironi, as well as that of Benedetto, was quite unknown to Signor +Marcello. Feeling that this was not the moment for enlarging upon a +subject that would have led to lengthy discussion, Massimo contented +himself with stating that Don Aurelio, having no fixed occupation in +Rome, had, through the kind offices of a member of the clergy, been +received by the Bishop of Vicenza into his diocese and appointed to +the cure of Lago di Velo. He pronounced him a godly man, devoted to +his ministry, full of charity and Divine love, and averse to religious +strife. Signor Marcello seconded this praise in a voice hoarse with +emotion, and the deep sighs accompanying his words told clearly that it +was an emotion of longing that the Church might be blessed with many +such priests as Don Aurelio. + +Teresina's voice reached them out of the darkness. + +"Master, I am sure Signor Alberti must be tired." + +"Let us alone!" said Signor Marcello, but quietly enough. "I know quite +well what you want. I am not tiring myself!" + +"Gèsu!" sighed the poor woman anxiously under her breath, but she did +not venture to insist. + +Massimo had now to tell of himself, of his reluctance to practise his +profession, although his studies and time of probation were over; and +he talked of the things that had distracted him from it. Once more +he took for granted that Don Aurelio had spoken of this, that Signor +Marcello knew about his lectures, his writings of a theo-philosophical +character, and the sharp opposition and disapproval from different +sources that these had brought, about his weariness of soul and the +longing for peace that had brought him to the mountain solitudes of +Velo d'Astico. + +But Signor Marcello knew nothing of all this, and showed himself deeply +affected by the account of it. Once more he drew the young man's head +towards his shoulder. + +"Yes, yes," said he, "stay here and let philosophy alone. Those little +lights shining down there amidst the gloom are like philosophy. Who +goes about at night with a light no longer sees the stars. Ah, the +stars, the stars!" + +Massimo pointed out, with a smile, that, light or no light, there were +no stars to be seen on this particular night. + +"Ah, but I see them!" his companion exclaimed fervently. "Only this +very evening I saw a precious message written among them for me! I saw +it there--just there!" + +He pointed to the grey clouds above black Torraro. During their entire +conversation this remark and the gesture that accompanied it were the +only signs of a slight mental agitation which Massimo noted in the old +man. But, taking them together with what the maid had said, they were +sufficient to alarm him. Rising resolutely, he declared he was very +tired, and asked permission to retire. + +"But we have not had our coffee," said Signor Marcello. + +Massimo said he was not in the habit of taking coffee in the evening. +The old man begged him at least to bear him company while he took +his own, and Massimo was casting about for a mode of escape, fearing +to be drawn again into lengthy conversation, when Teresina, who was +keeping guard in the verandah of the villa in the near vicinity of the +benches, came forward, telling her master she had taken his coffee to +his bedroom. Before his astonishment would allow him to protest she was +on her way to the kitchen to turn her untruth into a sort of prophecy. +And thus, at last, she carried her point. Massimo went up the double +stairway of wood leading from the drawing-room to the floor above, +while Signor Marcello retired to his bedroom on the ground floor, which +adjoined the study and looked out on the near slopes of Priaforà. + + + III + +The house had been dark for some time and most of its inmates were +asleep when Signor Marcello left his room, a tall, stooping figure, +the Florentine lamp swinging from his left hand, while with the other +he held a closed portfolio against his breast. He passed slowly through +study and billiard-room, and entering the salon, placed the lamp above +the piano that stood crosswise, almost directly beneath one branch +of the stairway, the light suddenly bringing out of the shadows his +deeply-lined face, now radiant with tenderness and love. Placing the +portfolio on the music-rest, he opened it with great deliberation, and +with trembling hands drew from it a portrait of his son and gazed long +at it. His lips were trembling also, and his eyes were full of tears. +The little brass lamp, so much dearer to him than those rich ones +hanging from the ceiling, seemed to shed a happy light upon the lad's +handsome face, mysteriously alive with new and tender meaning. The +father pressed a long kiss upon the boy's forehead; then very slowly +and very reverently placing it upon the rest once more, he dropped +his large, thin hands upon the keyboard and began to play, with face +upturned and closed eyes. + +He was not an accomplished pianist, but his soul understood music. His +deep religious faith, his affections, his keen sense of beauty led him +naturally towards musical expression. He reverenced Beethoven no less +than Dante and hardly less than St. John the Apostle; Haydn, Mozart, +and Bach were to him no less than Giambellino and Mark, Matthew, and +Luke; and, as he read the Gospels, so he daily studied some one of +the four evangelists of music. Often the evening hour of memories and +fancies would find him at the piano rapt in ecstasy, touching pathetic +chords, absorbed in the effort to express in music his own innermost +feelings, oblivious to things of the present and to the passage of +time. With upturned face and closed eyes he was now touching the +keyboard tentatively with those long, thin hands of his, as a blind +man feels the air. He was searching for that last song by Pergolese: + + "Quando corpus morietur + Fac ut animæ donetur + Paradisi gloria." + +He sought it in vain, and strove eagerly for a like harmony of +increasing depth and solemnity that should tell of the slow dissolution +of mortality, of the end of tired day, then of uprising tones pressing +close upon each other, breathless and frenzied, towards visions of +delight. At this point he ceased to follow Pergolese and poured into +his music a full and enraptured idea of the words "Paradisi gloria," +tears coursing down his cheeks the while. He was meeting Andrea, +his dear one, in another world of infinite love, of all light, and, +perhaps, all music, and his earthly music trembled with desire for its +Divine ideal. Presently other memories pressed upon him--memories of +his sins, of his human frailties, starting up together out of the dark +places in memory, quick with fearful life, like innumerable, forgotten +foes, rushing out of ambush, each shouting his evil name. The glories +of Paradise and of his communion with the beloved dead, despite his +strong faith in God and his firmly-rooted conviction of approaching +death, were devoid of distinct form, luminous, obscured by the mists of +their own brilliance. It was easy for him to speak and think of them in +music. But it was not so with the biting memories of sin. His wrists +bent weakly, his hands hung motionless from the keyboard, his head fell +forward on his breast. + +It was but for a brief instant, however. His humility, a stranger to +that bitterness of pride upon a moral fall, naturally moved him to +look for Divine mercy. He raised his head once more and his hands, and +poured his soul into the music of a _Miserere_, passionate indeed, but +full also of the sense of generous absolution; a prayer abounding in +gratefulness and delight, almost as if the penitent rejoiced that his +heavenly Father should be more loving and forgiving towards him than +any human father. His hands were moving in a melody of grief and love, +born from some subconscious memory, of Bellini: + + "Vieni, dicea, concedi + Ch'io mi ti prostri ai piedi." + +Surely in all his life Marcello had never made his piano speak so +wonderfully. He realised this and took momentary pleasure in it, and +with his emotion there mingled a feeling of tenderness for the old, +worn-out instrument itself, despised by Leila and fast nearing its end. + +He played on, with never a thought that others might be listening. +Teresina, who, for that night, had wisely prepared a bed for herself +in a room on the ground-floor, heard the piano, and hastening to find +out what was happening, caught sight of her master. Bewildered and +frightened, she hurried upstairs to tell Leila, who occupied an east +room on the first floor, and to consult her. Was the master in his +right mind, or was this the beginning of some mental disorder? Would it +not be wise to descend and persuade him to go to bed? And should she do +this--or the Signorina? She helped Leila to dress quickly, murmuring +under her breath the while, "Gèsu, Gèsu!" Leila was silent, determined +first to see and hear for herself. The two women went on tiptoe into +the gallery to the head of the stairway, from whence there was a view +of the drawing-room, through the stair opening, and also between the +short wooden columns on either side. But not even by peering between +the columns could the piano be seen. Signor Marcello being slightly +deaf, the two women ventured to descend the right arm of the stairway +far enough to enable them to see the musician's back, dimly lit by the +lamp that stood upon the piano. Those stooping shoulders and massive +head, swaying with the rhythm of the music, seemed instinct with +passion. + +"Gèsu, Signorina!" the maid whispered, "I _must_ go down." + +Leila grasped her arm and frowned. Teresina, looking at her in +astonishment, saw her place her finger upon her lips. She could not +know that Leila, who was an exquisite musician, recognised in those +notes the outpourings of a mind, not indeed confused by delirium, but +rapt in ecstasy. She was aware only that she must not move. + +A few solemn chords ended Marcello's improvisation, that mystic prelude +to the future. He closed the portfolio, and, crossing his arms, pressed +his forehead against it. + +"Gèsu, Signore!" the servant exclaimed, starting forward, but again +Leila held her back, and whispering, "I will go," descended the stairs. + +She went down slowly, careless of the creaking wooden steps, her hand +resting upon the banister, her eyes fixed upon Marcello. She was not +troubled concerning him, seeing in his attitude merely the effect of an +emotion which, but now, had vibrated in his music, and due evidently +to the meeting with poor Andrea's friend. She was going down simply +in order to persuade him to retire, without alarming him, as Teresina +might have done. She had descended barely halfway when Marcello heard +her, and raising his head, demanded sharply: + +"Who is there?" + +"I, Papa," said she, and hastening forward, was beside him in an +instant. + +"You here? Not in bed yet?" + +Marcello seemed both pleased and astonished. + +Leila smiled. + +"Not in bed yet, as you see!" she answered, adding with a quaint little +accent she had picked up at school from a Roman girl, and which she +sometimes used: "You keep us all awake!" + +Suddenly she remembered that on first coming to live with the Trentos +she had one day happened to say the same words to Signor Marcello +with the same accent, to express a necessity to which one must +perforce submit. Signor Marcello had been amused at first, but she had +thoughtlessly told him that poor Andrea had also delighted in that +quaint inflection, whereupon he had become silent and depressed. And +now, hardly had she uttered the words, "You keep us all awake!" before +the memory of that unhappy silence overcame her, and, thinking that his +face showed that he also remembered, she dropped her eyes in intense +confusion. Marcello gazed tenderly upon her, raised his hands to the +keyboard, his eyes still watching her, and struck the first notes of a +melody by Schumann that poor Andrea had often hummed and which Leila +sometimes played to the old man in the dark, never speaking of it +either beforehand or afterwards: + + "O lass im Traume mich sterben, + Gewieget an seiner Brust...." + +Leila trembled. It seemed to her that Signor Marcello was saying in +those sweet notes: "Do not fear to speak to me of him." He turned his +eyes away from her and glanced upwards as if seeking the notes in his +memory, his hands following with sudden passion the melody: + + "Den seligen Tod mich schlürfen + In Thränen unendlicher Lust...." + +She grew alarmed, and resting her hand on his shoulder, murmured very +softly: + +"Enough, Papa! You are exciting yourself. It is late and you had really +better go to bed." + +Marcello stopped playing, took the hand she was withdrawing from his +shoulder, and held it affectionately between his own cold ones. + +"I am all right, Leila," he said. "I am perfectly well." + +During the last two months of his life, after a slight quarrel, Andrea +had taken to calling her "Leila." For Marcello, who had heard of +this from his wife, to address her as "Leila" was almost like saying +"Andrea," almost like pronouncing that name he could not utter without +suffering, that name he was always repeating in his heart, but which +his lips formed only in the secrecy of his own room. + +"Leila, yes, Leila!" he repeated, smiling at her bewilderment, for she +was asking herself what could be taking place within that mind whose +hitherto most jealously guarded depths were being revealed. + +"Yes, Papa. But please do not tire yourself any more. Go to bed and +rest." + +She could find no fitting words with which to persuade him. She was +anxious not to appear indifferent to his tenderness or startled by +his unusual language; and she felt a strange desire to press close to +Andrea's father in spirit for protection and refuge. + +He rose from the piano, but neither took up the lamp nor prepared to +withdraw. Knitting his brows, as was his wont when about to introduce +some serious subject, he invited Leila to follow him on to the small +terrace beyond the drawing-room. Leila, who had not the courage to +refuse, obeyed in great agitation. Surely Signor Marcello was going +to talk of poor Andrea. And Teresina was still watching up there, and +might appear upon the scene at the wrong moment! Although she had +little hope of its being seen, Leila flung a rapid gesture in the +maid's direction that said she should go. Then she hastened forward to +join Marcello, who was leaning against the railing of the terrace. + +"It is raining," she said, making a last attempt to escape. + +Mist enveloped the rocky peaks of Barco and of Caviogio, and a moist +breeze blew from Val di Posina, but it was not raining. + +"No," said Marcello. "Come out." + +As she had come to him, drawn almost providentially by his music, he +felt bound to take this opportunity of speaking, but it was difficult +to begin. + +"If ever you should wish to do away with those artificial rocks that +you dislike so much, down there by the bridge and along the banks of +the Riderella," he said at last, "you need not hesitate to do so. I +might have had them removed myself, but since ... I have let everything +go." + +Even the little word "since," that stood for so much misfortune and so +many years of bitterness, was uttered calmly. + +Leila grasped the true intent of his remark, and a shudder ran through +her as she exclaimed: + +"I?" + +She refrained from adding anything more in order not to provoke words +that she did not wish to hear. The conviction that Signor Marcello +intended to make her his heir had long been fixed in her mind like a +poisonous thorn. She knew that this was generally believed, as Signor +Marcello was known to have no near relations, and she was looked upon +as his daughter by adoption, although no legal action had taken place, +nor was any such possible. But she was determined not to touch the +Trento fortune, which, although not large, reached, nevertheless, a +very comfortable figure. Her father had sold her indeed, but she would +not sell herself. Having given herself to Andrea's parents, in memory +of him, she would gladly accept gratitude from them, but no other +recompense. Was it not possible that Signor Marcello did possess a +distant relative? If not, he was extremely charitable, and he might +leave his money to the poor. The bare idea of being looked upon as a +schemer, an adventuress, filled her with horror. But she had a second +reason for dreading this heritage. What a disgusting struggle with her +father would follow upon the rejection of such an inheritance! He was +always pleading poverty and writing her shameless letters demanding +money. She had received such a letter this very evening. She could see +him already descending upon the Montanina in the event of the old man's +death, fastening upon it and tainting it with his presence. She had +faith in her own energy and did not fear her father, but she loathed +him. + +All this she was feeling and thinking as she uttered the one word "I?". +Marcello took her hand and pressed it, hoping that his touch might +speak for him. + +"Yes, dear," he said calmly, "you." + +A whisper, a scarcely perceptible breath brought the answer: + +"No, Papa!" + +Marcello smiled, mistaking the motive of her words. + +"I am old," he said, "and not, I think, very strong. I may live many +years yet, but, on the other hand, the Lord may call me very soon. Do +you really think I shall be sorry to go?" + +For answer Leila stooped and kissed the hand that still held hers. + +"Well, then," Marcello went on, "it is right that we should discuss +certain matters. The Montanina was dear to him, and, indeed, I did much +to make it so! I hope it will be dear to you also. I wanted to tell you +about those rocks, and I also wanted to say that, should the occasion +offer to purchase those chestnuts over beyond the road, you must be +sure to do so. You will have ample means." + +A passionate sound like a suppressed groan interrupted him. + +"No, Papa! No, no, Papa! Do not talk of these things!" + +Marcello remained in astonished silence, and she felt impelled to +explain herself. + +"Do not think of me as your heir. I cannot, indeed I cannot be your +heir!" + +He was offended, and began to be excited. + +"And why not?" he asked sharply. + +"No, dear Papa! I cannot, I cannot! Do not let us talk of these things! +Please go to bed and rest!" + +"But why not?" Marcello insisted. "Tell me." + +Leila took his arm, imploring him not to say anything more--at least, +not that night. + +"But you must explain!" he cried, his haggard face growing ever more +angry. + +At this point Teresina, who was still watching, hearing her master +raise his voice, turned on the light in the gallery where she stood, +and called to Leila, saying she had sought her in vain in her own room. +She wanted certain keys for to-morrow morning, to get out something for +the guest's breakfast. Timidly Leila murmured: "Papa ... good-night +..." as if entreating him to allow her to go. Signor Marcello did not +speak, but, turning slowly indoors with bent shoulders, he took the +lamp from the piano and left her without a word of good-night. + +He closed the door of his room behind him, and undressed himself +slowly, full of discontent, like one who, weary and already half +asleep, turns towards his couch only to find it so disordered that he +must spend time and strength in smoothing it. His haggard expression +told of harsh and angry thoughts. He believed he knew the reason of +Leila's repulse. She did not wish to become his heir because she did +not feel strong enough to keep her parents at a distance, and she +realised that their presence at the Montanina would be a mortal insult +to his memory. The thought of those two was sufficiently embittering. +For a moment fancy showed them to him, triumphant, playing the masters +in his house. Ah, no, that should never be! If that hot-headed girl +had only listened a while! He had intended to bring the conversation +precisely to that point. He had racked his brain to find a means of +preventing his heir's parents from setting foot in the Montanina. A +clause to be inserted in his will suggested itself, but he knew Leila +would never accept a condition thus publicly imposed, and, too, one +enforced by a penalty. She would simply refuse the inheritance. The +only way would be to talk the matter over with her beforehand, and +obtain some promise from her. It was a difficult question to handle, +but precisely the one he had intended to introduce. He must resume the +conversation on the morrow. It was the only way. + +When he was in bed he clasped his hands behind his neck, rested his +head against the head-board, and reflected. Supposing Leila had made +up her mind to marry, and was refusing on this account? It was a +contingency he had foreseen, and one he and his dead wife had discussed. + +His wife, who was a woman of practical views, was convinced that this +attractive and clever girl would be much sought after, and that, sooner +or later, she would marry. She thought that Marcello should content +himself with assigning her an annuity, which she might enjoy until her +marriage. Marcello, however, was not satisfied with this arrangement. +The poet in him delighted in the ideal of a sacrifice which he should +seem to share with his son, whose soul, freed from all earthly fetters, +still loved, but with an affection that was purged of all egotism, +desiring only and rejoicing in the happiness of his beloved. He wished +Leila to possess the wealth poor Andrea had offered her. It was, +indeed, sweet to him to think of her as remaining faithful to Andrea, +but he desired that, though she might yield to a second passion, she +should still have reason to bless her first love. He wished for her +happiness, and in appointing her his heir he did so unconditionally. +Would it be best for him to speak openly to her now, and let her know +how he felt? + +He sighed deeply at the thought that, should he die that night, his +home would fall into the hands of Girolamo Camin, or, in the event of +Leila refusing the heritage, into those of a young and distant cousin +of his, who had led a gambling and a dissolute life. The thought that +his wife's rooms and Andrea's might one day harbour such inmates +stabbed him to the heart. As he lay thinking, this same sense of +gnawing anxiety convinced him that he was more strongly attached to +life and earthly things than a few hours before he would have believed +possible. He reproached himself for this, and fell to thinking of the +words his grandfather, who had built the Montanina, had inscribed +upon the sun-dial: _Terrestres horæ, fugiens umbra_. He resolved to +go to confession at Lago di Velo on the morrow, and taking up his +cherished à Kempis which lay always upon his bedside table, he read +the fifty-second chapter of the third book, with feelings of deep +repentance. Upon raising the snuffers that hung by a small chain from +one arm of the lamp, he remembered that his father had been overtaken +by death before putting out the light, and without knowing why, he +remained for a moment with his hand raised. Presently he smiled, +put out the lamp, and by the dim light that fell through the broad +window gazed for a time upon the neighbouring mountain, so sublimely +untroubled and reposeful. Then he fell asleep like a little child, his +arms folded upon his breast. + + + IV + +Upon reaching his room Massimo proceeded to unpack his portmanteaux, +although, in his disappointment at not being Don Aurelio's guest, +he had at first determined to take out only what was necessary for +the night. He already regretted his impulse of selfish discontent, so +deeply had he been moved by Signor Marcello's marked affection, present +even here in this little room that had been dear to Andrea; in the +pathetic souvenirs, in the white rose arranged so that its dying beauty +should overhang that other blossom of bygone days, so soon cut off. +Having put out the light, he went to the window, and resting his elbows +upon its broad sill, gazed upon those clouds amongst which Signor +Marcello had seen a message writ in stars. Beneath those clouds the +delicately arched brow of Torraro divided the space that yawned between +Priaforà and Caviogio, whose black and mighty outlines swept downwards +majestically, like the flowing robes of giant monarchs. His thirsting +soul found comfort in the brooding peace of the scene. + +It was an immense relief to have escaped from Milan for a few weeks, +to have left behind him the foulness and the cowardice of the +free-thinking crowd who cried shame upon him for a weakling, because he +professed the loyalty of a soldier to the Church, and of the Pharisaic +masses who cried shame upon him for a heretic, because he thought, +spoke, and wrote like a man of his times! It was an immense relief +to have shaken off that idle society, ever claiming his reluctant +participation in its eternal comedy; which made him feel, now by a +smile, now by sarcastic praise, now by neglect, its contempt for a +young man who turned his back upon those pleasures it discreetly +offered him, pleasures which it cherished and shielded as its one +purpose in life, a purpose indeed not always avowable. Oh to forget, +if only for a few days, those weary and inglorious mental struggles, +so often sustained in the tragic endeavour to hide the eclipse of +hope, and also, not infrequently, of faith itself! Once more there +came the strong, persistent temptation to withdraw from the field of +religious action which he had entered with that Master who had died in +Rome; whereon he and others had pressed still farther than the Master, +gaining nought but wounds, disappointments, and humiliations in the +service of a cause possibly lost from the outset, and of a religion +that was perhaps fated to perish. Might he not relinquish the struggle, +and live for all the beauty there is in the world, for the subtle and +harmonious delights of intellectual activity? + +Such thoughts as these were rather the outpouring of pent-up bitterness +than real temptation. The attitude Massimo had publicly assumed towards +certain theo-philosophical questions, through essays in reviews, +lectures, and controversial articles, had secured him a moral position +which, while it upheld and dignified him, proved itself at certain +times, nevertheless, a veritable prison-house. He realised this, and +reflecting on it, was seeking interruption of his thoughts, raising +himself from the window-sill, when he heard voices in the road that +leads downwards following the wire fence encircling the grounds of the +Montanina. He thought he distinguished Don Aurelio's voice and that of +a woman speaking to a third person in the grounds. They seemed to be +giving him some orders. Presently, indeed, a figure appeared upon the +bridge over the Riderella, and, in the dim starlight that was beginning +to pierce the clouds, Massimo thought he saw two other figures, one +black, the other white, beyond the bridge. The first figure left the +bridge, then stopped, seeming perplexed, gazed at the villa, walked +around it, paused for an instant on the side where the kitchen is, +reappeared, and finally went towards the bridge again, where Massimo +heard him telling the others that the household were asleep. Thereupon +the two withdrew in the direction of the gate. Presently Massimo +thought he distinguished the white figure standing with the individual +who had made the tour of the villa, in the road between the group of +birches beside the gate and the clump of poplars further down. + +Don Aurelio, if indeed it were he, must have gone on towards Lago. The +young man concluded that the woman must be a certain Signora Vayla +di Brea, of whom Don Aurelio had spoken in his letters as a lady +remarkable both for her talents and for her noble qualities. And then +once more all was silence. + +Presently from within the villa came the sound of a piano. Massimo +cautiously opened the door and listened. Yes, it was a piano, and a +very poor instrument too. Who could be playing? Certainly not Signor +Marcello, for he had gone to bed. Then he remembered that Andrea had +often spoken admiringly of Leila's talent as a pianist. At one moment +he thought he recognised the pathetic and passionate composition, but +presently he lost the thread of the melody. At first it was Pergolese's +"Stabat Mater," and then suddenly it turned to something else. Very +softly he stepped into the corridor that he might hear better. The +music came from below, from the left, surely from the drawing-room +where he had noticed a piano. What strange playing, what strength of +expression in the touch, what passion, and what disorder! + +Doubtless the performer was improvising. What a fiery soul she must +possess, this Leila, if indeed she were the musician! Once more that +small, enigmatical head, with its disordered hair and downcast eyes, +pictured itself in Massimo's mind. This music did not speak of a +grief-encompassed soul, of a soul expecting more from life. It spoke +of sorrow indeed, but of a thirst for love and joy as well. The music +paused; there were steps and whispering near at hand, and he retreated +to the door of his room. Again the music sounded. Now it was the sweet +and solemn notes of grief and supplication, and then passion once more, +tender, ardent passion. Ah!, "Norma." + + "Vieni, dicea, concedi + Ch'io mi ti prostri ai piedi...." + +This music seemed a confession! What followed was no longer "Norma," +but a fancy of the player's. But why had she chosen the dead of night +for this musical outpouring? He recalled the lovely, sphinx-like face +and the eyelids lowered like veils covering a mystery. But was Leila +really the player? On one hand it seemed too strange an action for her, +on the other the quality of the music and the hour were in keeping with +the strangeness of the small face. And if it were not Leila, who could +it be? Perhaps some companion of hers of whose existence Massimo was +ignorant, or a fellow-guest he had not seen. Ah! but it must be she--a +creature painfully eager to love and be loved, who, perhaps, loved +already. + +The music came to an end and he withdrew to his room, closing the door +behind him and returning to the window, where he remained standing, +picturing almost mechanically a love that was aflame and oblivious +to the world, amidst these silent hills, whereon passions might be +enthroned, confronting and challenging one another. He shook himself, +sighed deeply, and closed the window, reproaching himself for all these +vain fancies. For some time he studied Andrea's photograph. The poor +lad's handsome face wore a bright and happy expression, like a ray of +sunshine. How dearly he had loved him! Without knowing why he felt a +painful longing to clasp his hands and bow his head before that placid +brow. Upon going to bed he fancied that the music he had heard would +prevent his sleeping, but he fell asleep almost immediately. It was +Leila who lay all night with staring eyes. + + + + + CHAPTER II + + DISTAFFS AND THREADS + + + I + +The next morning Massimo came down to the drawing-room at +half-past six, to the dismay of the footman Giovanni, who left the +floor-polishing in which he had been engaged amidst great disorder of +furniture, and rushed off for the coffee. + +Gentle breezes blew fresh from all sides through the large, open +windows, through which could be seen, on the south, the emerald of +chestnut-crowned slopes, on the north, the bare and mighty crags of +Barco, and on the west, the deep declivities of the garden beneath the +Lago road. There could be seen, too, the tremulous glistening of the +clumps of birch and poplar that border the garden fence, the Posina +ravine, and beyond the little town of Arsiero, whose houses cluster +amid the green at the foot of the church which seems to guard them, the +gloomy depths of the sharp-cut gorge, and then mountain upon mountain +rising under changing lights and shadows towards imperial Torraro. + +"Buona mattina," said the footman, returning with the coffee. + +Massimo meanwhile had been paying more attention to the music that +littered the piano than to the vision of hills and valleys, sunshine +and verdure. A thick volume of Clementi and a thin one of Corelli bore +the name "Leila," written in a large hand. + +While he was drinking his coffee he learned from the footman that +Signor Marcello had gone out some time before, but whether he was in +the garden or had gone to church, whether he had taken the Velo road +or that to Arsiero, Giovanni could not say. Massimo went out also, +intending to look up Don Aurelio. The caretaker opened the gate for +him, and Massimo was questioning him as to the road to Lago, when he +saw the man look beyond him and salute some one who was passing, with +marked respect. He turned round. A woman stood behind him, no longer +young, but tall and slim; her head was bare, and in her hand she +carried a closed sunshade, although the sun was already hot upon the +rocky path. To the young man's intense surprise, she stood still and +smiled. + +"Signor Alberti, I believe?" she said. + +The soft voice struck Massimo as being the same he had heard in +the night, alternating with Don Aurelio's. He bowed with some +embarrassment, looking at the lady as if apologising for failing to +recognise her. Before him stood a noble figure, that of a woman between +fifty and fifty-five years of age, pale, with a suggestion of olive in +her pallor, her face showing traces of bodily suffering, her hair quite +white, her large and luminous eyes still youthful, and her manner, +voice, and slow utterance conveying an expression of sweetness and of +the dignity of gentle breeding. + +"I am a friend of Don Aurelio's," she said, still smiling. "We passed +this way last night, hoping to see you, but you were already asleep." + +Massimo confessed that from his window he had seen a dark figure and a +white one. + +"Yes, I was wearing a white shawl," she answered. "Are you on your way +to Don Aurelio's? I am going there too." + +Massimo bowed, and questioned with his eyes rather than with his lips: + +"Then you are Signora----?" + +"Vayla di Brea," was her answer, with a pleasant smile. "Has Don +Aurelio been writing to you about me? And was my name quite unfamiliar +to you?" + +Massimo was obliged humbly to admit that it had been. + +"You see," she went on, "I have rather a grandmotherly feeling towards +you! Was not your mother a Vittuoni, and was not her name Rachele? I +was at Madame Bianchi Morand's school with her, in Milan. Your mother +was one of the little girls when I was one of the elder ones. I was +very fond of her and used to amuse myself sometimes by playing at being +her mother." + +They started together along the narrow road that, just beyond the gate, +enters the cool shade of great chestnuts that fringe the crest of the +sharp slope to the ravine, whence rises the deep, rhythmical booming of +the whirlpools of Perale. + +His companion spoke at once of Don Aurelio's great disappointment at +being unable to receive Massimo as his guest nor even to meet him at +the station. She told him that two days before the priest had taken in +a sick man, a wretched pedlar of Protestant Bibles, who had fallen a +victim to the people's fury at Posina, and to whom no one else would +offer shelter. + +"Poor creature!" the lady exclaimed. "He is an oddity, an oddity +indeed!" And she gave a short laugh, which she quickly checked, +however, pity overcoming her sense of the comic and her desire to +indulge it. + +"He is a certain Pestagran, but about here they have taken to calling +him 'Carnesecca,' because in his sermons, which are always poetical, +he often introduces Carnesecchi. But he gets even with them. He used +to call his fellow-citizens of Lago fishes, sprats, eels, pike, and +sometimes crabs. Now he calls them all sharks!" + +She talked on pleasantly of the despised Carnesecca, with a gentle +humour that amused Massimo, and without revealing to him that she +was an attentive visitor to the sick man. Their conversation was +interrupted three times; first at the end of the chestnut-grove, then +in that green, flowery spot, shaded by nut and apple trees, where the +women of Lago have their washhouse, amid idyllic surroundings. First a +poor old woman, then a lame beggar, stopped the Signorina and poured +their woes into her ears. Then she herself stopped a small, barefooted, +and dirty maiden, carrying a basket. To each she spoke gently and +kindly by name, inquiring for some invalid or absent relation. For the +girl she had a word of reproof--a little bird having told her certain +things! When she had gently dismissed these poor people she fell once +more to describing Carnesecca and his partly comic, partly heroic ways, +punctuating her description with the often-repeated word "Poveretto!" +as a salve to a conscience that was reproaching her for her slightly +uncharitable mirth. + +Passing the first cottages and low sheds of Lago, guarded by +walnut-trees and grape-vines throwing their cool shade across narrow, +sweet-smelling lanes, Massimo and his companion reached the small +square, where a few neat houses listen respectfully to the sermon on +cleanliness that the fountain preaches to them, who do not need it, +while the rabble of filthy hovels keeps at a distance, as the human +rabble avoids the priest's sermons. If a peasant woman who was drawing +water were to be believed, Carnesecca had died in the night. A man in +his shirt-sleeves, with wooden shoes, who was clattering off to his +work, his scythe upon his shoulder, burst out contemptuously as he +passed, without deigning to look in the woman's direction: + +"What does a foresta like you know about it?" + +The woman protested loudly, not because the information of a _foresta_ +might, nevertheless, be correct, but because she happened to be a +native of Maso, a group of houses not more than a quarter of a mile +away. The sound of the man's heavy tread grew fainter, down among the +dirty cottages, but his insolent voice could still be heard repeating: + +"A foresta! Foresta! Foresta!" + +Then a girl, who was watering some carnations, leaned out of the +window, and greeting the Signora, told her that she had carried the +milk to Don Aurelio's house an hour ago, and that Carnesecca was +feeling much better. The other woman excused her mistake by stating +that she had hoped the horrid creature might really be dead! And when +the Signora reproached her for her cruel thought, she turned the tables +upon her, saying: + +"You cannot understand, Ela! You are a foresta! And the priest too.... +It seems to me that, though he is indeed a holy man----" + +"He is, nevertheless, a foreigner," said the Signora, and, turning to +Massimo, she added, with a smile, "He is a Samaritan." + +"So he is!" said the "foreigner" from Maso sagaciously. "He comes from +that very place!" + +Massimo and the Signora laughed and started to climb the steep path +leading to the little church of Sant' Ubaldo. The church door stood +open, and hearing Don Aurelio's voice, they entered. He was saying Mass +and had reached the _Pater Noster_. There were only two worshippers--a +little old woman, seated on the last bench, and Signor Marcello, who +was sitting in the row of benches directly in front of the altar, +his shaggy head bent low, his whole being rapt in ardent prayer. The +new-comers knelt down beside the little old woman. + +When Signor Marcello rose, somewhat feebly, and went to kneel at the +altar-rail, Donna Fedele Vayla di Brea fixed eyes brimming with grave +tenderness upon that venerable head, reverently lowering them again +when the priest advanced towards him with the consecrated host and the +words of eternal life. + +She had known Marcello since her early childhood, when, soon after the +liberation of Venice, Colonel Vayla di Brea purchased the Villino delle +Rose, near Arsiero. Marcello was then past his thirtieth year. His +parents were still alive, and a warm friendship soon sprang up between +the two families, who spent the summer holidays in Val d'Astico. Little +Fedele showed a strong liking for Marcello, and he, touched by this +childish affection, would often amuse himself by playing duets with +her. When he became engaged, the girl, who was now nearly fifteen and +was growing very tall, altered her manner towards him, avoiding rather +than seeking his society. He alone guessed that this change concealed +those ardent, immature feelings which young girls sometimes have for +men older than themselves, and under these circumstances consideration +for Fedele urged him for a time to break off all familiar intercourse +with her. With Marcello's wife the girl became, as she grew up, on +most affectionate terms. Only, being unmusical, Signora Trento could +not share the love of music which still remained a bond between her +husband and Fedele. Gradually these two began to seek each other's +company again, and their eyes would meet more often than was necessary. +One day, during an excursion, the two found themselves separated +from the rest of the party, and lost in a pine forest. Perhaps, at +first, passionate dreams overwhelmed the emotional girl, but as they +wandered, trembling indeed and silent, neither sought the other's eyes. +As they came out of the woods Marcello picked a cyclamen and offered +it silently. Fedele took it and pressed it to her lips, her eyes +glistening with tears. + +Henceforth they played no more together, as if by an unspoken +agreement; but Fedele could not forget. She persuaded her father to +leave Arsiero, and they spent their summers at Santhià, where they had +relatives. In winter they lived in Turin, where she was much courted, +and where at times she seemed not indifferent to the admiration she +excited. There was talk even of a real passion--of a rejected suitor, +who took his life for love of her. But she never married, and at +eight-and-forty she found herself alone. Her parents were dead, and, +tired of city life, she remembered Arsiero, and went back to the +Villino delle Rose. Poor Andrea Trento was already ill, and during the +short time that elapsed between his death and that of his mother, Donna +Fedele was often at the Montanina. Her former attachment to Marcello +had grown into a regard that, with pity for his great misfortunes, +became almost veneration. + +But after Signora Trento's death and a first exchange of visits +Marcello ceased to come to the Villino, and Donna Fedele no longer +went to the Montanina. Leila was the cause of this estrangement. She +had, at first, been quite captivated by Donna Fedele, who, however, +had unintentionally treated her with icy indifference, arising perhaps +from absent-mindedness or from some passing mood. Inexplicable attacks +of iciness had more than once bewildered those around her. She had +smiled at the girl, had bestowed a careless greeting upon her, and +throughout the rest of the visit had not once addressed a word to her. +Leila set her down as haughty, and concluded she had taken a dislike +to her. Her future attitude towards Donna Fedele was the more proud +and cold because her longing to be friends was so strong. On her side, +Donna Fedele, who had no suspicion of the truth, was sure that Leila +disliked her; and deeply though she regretted this, her reserved nature +stood in the way of her taking steps to win the young girl's heart, +and, believing that her presence was unwelcome to the person most +dear and sacred to Signor Marcello, she discontinued her visits to the +Montanina. She met Marcello not infrequently on the road from Velo to +Arsiero, which passes below the villa. On such occasions they would +walk and talk together, but they never spoke of Leila. Marcello himself +shrank from any reference to her. Knowing how peculiarly susceptible +Donna Fedele was to impressions, he had concluded that Leila was +uncongenial to her, and he felt that his son's memory was thereby +affronted. As through narrow mountain clefts a cold air can sometimes +be detected rising, even through hot summer grass, from the heart of +the mountain, so Donna Fedele felt, and endured in silence, a coolness +invading Signor Marcello's friendship for her, for she understood +whence it came. + +She raised her eyes to the old man's face as he rose from the +altar-rail and returned to his seat, while Don Aurelio turned to +pronounce the _Dominus vobiscum_. Massimo looked at his friend, +thinking he had noticed him, but he was mistaken. The priest's eyes +were blind to the things of this world. The young man saw that he had +aged and had grown thinner since their last meeting, and that his face +seemed more spiritual than ever. + +When Mass was over, Donna Fedele whispered to Massimo: + +"Of course, you will wait for Don Aurelio. I am going to see my friend. +Will you come there too, later on?" + +Just for the moment Massimo did not realise that the friend to whom she +referred was Carnesecca. However, he nodded assent, and sat down to +wait for the priest. + +He was kept waiting for some time. The lad who had served the Mass put +out the candles and departed about his own business. Signor Marcello, +after remaining long absorbed in prayer, rose from his seat and entered +the sacristy. Massimo heard a few whispered words, and then all was +silence. The minutes passed, and neither Signor Marcello nor Don +Aurelio reappeared. But Massimo was not impatient. He was enjoying the +sense of peace that dwelt within these poor walls, in these poor and +well-worn fittings and ornaments, that called up pictures of still +poorer homes, simple beings, and of the festivals of an unsophisticated +faith. Meanwhile through the open door a light breeze was wafting to +him fresh scents of woods and meadows and voices from the distant +fields. Once more he was rejoicing in his release from the noise and +dust of scorching Milan, as he had done last night on his way up to the +Montanina, along the side of the dark gorge where the water sings. + +How sweet it was to be overcome by sensation alone! The music of the +night sounded in his memory like a distant song. A gentle drowsiness, +that was full of vague imaginings, crept gradually over him. The voices +of an invisible choir filled the church with sweet sounds, while a +young girl, with disordered hair and eyes downcast, came slowly towards +him from the sacristy, and, stooping, touched his shoulder. His heart +gave a bound; he opened his eyes and saw Don Aurelio, who had touched +his shoulder and now stood smiling beside him. + + * * * * * + +Don Aurelio, a Roman by birth, had studied in the Propaganda College +with the intention of becoming a missionary. A long illness, however, +and the wishes of his superiors, who doubted his physical powers, +had obliged him to relinquish this purpose. An intimate friend of +the Benedictine Dom Clemente of Santa Scolastica, at Subiaco, he had +met Benedetto there, had seen him again in Rome, at Dom Clemente's +desire, and had become deeply attached both to him and to Massimo. +During convalescence, following a relapse of his illness, mountain air +had been prescribed, and a Vincentine priest, who had been with him +at the Propaganda, persuaded the Bishop of Vicenza to appoint him to +the cure of Lago di Velo. Gentle Don Aurelio had gladly accepted this +dispensation of Providence, rejoicing at the prospect of preaching +Christ to simple souls in the poverty to which he had been born. And +thus he had come to Lago, knowing nothing of it beyond the fact that +it was very poor. He did not forget Massimo. He wrote to him often +and watched over him, not like a father, ready to help the struggle +of a fervent disciple of him who lay buried at Campo Verano, but like +a mother, who trembles for the welfare of her son's soul. He knew +how sorely he must be tempted to wrath and hatred by the unjust war +that was being waged against him by opposite parties; he knew that he +was sometimes tempted to swerve from the doctrines of true religion, +as not a few of his friends, some moved by natural pride, others by +rebellious impulses, had swerved; and, finally, he knew that worldly +pleasures were also a source of temptation to him. He was aware, from +what Massimo himself had told him, that women, lovely and brilliant +women, had been attracted by him; and he knew that the young man's deep +and poetic feeling for woman was perhaps more dangerous to him than +mere physical temptations. He felt there would be grave danger for +Massimo until such a time as he should meet and love a woman worthy +to be his wife, who would weave about him a net of affections and of +personal interests, strong enough also to hold him back from the field +of religious strife. Don Aurelio, either from the natural gentleness +of his character, or from his conception of the special duties which +the ecclesiastical habit imposed, was not a man of strife. In religious +matters he opened his heart to God alone, praying and looking to Him +only for the triumph of truth and of the Church. A lecture Massimo had +recently delivered in Milan on the Italian heretics of the sixteenth +century had brought such a hailstorm of insults, both black and red,[1] +had excited such a pandemonium of universal comment, that Don Aurelio +had advised him to withdraw for a time from this confusion, offering +him hospitality which, if devoid of comforts, was rich in peace. + +When he had locked the church door, Don Aurelio put his arm +affectionately through Massimo's. + +"You were good to come!" he exclaimed, pressing the arm he held still +closer to his side. In this pressure Massimo felt something that +troubled him. His heart misgave him lest this silent demonstration of +affection should mean that his friend shrank from expressing certain +criticisms, or was but preparing him for them. These criticisms, he +felt sure, could not fail to contain disapproval. + +"You also disapprove of me," he said sadly. + +"Dear friend, you may not have had my approval in everything, but at +this moment I remember only that you have suffered." + +"_You may not have had my approval in everything._" These words +overwhelmed Massimo with sorrow and oppression. At the moment he +made no answer, but when Don Aurelio, going in front of him, led the +way through the yard surrounding the priest's poor little house, and +was telling him how disappointed he was at being unable to receive +him there, the young man interrupted and asked, with almost painful +anxiety, of what he had disapproved. At that very moment Donna Fedele +came towards them, and Don Aurelio was first astonished and then +pleased to see the two whom he thought strangers to one another smile +at their introduction. Carnesecca was doing very well, but he was +restless, and kept asking for Don Aurelio. The priest objected to his +being called Carnesecca, but Donna Fedele, raising her eyebrows and +speaking with unwonted rapidity, protested warmly that she was one of +the people, and must express herself as they did. + +"Would you have me give him the name by which the archpriest calls +him?" she inquired. This dignitary, juggling with the stranger's +name, Pestagran, had dubbed him Gran Peste. Don Aurelio's face +flushed. He disliked the archpriest's nickname for the miserable but +well-intentioned wanderer, but still more he disliked hearing the +priest himself alluded to in sarcastic and ironical terms. + +"Here I am!" he cried, as he and Massimo passed from the fresh air +and coolness of the stairway into the heavy, drug-laden atmosphere of +the invalid's room. A little old woman who was seated beside the bed, +whence Carnesecca's yellow and wrinkled old face peered forth, like a +handful of clay, from between his nightcap and the folded sheet, rose +to her feet, clasping her hands and crying delightedly: + +"Thank Heaven, you have come!" + +The invalid raised his head and shoulders a little, propping himself +upon one elbow, while he brought the other hand to his nightcap in a +military salute. Then, turning to the old woman, he pronounced her name +solemnly: + +"Lúzia!" + +He stretched out his arm, turning his wrist slowly and majestically +until the palm of his hand faced the door. + +"You are at liberty to devote yourself to the performance of your +mysterious rites!" + +The old woman hurried away, exclaiming: "I am going! I am going!" And +the upraised palm fell back upon the coverlet with a dull thud. + +"The good woman was troubled by my very natural impatience." + +Thus saying, Signor Ismaele Pestagran blew a noisy breath through +his nostrils and screwed up his small eyes into two glittering, black +points. Noticing Massimo, who had entered behind Don Aurelio, he once +more brought his hand to his nightcap. + +"And this gentleman?..." + +"This gentleman's" presence did not seem entirely welcome to him. +Massimo saw this and made haste to withdraw. Whereupon Carnesecca said +calmly, "Your pardon." Donna Fedele, who was waiting for Massimo on the +landing, asked him to go downstairs with her. Something was going on +that Massimo should know of. While Don Aurelio had been saying Mass, +the sacristan of Velo had arrived with a letter from the archpriest. He +had left the letter with Lúzia, who had afterwards expressed herself to +Ismaele as follows: "Those accursed books of yours will bring you to +perdition and me to beggary!" She had refused to explain her outburst; +but Ismaele was convinced that the priests of Velo intended to drive +Don Aurelio away from Lago on his, Ismaele's, account. Massimo asked +if there were really any danger of this. How could Donna Fedele tell? +Lúzia had taken the archpriest's note to her master's study, and +Don Aurelio had not been in there yet. But what was Donna Fedele's +opinion? Donna Fedele was much alarmed. On account of something Don +Aurelio had told her? Certainly not. He never spoke of his superiors +except to sing their praises. It was her opinion that there was more +to be feared from the chaplain than from the archpriest, and more to +be feared from him than from the bishop. The bishop, indeed, appeared +most benevolently inclined towards Don Aurelio. What sort of men +were this archpriest and this chaplain? Donna Fedele would tell him +nothing concerning the chaplain, and said it was a difficult matter to +understand the archpriest. At times he seemed good-natured, at times +harsh; he was sometimes jovial, sometimes sarcastic; liberal on some +occasions, conservative on others. As a priest he was above censure. +And here Donna Fedele felt it her duty to add that, as far as morals +were concerned, the chaplain was above censure also. Don Aurelio had +pronounced the archpriest a good theologian and Latin scholar, and had +indeed endowed him with all those merits of which she was incapable +of judging. Between him and the bishop, a warm-hearted man, full of +charity for friends and enemies alike, there was some friction. She +was willing to wager that the archpriest had accepted Don Aurelio most +unwillingly at Lago, and only because he had been obliged to do so. +She believed that Don Aurelio had been under suspicion for some time +on account of his sermons, which were carefully watched, and of which +the chaplain was known to have hinted that they contained overmuch +of purely moral teaching and mystical sentiment, and overlittle of +theology and asceticism. + +While Donna Fedele and Massimo were holding this conversation in the +doorway, Lúzia passed on her way to the kitchen-garden to gather some +peas. Donna Fedele stopped her. Well, what had the sacristan really +said? He had said: "Take good care of your Gran Peste! Take good care +of him! This time your priest will have to go!" + +Donna Fedele's face flushed angrily, while in Massimo's breast a +flame of bitterness burned hot. The grass in the field, the leaves of +the mulberry-tree, quivering and glistening in the breeze, the calm +hills flooded with sunshine, the clear sky, even the little garden +itself, everything was brimming with kindness, was a hymn to kindness +encompassing the humble home of this servant of God whose soul was full +of Christ. And now everything seemed meaningless, frozen by a sudden +icy breath. Neither Massimo nor Donna Fedele dared to utter their +indignation here in the near neighbourhood of Don Aurelio, any more +than if they had been in church. They heard the priest's step on the +stairs, and Carnesecca's voice crying, "I wish it, Signore! I wish it!" +to Don Aurelio's "No, no!" And then there was silence. + +"He probably wished to go away on account of the letter," Donna Fedele +whispered. "But there is no danger of Don Aurelio's allowing him to +leave in the state he is in." + +The priest did not come to them, and Donna Fedele, leaving Massimo, +went upstairs and entered Carnesecca's room without knocking. Massimo +was greatly astonished to see her come down again almost immediately, +laughing heartily, her face hidden in her hands. She had found +Carnesecca with his bare legs out of bed, and they were such black, dry +stilts of legs, and the poor man had been so dismayed, and had shouted +so vigorously, "Go away! Go away!" dragging at the clothes the while, +that, with her sense of humour, Donna Fedele would have had to laugh +even if her father and mother had both died but that morning. + +She went out to Lúzia and advised her to go and attend to her invalid. +But Lúzia would not. The man was always doing that. He was always +trying to get out of bed without help, and even she herself was sent +out of the room on these occasions. But--what if he should become +giddy? What if he should fall? What if he should break his arm--break +his leg? + +"Blessed Lady! What a lot of accidents!" cried Lúzia, unmoved. + +"What a lot indeed!" Donna Fedele retorted, laughing. "One would be +enough, I should think!" + +Lúzia laughed too, and then went on gathering her peas. Massimo came +up and offered to go to the invalid. Lúzia grasped at this proposal, +saying, "Yes, yes; you go!" But Donna Fedele said, "H'm!" and smiled in +a way that excited Massimo's curiosity. She then explained to him, with +other smiles and some reticence, that he was not in Carnesecca's good +books. Carnesecca read the newspapers, and had come to the conclusion +that Massimo was a Modernist, one of those people who study the Bible +to discover falsehoods in it, to find errors, contradictions, and +interpolations; while to him, Carnesecca, every word it contained had +been written by the hand of the Almighty Himself. He rejoiced in Don +Aurelio's disapproval of Bible criticism, and he had been heard to say +that, on this point, he was more in sympathy with the Jews than with +certain Catholics. In fact, one of his best friends was a rabbi in +London. Massimo, who had never given any thought to Bible criticism, +was greatly amused by the horror he had inspired and much interested +concerning this friendship with the English rabbi. Donna Fedele +informed him that Carnesecca had spent several years in England, where +he had become a Protestant and had made the acquaintance of a rabbi, +a man of science, who had taught him that there were three hundred +and sixty-five bones in the human body. Allowing her own humorous +imagination to colour her story somewhat, perhaps, she went on to +say that, after the tortures he had endured from Catholic sticks and +stones, Ismaele declared he could locate pains in no less than three +hundred and fifty-nine separate bones. The two were still talking +quietly among the peas when they were roused by the priest's voice. Don +Aurelio was standing at his study window. + +"Massimo! Will you come in now?" + +Massimo hastened indoors, and Donna Fedele, who was very tired, begged +Lúzia to bring her out a chair, and, settling herself comfortably, +waited for news concerning the archpriest's message. + + * * * * * + +Don Aurelio came out to meet Massimo on the landing, and grasping his +hands, held them in his own for a space, gazing smilingly into his +friend's eyes. Presently he drew him into a little study flooded with +light, with a whitewashed ceiling and brick floor, and barely furnished +with a bookshelf, a deal table, a few rickety, straw-bottomed chairs, +a dilapidated leather easy-chair, from whose rents hung ragged ends +of lining, and, hanging above the easy-chair, a wooden crucifix. The +bookshelf was opposite the fireplace, and it was crowded with books, as +were the table, the mantelshelf, and all the chairs save one. Yet there +was no disorder or dust; the books were arranged in tidy piles, and +everything was as neat as Don Aurelio's cassock and his delicate hands. +Above the mantelshelf, between the two windows, hung two photographs, +one of the Sacro Speco at Subiaco, the other of the Cosmati Cloister +at Santa Scolastica. The books were chiefly religious works. Don +Aurelio set especial store by his collection of the writings of the +great mystics and of his complete sets of the works of Antonio Rosmini +and of Father Gratry. These and the collection of the sacred orators +of Nôtre Dame, together with many books by modern French Catholics, +were the gift of Donna Fedele, and had belonged to her father. Don +Aurelio showed his treasures to his friend with such untroubled +satisfaction, and stood so quietly beside him at the window, pointing +out the different peaks, the villages, and the more distant paths, that +Massimo was forced to conclude either that nothing was wrong or that +Don Aurelio did not yet know. But he was conscious, to the point of +embarrassment, of his own air of distraction and of his visible lack of +interest in the things of which Don Aurelio was talking. + +Don Aurelio mentioned Val d'Astico, and Massimo seized the opportunity +to inquire how he got on with the archpriest there. + +"He is an excellent man," his friend answered; but he added, smiling, +"I fear, however, he has no great liking for me." + +There was no reason for that smile. Massimo saw that Don Aurelio knew. + +"Why do you smile?" he asked. + +The priest did not answer. + +At this point they heard the voice of Lúzia, who was coming upstairs, +crying: + +"Smèle! Smèle!" (Ismaele! Ismaele!). "Are you there, Smèle?" + +She burst into the room, glanced wildly round, and, wringing her hands +as if beside herself, cried: + +"Gèsumarite! He is not here!" + +Who was not here? Why, Smèle, of course! And who was Smèle? Carnesecca, +to be sure! + +Don Aurelio realised at once what had happened. He gave a start and +dashed downstairs, followed by Massimo and Lúzia. It was as she had +said--the room was empty. And his clothes? They were gone too. + +"Gèsumarite! The poor soul!" moaned Lúzia. "And he has even left me a +franc!" + +A silver coin was glittering on the straw bottom of a chair, beside a +ball of wool and a set of knitting-needles. + +"He has forgotten his watch," she added. + +"Massimo!" Don Aurelio called; "follow me!" + +At the front door they met Donna Fedele; she had heard Lúzia's cries +and the excited voices of the two men, and was on her way to inquire +what had happened. They told her quickly. The colour left her face. It +was true, then? The letter the sacristan had brought?... Carnesecca had +gone because of that? + +"It is true," said Don Aurelio quietly; "but that poor creature has +nothing to do with it. And now he will make himself worse again, for +this morning he was still feverish. You did not see him go out?" + +Donna Fedele, who had been watching Lúzia gathering her peas, had +neither seen nor heard anything. Neither had Lúzia seen nor heard him +go. + +Don Aurelio set about arranging a plan of pursuit. Something must be +done at once. "I can't run!" observed Donna Fedele with a smile. She +was so far from being able to run that, having pressed the priest's +hand in silence, she dropped wearily into her chair once more. Later +she had to ask the milk-girl from Lago to lend her an arm as far as the +chestnut-tree, where a small hired carriage awaited her. + +Don Aurelio started running towards Lago, believing that Ismaele had +gone to the Montanina. Massimo went up towards Maso. The priest reached +the chestnuts on the hillside, from which point one can see the white +Trento villa, without having met a soul. Could Ismaele have passed +already? A man of sixty, with fever upon him, and practically fasting? +Impossible! Don Aurelio stopped abruptly, seized by a sudden thought. +What if the tiresome fellow, believing all he did believe, had gone +to confront the archpriest? The longer Don Aurelio thought about it +the more he thought it probable, and, turning, he hastily retraced his +steps. Instead, however, of going straight up by the short cut that +leads from Lago to Sant' Ubaldo, he took the road that, a few yards +from the church, joins the one descending from Velo. And here he found +Massimo, who had met several people on the Maso road, but no one of +them had seen Carnesecca. This convinced Don Aurelio. + +"I will go to Velo," he declared, "but I must go alone. You had better +go back to the Montanina, where they will be waiting for you." + +Massimo asked if, in case Pestagran would not come back and his room +being then unoccupied.... + +Don Aurelio interrupted him. + +"No, dear friend, it is impossible. I will explain...." + +And reading further questions and suspicions in Massimo's expression of +sorrowful indignation, he urged him away. + +"Go to Signor Marcello, who is expecting you. We will talk later on. I +must first find this unhappy, man and prevent his committing further +follies. Leave me now! Signor Marcello has asked me to luncheon, and I +will come if possible." + + * * * * * + +The archpriest's letter had contained an enclosure from the episcopal +_curia_ of Vicenza that was nothing more nor less than Don Aurelio's +dismissal within a fortnight from the benefice of Lago di Velo. The +archpriest himself, in a few appropriate lines, expressed his regret at +this unexpected communication, and begged Don Aurelio to see that all +persons and furniture were removed from the house within the appointed +time, as his successor would then be arriving with his mother and +sister. + +It was a bitter thing to be driven from that peaceful retreat, from his +small, much-loved flock, not to know where to find shelter or food. +_All persons and furniture to be removed._ It was impossible that he +could be dismissed on Ismaele's account, but, under the circumstances, +that word "persons" was not without import. + +After the first moments of grief and bewilderment Don Aurelio's soul +was filled with a sense of sweetest peace, as if Christ Himself +had laid loving hands upon his head. His own sad plight no longer +troubled him; he was thinking now of two things only--of finding the +Bible-seller, and of a certain important communication, of a most +delicate nature, which Signor Marcello had made to him in the sacristy +after Mass. + +Walking quickly, he soon reached a wayside inn. The innkeeper, a +bearded Lombard, who had once been gardener at the Villino delle Rose, +stood smoking in his shirt-sleeves in the doorway. As Don Aurelio came +up he turned his back upon him and entered the tavern, saying in a +tone easily heard outside: + +"Hogs of priests! First they kick a dying man out, and then run to see +if he is dead!" + +And he spat contemptuously. Don Aurelio went straight to the man, and +confronted him. + +"My good fellow----" he began. + +The man was ashamed, and hastened to take his pipe out of his mouth. + +"Will you have half a measure, Reverendo?" he stammered. + +"Where is he?" Don Aurelio demanded resolutely. "Where is the dying man +I kicked out?" + +"Ah! I suppose you mean the Bible-seller. I'm sorry for what I said. It +wasn't meant for you. For my part I prefer the priests to this Bible +chap. Yes, he is here; my wife found him on the road, half dead. But he +is not going to stay here, I can tell you! If that is what is worrying +you, put your mind at rest. I'm going to tell him that if his own feet +don't move him, mine will. Will that suit you? I spoke wrong at first; +I'm speaking right enough now, ain't I? Good-morning!" He greeted a +band of soldiers belonging to a regiment of mountain chasseurs, who +were entering the tavern. + +Meanwhile Don Aurelio went to the courtyard at the side of the house, +drawn by the sound of an agitated woman's voice. Upon a broken chair +planted unsteadily in the black ooze, within a yard of the manure-heap, +sat the wretched Carnesecca, grudgingly held up by the innkeeper's +wife, who was calling: "Checca! Checca! Quick! Quick!" with all the +strength of her lungs. Don Aurelio rushed forward to support the +tottering man, who was the colour of a badly-washed rag, and scolded +the woman for not having taken him into the house. The woman, one +moment calling "Checca" and the next making her excuses to the priest, +said it had been her man, Gèsummaria! who had not been willing. And +besides, Carnesecca himself--Blessed Lady!--had not wanted it. He had +seemed much stronger when they brought him in from the road; not as he +was now. He had even said: "Fling me on the dung-heap, for I am Jopha!" +At this point Carnesecca half opened his eyes and mumbled, his chin +still resting upon his breast: + +"Jonah! Not Jopha!" + +"Yes, yes, Jopha!" the woman comforted. "Be quiet and you shall have +some coffee." + +Here was Checca at last, a great, stolid-looking country girl of about +sixteen, bringing the coffee--not, indeed, the coffee of the padrone +and his customers, but that of the padrone's wife and her servant, a +semblance of coffee on terms of intimacy with roasted wheat. + +Just at this moment a hen that had been calmly disporting herself on +the manure-heap, frightened by the house-dog, flapped down into the +yard, and disappeared through a near hedge. + +"Gèsu! Mistress! The hen!" screamed Checca, stopping short. "Catch her, +catch her!" shouted her mistress, remembering a certain hole in the +hedge and the ferocious threats of one of her neighbours. + +Don Aurelio snatched the coffee-pot from Checca's hands, and the two +women, the mistress in front, Checca close behind, were off like the +wind, splashing through the black ooze. A sip of coffee revived the +Bible-merchant, who fixed upon Don Aurelio a look that was half dazed, +half mirthful. + +"What have you done, you wretched fellow? What have you done? What has +come over you?" + +Carnesecca smiled, and answered in his Val d'Astico Italian: + +"I got round you, you see! I told you I would. I got round you!" + +Another sip of coffee. + +"You think you have got round me, do you? And where do you intend to +go?" + +Another sip, after which Carnesecca cast a look of deep inquiry at the +liquid, with a most expressive pout of his lips. + +"Where do I intend to go?" he said, still gazing into the wheat coffee. +"First to the High Priest of Velo!" + +"I forbid your doing that!" + +"I shall go to the High Priest of Velo in a spirit of respect and of +meekness," said Carnesecca serenely, "and I shall say to him: 'Vent thy +wrath upon me, cause me to be crucified, for this is Jerusalem, thou +art Caiaphas, and I am the son of the Lamb.'" + +Don Aurelio was beside himself. + +"Don't talk rubbish! What you suppose is all nonsense. There is not a +word of truth in it. You are coming home with me immediately!" + +The "son of the Lamb" was visibly impressed by Don Aurelio's flushed +countenance and angry voice, and sat gazing fixedly at him. + +"Well, well, well!" said he at last, letting the words off like pistol +shots. "If it is not true, I need not go. But I had sooner die on that +dung-heap than go back with you. I will ask shelter of the White Lady +of the Roses, who----" + +"Calàpo!" shouted the innkeeper's wife, who was bringing the hen back +in her arms. "Calàpo, Calàpo! What are you about?" + +Calàpo, a stumpy little man, barefooted and coatless, who was dragging +a cart out of the stable, shouted, in his turn, that he was going to +harness the donkey to drive to Piovene. + +"You will do nothing of the sort! The donkey has the colic, you fool!" + +Carnesecca, interrupted in an intended panegyric upon the White Lady +of the Roses, as he called Donna Fedele, made an effort to rise and +go on his way. Don Aurelio detained him. It had struck him that it +would be better, for many reasons, to allow the old man to go to the +Villino, but he could not let him go on foot. He begged the woman, if +she would not keep him, at least to allow Calàpo to take him to the +villa in the donkey-cart. But the woman refused, on the plea of the +animal's indisposition. Calàpo pushed the cart back into the shed, +and Carnesecca declared that he was able to walk. Don Aurelio had +started to interview the innkeeper, and beg him at least to keep the +"Bible-man" till the evening, when Calàpo came up and offered to drag +the cart as far as the villa. Meanwhile one of the soldiers had called +Checca out into the street, whither others had followed, and formed a +circle around the flushed and laughing girl. The mistress shouted to +her and she came in, followed by the soldiers, one of whom, hearing +Calàpo renew his offer, over which Don Aurelio was hesitating, cried +out: + +"Do you want help? I will help you!" + +Scenting fun, his companions quickly volunteered to help also, and it +was arranged that together they should draw the cart as far as Velo, +where a donkey free from colic might be found. Calàpo took his place +between the shafts, and a couple of soldiers lifted Carnesecca and +placed him in the cart. Then there was a merry proposal to put Checca +in too, but the girl ran off, while Carnesecca threatened indignantly +to throw himself from the cart if his dignity were thus compromised. +The innkeeper's wife settled the matter. + +"You want more weight, do you, boys? You shall have it," she said, and +sent Calàpo to fetch two bags of corn to take to the miller. + +But Carnesecca called Calàpo to his side and inquired if he really felt +able to drag the cart alone as far as Velo. + +"As far as Velo? As far as Piovene, if you like!" was the fellow's +reply. + +Thereupon Carnesecca, who shrank from the soldiers' noisy escort, +turned towards them, giving them to understand that he could dispense +with their services. Then he bowed his thanks to right and left, his +head bobbing between upraised hands, that waved on either side like a +pair of great ears. He looked like a pope imparting his blessing from +the chair of state. + +"Let us be off, Calàpo," said Carnesecca gently. "I give you my +blessing," he said, turning to Don Aurelio, "for your hospitality." And +addressing the woman, he added: "I bless you also for this cart, for +the chair, and ... yes, let us be charitable ... for the coffee also!" +At this moment the innkeeper made an appearance at the side door, and +blustered: "What is all this farce about?" Carnesecca scrutinised him +with the utmost composure. "I bless you also," he said, "you also, my +good man--because you have a Christian wife, and a Christian wife may +save a heathen husband. Let us be off, Calàpo." + +The innkeeper was speechless with amazement. Calàpo, bending beneath +the load, turned out at the gateway into the road, the soldiers +following and jeering at him, "Gee up, Calàpo, gee up!" Don Aurelio +stood for a few seconds watching this strange procession move towards +Velo, and then started in the direction of Sant' Ubaldo. + + + II + +Don Aurelio's mind was now wholly engrossed in what Signor Marcello +had confided to him in the sacristy after Mass. Without explaining his +reasons for thinking so, further than by alluding to his seventy-two +years, Signor Marcello had spoken as one who believed he had not +long to live. An unusual gentleness in his bearing confirmed the +priest's suspicion that some physical warning must have come to him. +The substance of his unexpected communication was as follows. Uneasy +concerning the future of Leila, whom he looked upon as his daughter, +and anxious lest she should refuse the benefits his will might offer, +lest she should fall once more into the hands of one or other of her +parents, he had thought that if a union were possible between her and +Massimo Alberti, his poor boy's friend, the second and more serious of +these dangers might be averted. Probably thereby the other difficulty +would be avoided as well, at least to a certain extent, for he would +then comply in part with Leila's wish, and leave her the villa only. It +was to be hoped that neither she nor her husband would wish to offend +his memory by refusing this legacy. + +It was unreasonable to expect a girl of two-and-twenty to mourn for +ever, and she must know that another future was expected and desired +for her. Perhaps as long as he, Marcello, lived she would hesitate to +commit what might seem an outrage against poor Andrea's memory, but +if she were encouraged and persuaded that Andrea in heaven would not +disapprove of this marriage, she would surely give way. Signor Marcello +was convinced of this. The unknown quantity in the problem was Massimo +Alberti. + +Signor Marcello had heard much that was good of him from Don Aurelio, +but he did not know whether he had other ties and affections, whether +or no he intended to marry. This was why he had confided in Don Aurelio +and asked for his advice and the help that the priest's friendship with +Massimo could give him, first by information and then, if possible, by +influencing the young man in the matter. + +During this conversation the priest's face had flushed with trouble +and embarrassment. Massimo had no ties of a shameful nature, of this +he felt sure, nor, to his knowledge, was he in love. He knew him to be +of a susceptible nature, and in writing to him the young man had never +tried to hide the fact. As to marriage, he was certainly not opposed +to it, but he was firmly determined never to bind himself without love, +or to tolerate suggestions concerning his choice. Advice of this kind +had once turned him against a certain alliance which otherwise very +probably would have been made. In matters like these special tact was +required which Don Aurelio felt that he did not possess; he wished he +did possess it, for he would have been heartily glad to urge Massimo to +marry, believing him capable of realising the highest ideals of married +life. + +All this he told Signor Marcello, but he said nothing of what to him +presented the thorniest aspect of the problem. Signorina Leila was a +riddle to him, a closed casket that might contain either rich jewels +or false ones. Signor Marcello persisted, however, in his request, and +showed some impatience. In the short time he had known him Don Aurelio +had grown to respect this old man, with his warm heart, his honest and +humble soul, with such pure faith in and love of the Divine Word. He +could not refuse the favour he was now being asked, and promised to do +his best. + + * * * * * + +He would do his best, but how was he to set to work, he wondered as he +walked slowly along the parched road to Sant' Ubaldo. The first step +must be to discover whether Massimo's heart was free. This was not +difficult. And if it were free, by what means was he to influence his +friend in the right direction without revealing his purpose? Besides, +was there time enough? When he had talked with Signor Marcello he had +not known he must leave in a fortnight. Would not Massimo also want +to leave? And could a matter of this sort be arranged in a fortnight? +He must take Donna Fedele into his confidence. She had experience of +these things, and would advise him. Although she went very rarely to +the Montanina, she would surely know more about Signorina Leila than +he could possibly discover. He looked at his watch. It was half-past +ten. There was time for him to go to the Villino and get back to the +Montanina for luncheon. Opportunities of studying the girl and of +seeing the two young people together were precious. He hurried along, +taking the road that leads down to Lago without touching Sant' Ubaldo. +While crossing the glade between the slope of Lago and that on which +the Montanina stands he tried to recollect his few distinct impressions +of Signorina Leila. He had heard her play with great feeling. He had +occasionally seen her coming down the road from Sant' Ubaldo to the +Battery, carrying great bunches of wild flowers. He could not remember +any but insignificant remarks of hers. Whenever he said Mass at Santa +Maria ad Montes she was present, seated beside Signor Marcello. Once +when he and Signor Marcello had had a discussion in her presence +concerning the reading of the Gospels she had shown not the slightest +interest. He recollected, indeed, that he had come away wondering +whether she had ever read them. She was not unattractive-looking, +but she did not seem to him beautiful enough to captivate Massimo at +first sight. His impression of her face was that it revealed great +intelligence and a character containing much of reserve and caprice. + +Absorbed in these thoughts, he would probably have passed Donna Fedele +without seeing her had she not called out, "Don Aurelio!" She and the +girl from Lago were seated upon the fallen trunk of a great tree, a +little above the turn that leads towards the Montanina. + +"Well? Did you find him?" + +Hearing that Carnesecca was on his way to Villino delle Rose, she rose +to her feet, astonished, but glad to have him, and anxious to get +home. Although she was still very tired, she dismissed the girl, that +she might be free to discuss Don Aurelio's dismissal from his benefice. +There was little to tell, and the priest cut short her conjectures, +perhaps because another matter was then uppermost in his mind, or +that he feared an indignant outburst against the priests of Velo. He +made haste to tell her that he wanted her advice on a very important +question. "More so than this?" Donna Fedele asked. Yes. This matter was +simple enough, but the other was most complex. Talking thus they had +almost reached the little hired carriage that had come up as far as the +entrance to the Montanina. The priest stopped, intending to explain the +matter shortly. + +"Don Aurelio," said his companion, "if you do not mind giving me your +arm, I will stop, otherwise I must go and sit in the carriage." She was +very pale, but her sweet eyes were smiling. + +As it was not yet eleven, Donna Fedele decided that there was time +for Don Aurelio to accompany her home and then be driven back to the +Montanina by twelve o'clock, and although the driver's presence would +prevent their talking on the way, they would, nevertheless, have a +quiet quarter of an hour at the Villino. + + * * * * * + +At five minutes to twelve Don Aurelio pushed open the covered gate that +leads into the Montanina grounds, beside Santa Maria ad Montes, feeling +much lighter-hearted than he had felt earlier in the day. Donna Fedele +had promised her aid with such enthusiastic goodwill that he, ignorant +as he was of the depths of her good nature, was touched and filled with +gratitude, as if that goodwill had been all on his behalf. + + + III + +Massimo came down from Sant' Ubaldo with his heart full of bitterness, +believing firmly, with Carnesecca, that Don Aurelio's dismissal had +been brought about by his championship of the Lutheran missioner. He +wondered anxiously what would happen to his poor friend. Even if the +unfortunate priest should wander far in search of another diocese, +would not these calumnies follow him? Would he not be met on all sides +with reluctance, diffidence, and timidity? + +Hardly had his hand touched the Montanina gate than another anxiety +beset him, overruling the first. He thought of his approaching meeting +with the Signorina, which he desired and yet at the same time dreaded. +The green, flowery loveliness of the villa's setting seemed to him +to distil a subtle sense of awe-inspiring mystery. Instead of going +straight to the house he turned to the left, past the clump of poplars +and the bridge, overgrown with roses, and walked along the bank of +the Riderella to where a tiny waterfall sings, almost in the shade of +the walnut-trees. Presently he asked himself impatiently what was the +meaning of this agitation on account of one whom he had never seen. +For answer the two photographs rose to his mind, and he shrank from +the thought of being confronted by that pale face and the downcast +eyes. He started towards the villa, trying to steel himself into +indifference. In the distance, by the stables, he saw Teresina talking +to a gentleman, whom he learned from her later was the village doctor, +who had not deemed it prudent to intrude upon Signor Marcello without +a plausible excuse. Massimo went up to his room and stood gazing for +some time at Andrea's picture. Then he carefully and almost reverently +changed the water in the glass that held the rose, the rose that had +drooped a little lower and become more languid, its outside petals +already touched by the first pallor of death. Again he re-read his +letters to his lost friend, letters whose pages were still more faded +than the rose. He was standing at the window in passive enjoyment of +this feast of sunshine, wind, and living things that exhorted to life, +when he heard a heavy step in the corridor, and, turning, saw the door +slowly pushed open. It was Signor Marcello, who, on perceiving him, +uttered an exclamation of apology. + +"I did not know you had returned," said he. + +In his hand he carried a fresh rose, a magnificent white one, like the +other. They stood gazing at each other for a while in silent sympathy; +then Massimo, deeply moved, took the rose, and Signor Marcello withdrew. + +Towards half-past eleven, while Massimo was writing letters, Giovanni +brought a message from his master, asking the young man to come down. + +"He is in the drawing-room with the Signorina." + +"Which shall I see?" was the thought that sprang to Massimo's mind as +he went down the wooden staircase. + +Leila was seated with her back to the stairs at the writing-table +placed crosswise between the spacious window and the fireplace. She was +annoyed with herself because her heart was beating so violently; she +would not admit, even to herself, her burning curiosity to see this man +who was descending the stairs; she would not have turned her head to +look at him, either then or later, if she could have avoided doing so +without being set down as hopelessly discourteous. + +"Leila!" said Signor Marcello gently. + +She laid down her pen, opened the drawer to place something in it, +seemed to be searching in it for an instant, and finally rose and faced +about. + +Signor Marcello introduced her: "My daughter." + +She barely inclined her head. Massimo bowed low, murmuring something +incoherent of which the only word distinguishable was "pleasure." + +Yes, pleasure! Here was neither the one face nor the other. Here was +the serious face of a girl who receives for the first time a friend of +her dead lover. It was the face of one who had once given everything +to love, and had now consecrated her life to the memory of that love. +Massimo might have been more critical of the irregularities of this +face had its expression been different. But the irregularities seemed +to him too insignificant to dwell upon, and he thought her almost +beautiful. He could not but admire her figure, which, though not tall, +was perfect in all its lines, revealed by her simple grey gown, trimmed +with black, and cut slightly low at the neck. He noticed the splendid, +fair hair that crowned her small head, and the grace of her neck, +which was the colour of old ivory. His bearing immediately became less +constrained. + +But Leila became even more rigid. Signor Marcello saw, by a slight +movement on her part, that she was about to flee, like a child whose +feet fidget to be off. He tried to detain her by making her the subject +of conversation. + +"She has sacrificed herself for my poor wife and myself," he began, but +obtained the opposite result to that at which he aimed. Leila cried +reproachfully, "Papa!" and darted off. Signor Marcello was hurt, and +called after her: + +"Leila!" + +She paused on the threshold of the dining-room, turned towards them, +and stood resting her hands against the door-jambs. Massimo shuddered. +It was the face he had dreaded--the marble sphinx, with downcast eyes. +The vision lasted but an instant. Then Leila looked up with a forced +smile. + +"I must go, Papa," she said--"that is, if you want any luncheon!" + +"Oh, very well ..." sighed Signor Marcello, more displeased than +submissive. + +Hardly had she left the room than he began to sing her praises. She was +kind, intelligent, a musician, a skilful housewife. Massimo listened in +silence. As soon as possible he brought the conversation round to Don +Aurelio's dismissal, of which, of course, Signor Marcello had not yet +heard. Massimo was as yet unacquainted with the particulars, but the +fact itself was certain. + +Signor Marcello was more disappointed and grieved than indignant. +Four-and-twenty hours before he would have felt differently. Of +Carnesecca, Massimo only knew that he had fled, and he greatly doubted +whether Don Aurelio would be able to keep his engagement to luncheon. +He also spoke of Donna Fedele, although he was unaware on what terms +she stood at the Montanina. Signor Marcello expressed his pleasure at +discovering that there was a link between them, repeating several times +how glad he was, without giving any reason why, and without any special +praise for any of the persons concerned, and going on to tell how the +Vayla di Breas had come to settle in Arsiero. At this point Don Aurelio +arrived. + +He came in with a bright manner, and answered Signor Marcello's and +Massimo's questions briefly. Yes, it was quite true that he must leave +his benefice within a fortnight. But it was no one's fault. Ismaele was +only a poor visionary. The rough time he had had at Posina had made +him fancy there was persecution everywhere. A priest, with his mother +and sister, were coming to Lago. Probably it was to assist them, poor +things--while he, without any such claims upon him----And he shrugged +his shoulders, as if it would be the easiest thing in the world for +him to earn a livelihood. Changing the subject, he became eloquent in +his account of Carnesecca's wanderings, saying that, at the present +moment, he was in bed in a comfortable little room at the Villino, in a +state of beatitude. Well, perhaps not precisely of beatitude, because +the three hundred and fifty-nine bones had begun to ache again, but, +nevertheless----! The footman here announced that luncheon was served. +Leila was waiting in the dining-room. + + * * * * * + +The four seated themselves at the square table, one on each side. +Leila sat facing the glass door opening into the garden and commanding +a view of the crags of Barco; Massimo was on her left. On her right +sat Don Aurelio, who began talking to her at once, telling her he had +often seen her coming down the road from the Battery, carrying wild +flowers. He referred to the rhododendrons that grew luxuriantly where +landslides have torn the slopes of Priaforà. She knew these well, and +admitted that those wild spots were favourites of hers. Her voice was +deeper and not so sweet as Donna Fedele's, but rich, sympathetic, +and soft, nevertheless, suggesting as far as a woman's voice can the +notes of a violoncello, and rich with potential feeling. Her answer +to Don Aurelio's question, whether she was fond of solitudes, came +unhesitatingly and in the affirmative, but she added quickly, fearing +she had not understood aright: + +"Solitude, you say?" + +"I really said 'solitudes.'" + +Without looking at Massimo she felt he was about to speak, and hastened +to renew the conversation with Don Aurelio, asking him if he had +seen the rhododendrons of Priaforà in blossom. Alas! no, that was +impossible! The Signorina forgot that he had only come to Sant' Ubaldo +in October. + +"You will see them in July," she said. + +Don Aurelio smiled. + +"I am sorry to say that Don Aurelio is leaving us," Signor Marcello +announced sadly. + +"As a matter of fact it is not he who----" Massimo began. + +"He is leaving us?" Leila broke in, more astonished than grieved. + +"They are driving him away," said Massimo, with some irritation, and +determined to conquer the girl's assumption of indifference towards +himself. She flung him a glance that seemed to say, "What have you to +do with it?" and once more repeated, "He is giving us up?" + +But when Alberti was determined it was no easy matter to silence him. + +"Yes, indeed, they are driving him away," he reiterated, speaking +rather to Don Aurelio himself than to Leila. "The archpriest has +dismissed him. He is sending him away because he has housed a +Protestant! Or it may be perhaps because he believes him to be a +Modernist." + +To Massimo, Don Aurelio's humble meekness towards his enemies seemed +excessive, and sometimes irritated him, as it had a moment since when +he had alluded to his needy successor. He was burning to tell him so +openly, to make him see the truth clearly. During his outburst Don +Aurelio could only protest in monosyllables, but when his friend had +finished he expressed the pain such violent language and these unproved +accusations caused him. + +"He is capable of it," murmured Signor Marcello with bowed head, +alluding to the archpriest. "Quite capable of it--quite!" + +"The archpriest knows perfectly well I am not a Modernist," Don Aurelio +went on with a last protesting gesture. His superior had, indeed, +assured him of his most complete satisfaction on that point. + +"Nonsense!" said Signor Marcello. "You a Modernist indeed!" + +"He certainly is not," Massimo interposed. "At the most he may be a +Modernist only in the way Antonio Rosmini was. They say I am one also," +he added candidly. + +Don Aurelio laughed heartily. + +"You ... you...!" he cried, with a blankness that was eloquent. + +Massimo understood, and looking round, met a glance from Leila's eyes +that pierced him like a shaft of fire. For an instant he felt blinded, +and it was only by an effort that he brought himself to answer Don +Aurelio. + +"Yes," he said, "I may be more of a Modernist than you are, but I am +not one, after all." + +What a significant glance from the marble sphinx that had been! + +Signor Marcello stretched out his hand, and laid it upon Massimo's, +that rested on the table. + +"My dear young friend," said he, "remember an old man's words: 'There +is but one true form of Modernism, and that is the Modernism of +Dante! Therein is the whole Catholic creed to the last iota, inspired +by ardent faith, bringing the Gospel in simple language to all men, +regardless of the shades of their opinions. Dante, dear friend, Dante! +And now talk about the rhododendrons again.'" + +But instead Massimo spoke of the room Carnesecca had left unoccupied at +Sant' Ubaldo, saying there was no longer any excuse for his intruding +upon Signor Marcello. The old man, astonished and somewhat hurt by this +display of formality, protested that he could not hear of Massimo's +leaving. His friend's speech seemed to upset Don Aurelio also, who +generally found it easier to express his feelings by certain restless +physical movements than by words. But Massimo persisted. Like Don +Aurelio, he also accompanied broken sentences with various gestures, +that were the visible signs of unspoken arguments. + +"I assure you," cried his friend, half in jest, half in earnest, "by +your presence in my house you would injure me more than poor Carnesecca +did, and I can't have you! You will have to listen to Signor Marcello." + +A conviction that he was being encompassed by some irresistible +influence suddenly overwhelmed Massimo. His brain struggled feebly to +send forth the words "Then I will return to Milan," but they remained +unsaid, and he kept silence. + +Leila had not spoken since meeting the glance which had said, "Are you +interested in me?" She could not forgive herself her own glance. She +perfectly understood Signor Marcello's displeasure, but she could not +see why Don Aurelio did not wish to have his friend at Sant' Ubaldo. +She encouraged her forced contempt for Massimo by telling herself he +did not really wish to leave, that if he had wished it, instead of +bringing the matter up at the luncheon-table, he would have come down +later with his luggage ready strapped, and said to Signor Marcello: +"There is no longer any excuse for my remaining here, and I am going." +But, of course, Signor Alberti preferred a comfortable room, a nice +house, and a good table to the priest's poor home and meagre fare. + + * * * * * + +So he was a Modernist as well! Of Modernism Leila knew less than +nothing. She disliked the name, and she disliked her own ignorant +interpretation of it. She had never thought about her own attitude +towards religious observance. A creature of instinct and of passions +rather than of reason, the vagaries of her fancy and ideas were +in no wise checked by the regular, if mechanical, performance of +religious duties. She looked upon Modernism, not as an effort to adapt +traditional Catholicism to modern conditions, but rather as a doctrine +that sought to substitute for the ancient religious obligations of +Catholic tradition new obligations that were more extensive, less +clearly defined, and heavier. + +At times she prayed devoutly, but always with the traditional forms +and never spontaneously. Her prayers were for definite and immediate +objects, and not for Divine love and for spiritual blessing. Her +impulse, nevertheless, was sincere, and she found a help in prayer of +this kind. + +She imagined, and the thought was odious to her, that Modernism was +incompatible with traditional prayer. The only aspect of Modernism that +could appeal to her was its element of rebellion, but she judged it an +abortive, half-hearted rebellion at best. And so Signor Alberti was a +Modernist! This helped her in her determination to despise him. + +The fruit had been placed on the table and Leila rose. + + * * * * * + +Her obstinate silence after that fiery glance, from which Massimo still +smarted, was, to his mind, the necessary complement of that glance, +and was characteristic of his conception of her as a marble sphinx. In +rising with the others when Leila rose, the young man recalled certain +teasing words a friend had once spoken, the recollection of which +often galled him: "You have not yet experienced it, but when you do +fall in love, it will be sudden and overwhelming." As he passed into +the drawing-room behind Leila he noticed certain tiny red spots upon +her white neck. He was glad to see these, for they seemed to diminish +somewhat the power of physical attraction which this strange creature +possessed. Taking Don Aurelio's arm, he scolded him gently for not +wishing to have him at Sant' Ubaldo. But Don Aurelio had found a useful +excuse. "You would compromise me!" said he, laughing his hearty laugh +that shook his whole frame. "Is it not true, Signorina?" + +"It seems to me," she said, without looking at either of them, "that +compromise cannot matter now." And she busied herself in pouring out +the coffee. + +Don Aurelio, always slow to recognise a thrust, failed absolutely to +recognise this one, which wounded Massimo more deeply than himself. +He murmured humbly: "I am only in jest, only in jest, you know!" and +added, in his simplicity and inexperience of _double entente_: + +"Poor Massimo cannot compromise any one." + +Massimo was somewhat embarrassed, but said nothing. Leila, however, +smiled slightly, thus making Don Aurelio aware of his blunder. + +"Ah, well ... yes ... of course ... what nonsense!" he stammered, +answering her with a laugh almost of regret for unspoken words. "I +speak simply, and must be taken simply." + +Signor Marcello called them out to the terrace to see a fine effect +of gathering storm-clouds. On the north the sun was beating upon the +heights of Rotzo in Val d'Astico, that stood out, brightly gilded, +against the clear blue, while the brow of the same uplands was lit +up towards the east by continuous summer lightning, flashing out of +a sky of turquoise. Leila hastened to obey the summons, pretending +to have forgotten that she had not given Signor Alberti his coffee. +When, a moment later, he appeared on the terrace with Don Aurelio, she +withdrew, and slipping into the dining-room, crossed to the threshold +of the garden door. A thunderstorm always made her nerves tingle with a +mad delight, and she liked to enjoy it alone, drawn to it like a small +cloud saturated with electricity. If there had been wind, she would +have rushed out as she did sometimes at night, letting her hair blow +wild. But as no leaf stirred, and as she heard Signor Marcello's voice +asking for her, she returned to the terrace. + +"The coffee, dear," said the old man. "Neither Alberti nor I have had +ours." + +She murmured some excuse. In helping Massimo her manner was not +precisely rude, but there was something ungracious both in her face +and bearing. Don Aurelio, who noted everything, with meekness indeed, +but with keenness as well, reflected in his artless optimism that the +memory of her lover could no longer be very vivid in her heart, if she +could treat his dearest friend thus coldly. + +"Where was it," said Signor Marcello suddenly to Massimo, "that you met +that Benedetto from Subiaco?" + +"At Jenne." + +"And what was he like?" + +"Well, I will not say that I adored him, for I object to the word, but +I loved him better than I have ever loved any one in this world, except +my mother." + +Massimo had no idea the sphinx would speak. + +"Was he indeed a saint, then?" said she. + +"I beg your pardon, Signorina," he retorted, "but I have never felt the +necessity for saintliness in those I love." + +"But is it true he performed miracles?" + +"No, he performed no miracles." + +"Did he really die in a woman's arms?" + +Don Aurelio, amazed that a young girl should ask such a question, could +not suppress an exclamation of protest. + +"Leila!" Signor Marcello ejaculated severely. + +With flaming face Massimo exclaimed: + +"It is a vile calumny! I never heard it before!" + +"I read it somewhere," said Leila calmly. + +Don Aurelio intervened. + +"I would have you know, Signorina, that the man of whom you speak may +have erred in matters of doctrine; on that point I can express no +opinion. But, had the Church pointed out his errors to him, he would +have been the first to recognise them. As to his private life, after +his conversion it was one of perfect purity. I can answer for that, at +least." + +Signor Marcello, who was following the discussion with a nervous +twitching of every line of his expressive face, now cut it short in a +voice of authority. Saying that he wanted to speak privately with Don +Aurelio, he proposed that Leila should take Alberti for a walk in the +garden. Leila cast him a half-dazed glance, and then looked towards +Massimo as if beseeching his support. + +"It is too hot," she objected. + +The young man protested that he was quite ready to go alone, but Signor +Marcello would listen to no excuses. A heavy bank of clouds was rapidly +darkening the villa's green surroundings, and the rain was more to be +feared than the heat. + + * * * * * + +"You know the Montanina well?" said Leila, as she passed out by the +south door that opens upon the green slope, studded with pines and +mountain-oaks, and crowned, far above, with chestnuts. "You have seen +the sun-dial, and Blessed Alberto Magno, and the goat's head, through +whose mouth flow the waters of the Riderella?" All this she delivered +like a tiresome and oft-repeated lesson, and, walking in front of him, +did not appear to notice that he made no answer. She took the path +leading upwards, on one side of the villa. "Do you know the Fonte +Modesta also?" she inquired, as they passed near the small cave, filled +with the spring's soft murmuring. On she went, pointing out this +feature and that, regardless of Alberti's silence, and with all the +perfunctoriness of a professional guide. + +While she was speaking the words "the source of the Riderella" he +interrupted her. He had been waiting to speak only until they should +have reached a sufficient distance from the house. + +"Signorina," said he, "I did not insist with Signor Marcello because I +saw that I should cause him pain, but I wish you to understand that you +need not put yourself out for me. If you will allow me, I will finish +the walk alone." + +Leila answered coldly: "As you like." + +The path being narrow, she stepped aside to let him pass, standing with +downcast eyes, like a statue of marble. + +"Thank you," said the young man, quivering with indignation, and he +passed her without a look. Why had this girl taken it into her head +to treat him thus? Did she think he was going to make love to her? +He could not fancy any other reason. And those foolish questions +concerning Benedetto had simply been a piece of pointed impudence. Make +love to her indeed! + +But that fiery glance! In thinking of it Massimo recalled the music +he had heard in the night. What lay concealed in the soul of this +mysterious creature? Her stiffness and indifference, her silent +discourtesy, and her insolent words were not only intentional but +incomprehensible as well. What reason had she to suppose he intended +making love to her? What sign had he given? A suspicion flashed upon +him. Don Aurelio had taken it into his head that his friend should +marry young. Was it possible he had chosen this girl for him, that +some inkling of his plan had reached her? No, it was impossible, and +that for a hundred reasons, and if on account of nothing else, at +least for the friendship between Don Aurelio and Signor Marcello. The +conclusion, then? The conclusion was that one thing only was clear--the +girl's pointed hostility. This he might have regarded as armour against +budding affection had affection had time to bud. But as it was...? + +He sat down to rest upon a rustic bench beneath the chestnut-tree. +The great clouds were veiling Torraro, the shadows of the trees +swayed in the wind on the flower-strewn banks, the white villa was +smiling brightly down below in the sunshine, and the dull roar of the +torrent and of the whirlpools of Perale rose through the silence of +chestnut-groves. But Massimo could enjoy neither the shade nor the +fresh breeze, nor the grand and gentle beauty of all things. He felt +that beauty was a stranger to the bitterness of his heart, felt himself +a stranger to beauty. He wondered what course he should pursue. He +would not go back to the Montanina, and he must either persuade Don +Aurelio to take him in or he must return to Milan. He took pleasure in +recalling all the bitterness of his heart, mingling that which lay at +the bottom, almost outside the bounds of memory, with the bitterness of +the present hour. He tried to concentrate his thoughts on Don Aurelio's +sad plight, for Signorina Leila's discourtesy was really not worth +worrying about. But Don Aurelio! The old temptation rose up again, grim +and violent. Would it not be better to break away at once and for all +from the people who persecute such men as Don Aurelio, the very salt +of the earth? But immediately he felt the grave eyes of Don Aurelio +himself fixed upon him, the eyes of the victim who was all meekness +towards his persecutors; and the impulse of rebellion was defeated. But +to cease fighting the enemies of the Church for the Church's own sake, +to stand by and watch the struggle--this was no temptation, but a wise +counsel. But what should he do in the world, then? Ignore the world, +obtain an appointment as parish doctor--why not? In some village, among +the hills, would it not be happiness to taste something of the joys of +love? Presently he saw Don Aurelio come out of the villa, look upwards, +and start in his direction, and he went down to meet him. Don Aurelio +appeared astonished to see him alone. + +"And the Signorina?" + +Massimo said he had begged her not to put herself out for him, and +hastened to add that, being alone, he had had time to think of his own +plans. He was resolved to leave the Montanina that very evening, and +still hoped to occupy Carnesecca's room. Don Aurelio answered firmly, +and at the same time regretfully, that he had just now promised Signor +Marcello that Massimo would stay at least a fortnight at the Montanina, +if not all the time he had arranged to spend at Lago di Velo. Massimo +repeated that this was out of the question. If Don Aurelio would +not have him as his guest during the few days that remained of his +ministry, he would go back to Milan. Don Aurelio seized this favourable +opportunity. + +"Is it an interest in any special person that calls you back to Milan?" +he asked. + +Massimo answered promptly in the negative and smiled. + +"Really, no? You can assure me of that?" + +"Really, no! My hand upon it!" cried the young man, extending his hand, +which Don Aurelio pressed. + +"In that case," he said, "you must not disappoint this old man so +cruelly." + +But Massimo was so determined that the priest was forced to conclude +something unpleasant had happened. He asked if the Signorina's +questions about Benedetto had offended him. No, she had spoken in +ignorance, repeating newspaper gossip. Perhaps there had been further +discussion in the garden? No, there had not. But Don Aurelio pressed +him so hard that at last Massimo confessed the real reason. The girl +could not bear him, and had let him see it. This Don Aurelio refused +to believe, and made him describe all Leila's hostile actions, which +appeared insignificant enough in the telling; but the priest admitted +that certain things that might almost pass unobserved may be keenly +felt. It was only with difficulty that he extracted a promise from +Massimo to postpone his departure until the morrow. He should be free +to leave the next night if his impressions were confirmed. He advised +him, at all events, to pay a farewell visit to the Villino delle Rose +immediately, and pointed out the little house, showing like a red berry +on the edge of the plain of Arsiero, that looks towards Seghe. Don +Aurelio urged his friend to start at once, that he might be sure of +finding Donna Fedele at home. + +When Massimo had gone the priest returned to Signor Marcello, with whom +he had a long talk. Then he left him to go back to Sant' Ubaldo. Signor +Marcello sent for Leila. He told her how dear Alberti was to him, and +said she must surely understand why. He wished him to remain some time +at the Montanina, and he therefore begged her to be gracious to him. +The old man spoke in low tones and with great gentleness, as one who +wishes his manner to convey the seriousness of unspoken words. Leila, +who had stood listening, pale and motionless, murmured that she had +not been conscious of ungraciousness towards Signor Alberti. Signor +Marcello looked at her, but did not answer. Presently he said, with the +same gentleness as before: + +"I ask it as a favour." + +Hardly above a whisper she answered, "Yes, Papa." + +Then going to her room, she locked the door and burst into a violent +fit of weeping. + + + IV + +Massimo returned from the Villino delle Rose shortly before the +dinner-hour. Signor Marcello came out to meet him, and drawing his arm +through his own, repeated lovingly to him how delighted he was to have +him at the Montanina. He meant to show him many treasured old letters, +wherein he, Massimo, was mentioned. A few days ago he would not have +believed himself able to do this, but now, largely owing to Massimo's +presence at the Montanina, he felt quite strong. The young man, who was +both touched and troubled, was at a loss how to introduce the painful +but necessary question of his departure. He was still casting about in +his mind for a suggestion when the bell rang for dinner. Then it was +too late to speak, and he postponed the difficult announcement until +later. + +Leila was late for dinner. She was dressed in black and wore a bunch of +pansies in her belt. She was very pale, and ate scarcely anything. With +a visible effort she forced herself to put some questions to Massimo +as to how he had spent the afternoon, paying but slight attention to +his answers. Signor Marcello glanced frequently at the black gown and +at the flowers she wore, with a look half tender, half regretful. He +talked a great deal and with affectionate admiration of Donna Fedele, +speaking of her former beauty, the youth that still shone in her brown +eyes, and sweet voice. Looking at Leila, he said how sorry he was that +the lady no longer came to the Montanina as before. + +"To tell the truth," said Leila, "it is for us to go to see her." + +Signor Marcello's face beamed with satisfaction and gratitude, and +taking the hand that she allowed to rest limply in his, he pressed it +tenderly. + +Then the conversation turned upon Don Aurelio's dismissal. "Who is this +archpriest?" Massimo inquired. + +"Gèsummaria!" cried Signor Marcello, covering his eyes with his big, +thin hands, a gesture that spoke volumes. And "Gèsummaria!" was all he +would say, nor did Massimo press him. Leila's eyes were downcast, but +her face was not sphinx-like; it wore rather the expression of one who +disapproves and is grieved. This expression of hers goaded Massimo +into saying that Don Aurelio was a priest whom the most uncompromising +conservatives, even the _intransigenti_, had no excuse for persecuting. +He was a follower of Rosmini, and had never been suspected of Modernism +even in Rome, when he was living there. A few questions from Signor +Marcello easily led the young man to speak of his own life in Rome, +of Subiaco, and of Jenne; how he had come to know Don Aurelio, Dom +Clemente, and Benedetto, and the adventures of his dead friend from +the time he disappeared from his house at Oria, in Valsolda, in order +that he might dedicate himself to God, to his death in Rome, in the +gardener's cottage at Villa Mayda. He told the story of his last hours, +and placed in its true light the part Jeanne Dessalle had played. It +was almost dark when he finished his story. Coffee and lights had been +forgotten, and Signor Marcello and Leila remained silent. Presently +Giovanni entered, and asked if he should light the lamps. + +"No," said Leila promptly, in a hushed voice. Then she asked Massimo +if he had known Jeanne Dessalle. He replied that he had seen her that +night at Villa Mayda. + +Was she beautiful? He really could not say. She had simply passed him +in one of the ante-rooms. It was not yet dark, but, as it was raining +hard, there was little light in the room. Her figure had struck him as +graceful. Leila then inquired what had become of her. No one knew. And +where was Benedetto buried? Massimo hesitated an instant. + +"At Campo Verano ... for the time being," he said. + +"For the time being?" + +The same astonished question fell from the lips of both his listeners. +Massimo did not answer. + +"And what will Don Aurelio do?" Leila asked. "Where will he go?" + +"I do not know." + +The room was full of shadows, and the three rose from the table in +silence. + + * * * * * + +Giovanni having been ordered to light the drawing-room, had lighted a +large lamp near the fireplace. Signor Marcello begged Leila to play for +their guest, and at the same time he rang the bell, intending to have +the lamp by the piano lighted. Leila hastened to prevent this. + +"No, Papa, please not!" + +She preferred this dim light, and Signor Marcello did not insist, but +went out to the terrace, with stooping shoulders, to watch the darkness +over in the west that was dotted with the lights of Arsiero. + +"What sort of music would you like?" said Leila. "Serious or light?" + +"Signorina," Massimo said, "you must not put yourself out for me." + +Remembering their conversation in the garden, Leila said to herself: +"He evidently has no other expression." + +"Perhaps you are not fond of music?" she said. + +"Perhaps not." + +He smiled slightly as he spoke, and his smile hurt her like a blow +upon the cheek. Without a word, she opened the piano and began playing +something from Schumann's "Carnival" from memory. + +She played it too nervously and without sweetness. When she had +finished Massimo thanked her dryly. That would have been the moment +to go to Signor Marcello and press the question of departure, but he +hesitated. The girl's conduct was beginning to strike him in a new +light. The black dress and the pansies had jarred upon him as a sort +of unnecessary hint to himself, but her questions during dinner, the +interest she had shown in his story, and now her way of answering his +"perhaps not," showing that she had understood his feelings and his +irony, her choice of the author and of the passionate music, the very +nervousness of the execution, and the immobility that followed it, +gave him the impression of a state of mind that was neither hostile +nor indifferent. He could not help thinking it a little strange of +Signor Marcello to leave them together as he had done. For a minute or +so Leila let the fingers of her right hand run softly along the high +notes, and then she inquired carelessly if he wished to hear something +else. + +He remembered that melody by Bellini he had heard in the night. + +"Will you play 'Sola, furtiva al tempio'?" + +"'Norma'?" + +She sought the beginning, but after the first notes struck a wrong +one, tried others at random, and murmuring, "I don't know it," took +her hands from the keyboard. Massimo was tempted to say, "You knew it +well enough in the night!" But meanwhile the girl had tried again in an +absent-minded way, and again had failed. Then, almost in a whisper, and +studying the palm of her hand, she said: + +"Was not your Benedetto a heretic?" + +"No!" cried Massimo. "His teaching may sometimes have erred, but he +lived in obedience to the Church, and preached that obedience always." + +"Then would you mind explaining to me why they persecuted him as a +heretic?" + +The tone of the question was hostile, but Massimo answered, +nevertheless. + +"Willingly. Now, if you like!" + +"No, no! To-morrow or the day after. Now I am going to play for Papa." + +With a scale of chords Leila put an end to the dialogue that had been +carried on softly and rapidly. Then she began an _Étude_ by Heller, and +Massimo concluded that the Signorina did not really wish to hear his +explanations, but, at any rate, it would be impossible to interrupt her +now, and tell her the day after to-morrow would be too late. + +"This is for Papa, you know," she said, still playing. "I don't care +for it." + +Massimo listened for some time, and then rose to go to Signor Marcello. +He paused before the fireplace, where the light fell full upon the +frieze of marguerites interwoven with the motto, _Forse che si, forse +che no_ ("Perhaps yes, perhaps no").[2] The motto was so entirely in +harmony with his own uncertainty that he looked curiously to see how it +ended. He said to himself: "If it is cut short at _yes_, I will go. If +it is not cut short, and ends in _no_, I will remain." He was conscious +of reflecting that, according to all probability, it would end in _no_. +The motto finished with _perhaps_! + +Massimo stood gazing upon it, somewhat baffled, but presently he saw +that there was another test he could apply. The marguerites in the +frieze were all losing their leaves, but the one where the motto ended +still retained a few. He might pluck these in imagination, and see if +the answer were _yes_ or _no_. + +A soft voice whispered close behind him: + +"Are you consulting the oracle?" + +The young man turned quickly. Donna Fedele stood smiling at him, her +finger at her lips, for Heller's _Étude_ was not yet finished. She had +arrived while Leila was playing Schumann, and had been chatting with +Signor Marcello until, seeing Massimo contemplating the frieze, she had +come behind him. + +"I am really here on your account," she said, still smiling. The music +ceased, and she turned from the fireplace towards Leila, who had risen. +She kissed her affectionately, as if no shadow had ever touched her +friendship for the girl. Congratulating her on her playing, she took +her arm and returned with her to the fireside. Signor Marcello stood +looking into the drawing-room. + +"Did you know," Donna Fedele began, addressing Leila, "that Signor +Alberti's mother and I were friends? He is going to dine with me +to-morrow, for we must have a long talk about his mother. She was such +a dear, poor thing!" + +Massimo, who was both troubled and surprised, could only murmur: + +"Thank you, but----" + +"Just fancy," she went on, as if she had not heard his _but_, "Signor +Alberti was kind enough to come and see me to-day, and I, who ever +since last night have been meaning to invite him, entirely forgot +to do so. I am so absent-minded! I came myself this evening instead +of writing, because I had to go to Arsiero any way, and so had the +carriage. But now it is late, and I must be off." + +She kissed Leila again, pressed Signor Marcello's hand, and holding +out her own to Massimo, said, with her charming smile, and a slight +dropping of her chin towards her breast: + +"At seven, then." + +"We will let him go for once," said Signor Marcello, in a tone of +satisfaction. + +Donna Fedele went out with Leila, who walked with her as far as the +carriage, that she had left at the main entrance. + + * * * * * + +Massimo resigned himself to postponing his departure, at least for a +day, and persuaded himself that he was glad to do so only because it +would please Don Aurelio. Signor Marcello made him sit with him on the +terrace, and put his hand on the young man's shoulder. + +"Dear Alberti," he said with a sigh. Massimo took his other hand in +both of his and answered: + +"I do not forget, sir." + +The old hand pressed the young one convulsively, and a long silence +followed. They could hear no steps on the gravel. Signor Marcello +glanced into the drawing-room, but there was no one there. + +"Did he ever speak to you of Leila's family?" he said in an undertone. + +At first Massimo did not understand the allusion. Then, suddenly +enlightened, he exclaimed: + +"Yes, yes--several times!" + +"How much did he tell you?" + +"He said it was just on account of the family that you opposed his +wishes, but that he was sure of the girl, and would find a means of +keeping her parents at a distance after his marriage." + +"Did he really know her parents well? I ask because, in talking with +me, he did not appear to." + +"Yes, yes; he knew them perfectly well. He told me the father, who +carefully hid his evildoings, was quite as corrupt as the mother, whose +evil reputation is a matter of public knowledge." + +Signor Marcello listened again, and then began talking of Leila, who, +he said, was a living confutation of the theories of heredity. He +praised her virtue, which was as adamant, her warm heart, which often +led her to commit acts of charitable folly, and made her the idol of +all the servants, in spite of certain sudden outbursts of temper. He +told of a little child whose mother was dead, and whom Leila had one +day brought home with her to save it from a drunken father's brutality, +and whom she proposed taking care of herself, although, poor girl! she +had not the slightest idea how to set to work. He admitted certain +peculiarities in her character that, he said, were more apparent +than real, and pleaded her early and sad experience of life in her +childhood as an excuse for language that was at times more bold, +perhaps, than was seemly in a young girl. + +And now, in thinking of the future and of those parents, the idea of +leaving Leila unprotected caused him the greatest anxiety. His only +hope was in God, and the only blessing for which he now asked was a +worthy protector for her who was dearer to him than a daughter. + +"You will live a long time yet," said Massimo. + +"Dear Alberti, do you think it is kind to wish that for me? And, +besides...." + +The old man paused. + +"I beg your pardon, sir," Said Massimo. "Besides what?" + +"And, besides, my dear young friend, I am aware of something I do not +speak of." + +There were steps upon the gravel, coming from the Riderella bridge. The +bell above a door announced Leila, who was entering the drawing-room +from the open verandah. She came out to the terrace, kissed Signor +Marcello good-night, saluted Massimo graciously enough, and withdrew. + + * * * * * + +It was after ten o'clock, and Giovanni brought Signor Marcello his +coffee and the brass lamp. After the billiard-room door had closed +upon him, Massimo still lingered on the terrace, contemplating the +huge shadows of the mountains, breathing in the cool night air, and +thinking how strangely confidential Signor Marcello's communications +had been. He had doubtless failed to reflect that they might convey +precisely that meaning which was most repugnant to his fatherly heart. +At the same time Massimo confessed to himself that something had indeed +stirred within him at the sound of Leila's step upon the gravel, and +that her friendly good-night had caused him at once displeasure and +delight. He had better not dwell upon all this, he thought, as he +passed into the drawing-room on his way to bed. + +On reaching the fireplace he raised his eyes almost mechanically to the +frieze of marguerites and the mysterious _perhaps_. There was no longer +any need to question the marguerites concerning his departure. He was +tempted to consult them on another subject now, but he refrained. He +stepped back from the fireplace and turned unconsciously to the piano. +Awakening to a sense of his movement, he asked himself wonderingly +what had prompted it, and stooped to examine the volume of Heller on +the music-rack as if he had come there for that especial purpose. But +he was possessed by the sense of Leila's presence and personality that +breathed from objects, like a perfume perceptible only to the spirit. +Upon the chair he saw a pansy that must have fallen from her belt, and +he stooped to pick it up, but drew back his hand, and, turning, started +upstairs, resisting a strong temptation to go down again. Hearing steps +in the drawing-room, Giovanni appeared on the threshold, inquiring if +he might put out the lights, and, having received permission, proceeded +to do so. At the moment Massimo was glad of this interruption. When he +reached his room he told himself that, had he picked up the pansy, he +would have placed it beside his dead friend's picture, and he regretted +that he had not done so. + + * * * * * + +Regardless of Teresina's protests, Leila had filled her room for the +night with roses, honeysuckle, and acacia. It was a weakness of hers. +She had as many flowers as possible brought to her room unknown to +Signor Marcello, and she delighted in the strongest scents. That night +she had a sea of flowers. She stuck several bunches of acacia between +the bedhead and the wall, and a bunch of roses between the wall and a +holy picture. She loved to lie in bed and feel the petals falling upon +her face. Teresina begged her to leave all three windows open, and to +this she agreed. As soon as Teresina had left the room she put out the +light, turned upon her side, indulging her consciousness of fragrance +as if she were listening to some caressing language, and gazing through +the window at the black, crescent-shaped crown of woods, at the sharp +dolomitic peaks against the dark sky, and neither thinking nor wishing +to think. + + + FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Black and red insults: black from the clericals, and red from +Socialists and free-thinkers.--TRANSLATOR'S NOTE. + +[2] This strange motto, which Gabriele d'Annunzio has chosen for the +title of his latest novel, may be found running through the rich +decorations of the wooden ceiling of a room near Isabella d'Este's +boudoir in the ducal palace at Mantua.--TRANSLATOR'S NOTE. + + + + + CHAPTER III + THE WOOF + + + I + +Don Tita Fantuzzo, archpriest of Velo d'Astico, said Mass as usual +at half-past seven; and, after some lengthy prayers in the sacristy, +proceeded down the stairs leading from the church to the parsonage, +where he met his sister-in-law, Signora Bettina Pagan, _veuve_ +Fantuzzo, and the chaplain, Don Emanuele Costi de Villata. These two +were going down together, or, rather, not together, for the chaplain +was a few steps ahead; but his progress was impeded by the sense of the +presence behind him, while Signora Bettina was hindered by a feeling of +obsequiousness towards the presence before, and also somewhat by the +mere knowledge of her position as rear-guard. + +"What are you marching in single file for, like a pair of cart-horses?" +inquired the jovial archpriest, pausing close behind his sister-in-law. +"'Se casco mi, Caschemo tuti tri!' ('Tumble me, Tumble all three!'). +Lines by the poet Zanella," he quoted merrily. + +Behind her black veil Signora Bettina's vermilion nose took on a deeper +hue, while a fleeting smile lit up Don Emanuele's watery eyes, a sign +rather of deference for a superior's wit than of any appreciation of +it. + +"Cape!" muttered Signora Bettina. This invocation in dialect of a +favourite crustacean inhabitant of the sea was an ejaculation that +was often upon her lips, and, in the present case, expressed a gentle +self-justification and the fitting reverence that had forbidden her +advancing at the chaplain's side. On reaching the parsonage door the +latter stepped aside to the right and Signora Bettina to the left, +while the archpriest, hastening his steps and murmuring, "Here I am! +Here I am!" passed in in triumph, with a great flapping of priestly +robes. + +They assembled in the little dining-room of the parsonage, where coffee +stood ready for the archpriest and for Signora Bettina, who was in +the habit of going to Communion every day. Don Emanuele had said his +Mass at five, and now sought permission to withdraw under pretext of +studying. The archpriest detained him. + +"Don't study so much. You will only muddle your brain," said he. + +The other, who was clever at feigning, appeared to yield simply from a +sense of deference, whereas, in reality, this little formality had been +privately arranged with his superior, and he began talking of a certain +sick person he had visited that morning. The archpriest, meanwhile, was +taking his coffee and milk in an old chipped basin, and dipping into it +some broken bits of yesterday's bread. Signora Bettina was having her +coffee in a similar basin, but with some of those Pandoli for which the +town of Schio is famous. + +"I am ashamed to be eating these biscuits, Don Tita," said she, raising +one to her mouth. + +"Be ashamed, then, to your heart's content," replied the excellent +Don Tita, laughing. "Shame is a virtuous sentiment." And as she still +hesitated, in red-faced silence, to bite off the top of the biscuit, +he added, laughing still: "Go ahead! Go ahead! Aren't you a native of +Dolo, and is that not Dolo bread?" + +"Poor Dolo!" cried Signora Bettina, turning with a smile to Don +Emanuele, and speaking in Italian now. "What ever am I to do? The +archpriest cannot forgive me for having been born there." + +"Just as he cannot forgive me for having been born at Udine," the +chaplain replied, smiling also. + +"I should think not!" Don Tita exclaimed. "Udine indeed! Fountains +without water and an aristocracy without manners!" + +Now, Don Emanuele was not only a native of Udine but came of a noble +family as well; but Don Tita, of course, was only jesting. His face, +his person, his bearing, and his language, all pointed to the young +chaplain's gentle birth and education. In appearance he was in all +things the reverse of Don Tita. Don Tita, short and rubicund, with a +merry face, as heavy as his own witticisms, and eyes that twinkled, +despite his honest piety, inspired rather by worldly shrewdness than +by celestial yearnings, was most careless in his dress, anything but +scrupulous as regards cleanliness, and familiar and simple in manner, +sometimes even to the point of rudeness. + +In Don Emanuele, tall and slender, one saw the future prelate. He had +the face of an ascetic--a lofty brow beneath a delicate and perfect +arch of light hair, thin cheeks, deep-sunk eyes under bushy brows; +the eyes themselves of a pale blue, with mysterious pupils and irises +moist, as it were, with meekness, and, like windows of painted glass, +open to light but closed upon the soul. In his bearing and gestures +there was a precocious dignity and sense of just measure. His language +also was studied and cautious. He spoke softly, in a cold, slightly +nasal voice and with aristocratic enunciation. It was said that in +his early youth he had wished to join a religious Order, but that +his bishop, for some reason unknown, had dissuaded him. It was also +said that his family had strongly desired him to seek an appointment +in connection with the _curia_ in Rome, but that it had been his own +ardent wish to devote himself, for a time at least, to the cure of +souls, at a distance from his family and in a different diocese. + +Inwardly, also, Don Tita and Don Emanuele were dissimilar, but less +so than outwardly. Don Tita was more complex. Don Tita's spirit might +be compared to his face, whose fundamental hardness was concealed by +flexible muscles and soft flesh; or, less gruesomely, to a green, +flowery field, where the rock is not a hand's breadth below the +surface; or to certain small, soft mountain peaches, in which the +teeth are quickly brought into contact with the uncompromising stone. +On the surface he was all good nature, verbal acquiescence, and +willingness to accommodate; but his heart was hard and cold with a +religious conscience that was stereotyped by antiquated doctrines and +dominated by tradition, the letter of the law, and the authority of +the hierarchy. It was a conscience full of conviction, and a slave to +the desire to perform his religious duty everywhere, at all times, and +at whatever cost. But to Don Tita charity towards his neighbour was +merely a duty imposed by a stern external law. Obedient to the gospel, +he was generous in bestowing alms, but he neither loved nor esteemed +the poor. The most grievous sins of his flock, above all, any public +exhibition of disrespect for the sacerdotal office, irritated rather +than grieved him, and made his hands itch--his heavy hands, that were +not unskilled in a certain form of oratory. As to his morals, they were +of a scrupulous, almost mistrustful purity. A man of many prayers, he +despised mysticism, which he looked upon as sentimentality, except when +met with in the saints or in their writings; for to him the saints +were especial beings, men born with the nimbus decreed to them by +canonisation after death. + +He had a fair knowledge of theology, and was not entirely destitute of +literary culture; he had been Professor of Classics in the seminary, +although, indeed, he knew no Greek. His reading consisted exclusively +of newspapers, magazines, and Catholic books. Only Italian printed +matter came to the parsonage for him, but for Don Emanuele there +came the _Stimmen aus Maria Laach_, and other foreign publications, +principally German. This strong food was not for the excellent Don +Tita, but nevertheless filled him with admiration for Don Emanuele's +powers of mastication. Admiration, not envy, for Don Tita was not +ambitious, and was satisfied with his lot, his only desire being, +perhaps, promotion to a parish in the city, that he might escape from +the mountains that oppressed him, and where he might enjoy the society +of old friends and colleagues. This was the height of his ambition. But +as to Don Emanuele, nephew of a cardinal, son of a privy-chamberlain +to his Holiness, and brother of one of the noble-guardsmen, Don +Tita believed him destined to great things. If the humble chaplain +of Riese had become Sovereign Pontiff, why should not a chaplain, +favoured by fortune as was Don Emanuele, achieve the same greatness? +The archpriest's bearing towards the younger man was difficult to +define. He really stood somewhat in awe of him, but he sought to hide +this sentiment beneath a display of jocose familiarity. He felt Don +Emanuele's superiority, and was never entirely at his ease with him. +He believed him to be a tower of knowledge because he spoke German, +nevertheless he was convinced that, as a preacher, he, Don Tita, +surpassed him. His vanity was flattered by the fact that he had such a +chaplain, but there were times when he could not help thinking that the +parsonage would be a pleasanter place without Don Emanuele. + +Don Tita would perhaps have been happier without his chaplain, +because Don Emanuele did not speak the dialect, because his manners +were refined, and because he was the living negation of all that is +jovial. But in the main both were hewn from the same stone. In Don +Tita, however, there was need of much scraping before the natural rock +was reached, whereas Don Emanuele was a smooth and highly-polished +monolith. Notwithstanding his knowledge of the diabolical German +language, he was far less clever than the archpriest. The son of an +Austrian woman of rank, he had learnt French and English from his +sisters' _bonnes_ and governesses. It was said that his progress +in theology was slow, notwithstanding his persistent application. +But many visits to Rome, where he had been the guest of his uncle +the Cardinal--a man of genius, extremely sociable, and surrounded +by friends--had done for him what long immersion in good Bordeaux +may do for certain insipid biscuits. This great personage, the +family divinity, had been a sun to his asteroid of a nephew, and, +all unconsciously and unintentionally, had attracted him to his own +orbit from the time that the asteroid was still studying grammar. +It is true the lad already displayed, both in face and character, a +singular predisposition for high ecclesiastical office. At ten he was +a little man fully equipped with all the manners and graces of the +best society, a stranger to all games and boyish friendships, orderly, +respectful, quaintly discreet in his infrequent discourses, measured +in his expressions of affection towards his relatives, regulating such +expressions according to their different degrees of relationship, +devout, and self-contained. His mother, the Cardinal's sister, and a +very pious woman, was at once proud of this son and disappointed in +him. It was a joy to her to know that he was sincerely religious, and +an anxiety to know nothing further concerning him. The Cardinal had +never been like this--his was an open nature. When little Emanuele was +between six and eight, to all who asked him what he was going to be +when he grew up he would answer promptly, "A bishop"; between eight +and twelve the answer was, "A priest," but between twelve and fourteen +he would only repeat obstinately, "I don't know, I don't know!" The +honest answer at that time would have been, "A cardinal." Still, he +was no hypocrite nor was he consciously ambitious. He honestly felt +himself called to enter the Church, and he persuaded himself that his +birth and connections providentially predisposed him to rise to dignity +and power in her service, and that this lofty sentiment sanctified +certain ambitious longings whose voices he had heard within him in +early days, not without certain pricks of conscience. By degrees these +longings had become so enveloped in the mantle of pious yearnings as +to be completely hidden from his conscience. The mantle was both wide +and heavy. Don Emanuele's religious zeal was not inferior to that of +Don Aurelio, his religious convictions were no less deep, his life +and thoughts no less pure, no less free from any stain of concession +to lustful tendencies. But his conception of God, and, above all, his +conception of the Church was different. Divine paternity was to him +rather a formula in which he believed than a truth which he felt and +which was precious to him. With his lips he called Him Father, while +in his heart he felt Him to be a monarch. Don Emanuele's grandfather +had been the imperious and formidable tyrant of his noble family, upon +which he had forced his own austere asceticism, and a fear of God that +in his children and grandchildren was irrevocably confused with a fear +of himself. In Don Emanuele's mind the idea of God had shaped itself +in accordance with his grandfather's imperiousness and piety. His God +was a species of infinite grandfather, holy and terrible. For him the +Church was the only hierarchy, and was, in a way, his grandfather's +house, where there was perpetual entertainment of priests and friars, +as celestial beings superior to poor humanity. + +The archpriest alone in all the countryside knew exactly under what +circumstances Don Emanuele had come from Udine to be chaplain of Val +d'Astico. It had been the will of the Cardinal that his nephew should +devote himself, not to the career of the prelacy, but to the cure of +souls, at a distance from his family and his aristocratic connections, +in a diocese where his name was completely unknown. The archpriest +had heard this from the Bishop of Vicenza. Don Emanuele himself had +never mentioned it to him; indeed, he never spoke either of himself, +his family, or his future plans. He even seemed unwilling to speak of +the Cardinal. By dint of much effort, the archpriest had succeeded in +eliciting from him some information concerning the Cardinal, and had +concluded that the nephew had more reverence than affection for his +uncle. He therefore refrained from mentioning the Most Eminent, save +at Christmas, New Year, Easter, and on the eve of the festival of St. +John, his Eminence's patron saint. On these occasions he would say: "By +the way, Don Emanuele ... when you write to Rome, if you think best ... +you understand ... my most humble...." Or sometimes his words would be +only: "By the way, when you write...." And he would complete the phrase +with a respectful bending of head and body, and an obsequious spreading +of hands. + + + II + +"Madre Santa! How he talks!" cried Signora Bettina, turning a very red +face to the chaplain, upon the archpriest's outburst concerning the +aristocracy of Udine. The unruly member of Don Tita's flock had made a +mistake when he fastened upon Signora Bettina the title of the "female +Holy Ghost." She had not the slightest ambition to inspire either +her brother-in-law or Don Emanuele, and was intent only upon her own +sanctification. At the age of fifty-two she had become the widow of +Dr. Fantuzzo, and being childless and well provided for, had arranged +to occupy an apartment in the spacious parsonage at Velo d'Astico from +the end of April to the beginning of November of each year, for which +apartment she paid rent to the archpriest. She had her own kitchen, +and took only her morning coffee with Don Tita. She was of a good +family of Dolo, and had remained faithful to certain habits of life +differing somewhat from those of the archpriest, and notwithstanding +her profound respect for the clergy, she was jealous of her liberty. +That she might be preserved from her neighbour was, indeed, one of the +fundamental characteristics of her extremely fervent piety. Signora +Bettina desired and prayed that, for the greater glory of God, her +good neighbour might be encouraged in the path of righteousness, and +that her bad neighbour might be converted, but she would have neither +of them hanging about the house--she would have no "bother"! She would +look after her own soul, let others look after theirs. When her right +hand succoured the poor her left hand remained in ignorance of the +fact, but so also did her heart. Her heart was eager only to acquire +mortgages on celestial estates, and on these terms, and through the +agency of her brother-in-law, she was more willing to allow her loans +to the Almighty to take the form of surplices, copes, altar-clothes, +sacred vessels, Masses, and Requiems than that of deeds of charity. +But her heart had not always been thus. In her early youth it had been +a heart full of secret and dangerous vagaries. The late Dr. Fantuzzo, +however--a good-natured creature enough, but coarse and pleasantish +and an inveterate drinker--had disillusioned her. Sprung from a deeply +religious family, she had one day been terrified by being brought face +to face with a temptation such as she had never dreamed of. She took +refuge in fervent asceticism, and in all such external practices as +were best adapted to surround her with an invulnerable reputation. +Aided by an uncompromising theologian, who was mistrustful of all +mysticism, her wavering earthly flames were gradually transformed into +one great blaze, nominally the love of God, but really the desire for +her own salvation. The world, always severe in its judgment of pious +persons, might easily have set her down as a born egotist. But is the +world capable of judging? Different social surroundings and a simpler +spiritual training might not have smothered those harmless affections +that had gladdened childhood and youth. In this imperviousness to +friendship she resembled the chaplain rather than Don Tita. The merry +Don Tita was quick to make friends, and found it easy to adapt himself +to every one. Don Emanuele had never had a friend; in the midst of +a merry crowd he seemed like a crow, dazed by the noise of a flock +of cocks and hens. But Don Emanuele had not yet found his peace, and +Signora Fantuzzo had. She had no other temptations save of eating +three biscuits with her morning coffee, instead of two, of telling the +archpriest to stop wiping his pen on his hair, now that it was white, +and of praying that the Lord might see fit to destroy the cobbler's +scandalous cat. She was more like Don Emanuele than Don Tita, and in +fact, without drawing any comparisons, which she would have scrupled +to do, she felt for Don Emanuele a respect and admiration she would +have shrunk from uttering, and cherished a secret reverence for him, +whereas her open demonstrations of reverence were directed mainly +towards the archpriest. In speaking of the latter, Signora Bettina +might sometimes smile; in speaking of Don Emanuele, never. + + * * * * * + +When she had finished her coffee Signora Fantuzzo reached for her black +veil which lay on the table. + +"Well," said she, "Don Tita----" + +This was her usual formula of departure. Don Tita stretched out his +hand, with fingers widespread. + +But the archpriest had no intention of letting her go, and burst into a +long string of "No, no, no," and "Sit down, sit down!" + +The servant entering at that moment to remove the tray, Don Tita +ordered her to be gone, and as a greater precaution against +interruption, he withdrew to the study beyond, followed by the chaplain +and Signora Bettina, who was in great trepidation in case she were +about to be involved in some "bother." + +The archpriest's joke led her to suppose that it was simply a matter of +advice, but even this would be a "bother." In fact, not even to herself +did she confess her horror of "bother," believing that this horror +was only for such doubts as her conscience might inspire, and, after +all, every "bother," be it in advice or deed, must bring with it some +scruple of conscience. In the past one of her spiritual directors had +recommended a certain book, well calculated to further the progress in +her soul of an incipient paralysis of all scruple. + +"The fact of the matter is, my dear Bettina," the archpriest began, +"that, were it not for the glory of God and the good of our neighbour, +we would not trouble you. Is not that so, Don Emanuele?" + +Don Emanuele, who had kept his eyes fixed upon the archpriest as if +to control and direct his language, into which there frequently crept +expressions that were ill-advised and good-naturedly imprudent, showed +both in his glance and bearing so evident a desire to help, that the +archpriest immediately took advantage of it. + +"Do you wish to explain?" he asked. "Then do." + +Promptly withdrawing once more into his cold shell of prelatical +composure, Don Emanuele spoke, confident of not spoiling, as the +archpriest might have done, a certain piece of delicate machinery which +had been set in motion, perhaps not over much for their neighbour's +good, but certainly, from the chaplain's point of view at least, very +much for the glory of God. He believed himself more clever than the +archpriest, because he had studied the grammar of subtleties, but +he was mistaken. The archpriest was clever by nature, unconsciously +clever, and his purposes were served by the very imprudence and +carelessness of his language. It made him appear a simple creature to +such as had but slight knowledge of him, and there was perhaps no one +in all the countryside who really knew him well, save Signor Marcello +and Donna Fedele, who had the power of reading character in a very +short space of time. + +"Well," said Don Emanuele, "it is a question of saving a poor girl." + +"Ah! yes, I can fancy what it is then," said Signora Bettina, her face +lighting up with satisfaction beneath a veneer of compunction. "I can +fancy." + +The subject, indeed, was a thorny one and painful to handle, but +the "bother" would be but slight. Her servant's younger sister was +undergoing siege by a private of the Royal Foot Artillery. + +"Ah, I know!" she went on with a sigh. "I am sorry to say I know. +I heard only yesterday, and had, indeed, intended to speak to the +archpriest about it." + +"You are on the wrong scent--the wrong scent, my girl!" muttered Don +Tita, his deep and serious tones saying plainly, "This is quite another +matter." + +"Perhaps she does know. She may perhaps know," observed Don Emanuele +sweetly, addressing the archpriest. "The matter has to do with the +young person--the young lady who lives with Signor Trento, and who was +to have married his son." + +The archpriest had his eyes fixed upon his sister-in-law to see what +her expression would be. It was not promising. + +"Good gracious! I don't know her!" said she. + +If she supposed she had found a safe refuge through her declaration of +ignorance, her illusion was short-lived. + +"Nonsense!" said the archpriest. + +"It would be easier if you were acquainted with her," Don Emanuele +observed thoughtfully. "Do you not know her at all? Not even slightly?" + +"By sight. Oh yes, by sight!" Signora Fantuzzo replied with flushed +cheeks. But Don Emanuele, who was well informed, held his peace, as one +who deems it better policy to insist by silence. + +"I may have spoken to her once," Signora Bettina conceded, her face +aflame. + +"That is good," said the archpriest. + +"But I shall not speak to her again--not again--certainly not again!" + +Poor Bettina appeared terrified, and kept repeating, "Ah, no, no, no!" +until the archpriest demanded impatiently: "Why not? What has she +done to you?" She replied that the person in question made her feel +timid, terribly timid. But this was far from being the true reason. +Leila had found herself seated beside her one day in church, when poor +Bettina was sporting a headgear of such an outlandish description as +to excite the mirth of a group of summer visitors, consisting of eight +or ten young girls, each one more flighty than the other. Seeing this, +Leila immediately took poor Signora Fantuzzo under her protection. She +offered her own seat, recaptured a whole flight of saints that had +escaped from the Signora's prayer-book, left the church when she did, +and found an opportunity of saying a few pleasant words concerning +the archpriest's sermon. For some unknown reason the young girl's +courtesy completely upset poor Bettina. It was as if, together with a +wave of strong attraction, there flowed over her once more those vague +emotions of her youth that had once filled her with terror. To become +the Signorina's friend, to come in contact with a youthful spirit, a +spirit well versed in love and the ways of the world, to taste of both +once more, even though it be through another--such was the temptation +that had spoken faintly within Signora Bettina's bosom. But it had +been sufficiently strong to send her hastening into the parsonage +crying, "Enough, enough, enough!" her throat a cavern overflowing +with ejaculations expressive of her firm determination never again to +approach that most dangerous person. + +"It would of course be better if she could speak to her," said Don +Emanuele, looking at the archpriest, "but it does not seem to me to be +essential." + +"No so po!--I don't know!" The three truly masterly monosyllables +seemed to signify that he saw no way of reaching the desired goal if +his sister-in-law persisted in refusing to approach the Signorina. As a +matter of fact neither the archpriest nor the chaplain really intended +to bring about an interview. Their tactics were to lead up skilfully to +a proposal that should appear and be agreed to as a compromise. But Don +Emanuele had gone too fast, and the archpriest's _No so po_ had been +a delicate and artistic turn of the brake. Don Emanuele saw this and +retreated with a _Perhaps_, that was charged with doubt and with regret +as well as with suggestions of yielding and exhortation. + +As both lapsed into silence after this, Signora Bettina, hoping that +the hour of her release had now come, straightened her shoulders as if +about to rise, and uttered another: + +"Well." + +"Wait, my girl," said the archpriest, stopping her by a gesture, and +turning to Don Emanuele, he added: + +"We may as well tell her everything. Then she can make up her mind what +to do. Do you agree?" + +Don Emanuele, remembering the lesson he had just received from one +he looked upon as having more to learn than to teach, raised his two +hands that rested on his knees, spreading them like a pair of fans, and +murmured in his turn: + +"I don't know." + +Don Tita's tone now became decided. + +"Yes, yes! Tell her," he said. "Tell her." + +Then Don Emanuele drew his tunic about his legs with an almost feminine +gesture, and began: + +"It is a very simple matter." + +But it was evidently a very complex matter, and he did not know where +to begin. + +"The Signorina's parents are still living," said he. "Her father, you +know----" + +And the chaplain drew a long and soft breath in a manner as if to +signify that of the father there was good to be said and evil as well, +and that, having added the two together, the sum total was that--it +would be best to say nothing. + +"The mother, on the other hand----" he went on. + +"Ah! the mother," Don Tita put in in a deep bass voice laden with +satisfaction, and wagging his head as if silently denying that anything +evil could be said of her. + +"Mercy on us, Don Tita!" Signora Bettina gasped in utter amazement, +fixing her eyes on her brother-in-law, for in the past she had heard +accounts of a very different nature. + +The chaplain hastened to pacify her. + +"No," he began. "In times past, indeed, there may have been room for +comment. Yes, indeed, there were certain indiscretions.... Now she +is a woman who is making amends, a woman whose one thought is for +pious works and deeds of charity, who lives in Milan, leading a most +edifying life, and who is well known to many excellent men among the +clergy. It is true she is separated from her husband, but there may +be some good reason for that, or perhaps some misunderstanding. After +God and the Church her one thought is for her daughter. She can have +no direct communication with her because Signor Trento, a hard-hearted +man who may or may not be truly religious, will not allow it. At this +moment she is trembling for her daughter. I heard of this in a letter I +received the other day from a priest, a most worthy priest, who comes +in contact with her." + +"Have you the letter about you?" the archpriest broke in. "You had +better read it." + +Don Emanuele glanced apologetically at his superior. + +"To tell the truth," said he, "it is a letter of a very private----" + +"Well, well!" cried Don Tita. "Never mind, then, never mind." + +The chaplain continued: + +"This priest writes that Signora da Camin has discovered that a young +man from Milan, who is well known there, and who bears a notorious +reputation, has been staying at Signor Trento's for some days and is +still there." + +"An unhappy creature!" murmured Don Tita. "A most unenviable +individual!" + +He said this in the tone of one who registers an irreparable and +unhappy fact. + +Signora Bettina struck in timidly to say she thought she had seen the +young man in church on the preceding Sunday. Don Emanuele sighed, but +did not speak. + +"Yes, yes," said the archpriest, "very likely you did see him. He goes +to church, but he is worse than those who do not. Headstrong, my girl, +and a friend of that other headstrong fellow the priest of Lago. He is +one of those who want to change everything in our religion." + +Signor Bettina emitted a whistling sound, sucking the air in sharply as +if she had burnt her tongue. Once more Don Emanuele sighed. + +"Alas! yes," said he. "And this mother is living in agony lest +her child should become interested in the young man, and lest the +young man--the girl being good-looking and possessed of great +expectations----" + +"The Lord save us!" Don Tita exclaimed. "If he should worm himself in +here----" + +Signora Bettina repeated her whistling noise. + +"Now," Don Emanuele went on, "the priest who writes to me has been able +to discover, through what seems to me a special dispensation of Divine +providence, that----" + +There was a pause. + +"Out with it, out with it!" cried Don Tita. "Courage! Very well, then, +I will go on. It seems there is some sort of a mess between this fellow +and a woman in Milan--a married woman, mind you." + +Signora Bettina here indulged in repeated whistlings. + +"The other night Don Emanuele and I were talking this over," Don Tita +continued, "and wondering how we could get this piece of information to +the girl. We thought and thought, but could find no way. But yesterday +we came to the conclusion that the only way would be through you." + +"Good Lord, Don Tita!" + +The accent with which she pronounced this ejaculation was heartrending. + +There was silence. + +"We will say no more about it," the archpriest declared. "The girl will +be ruined, but it will be through no fault of mine." + +Signora Fantuzzo, who was seated beside the archpriest's writing-table, +reached out for a book that lay upon it, and drawing it towards her, +pretended to study it. She was the colour of a lobster. + +"I really believe," Don Tita exclaimed, "that this sly puss knows more +than she will tell!" + +Signora Fantuzzo protested that she knew nothing at all, but the +archpriest had little trouble in eliciting from her the information +that the Trentos' cook, who was a friend of her servant's, had talked +of the goings on at home since the arrival of the young man from Milan. +She had spoken of the master's apparent uneasiness, of Teresina, +the maid's, ill-humour, and of fits of weeping on the part of the +Signorina. One morning the maid had rushed into the kitchen calling +for very strong coffee, her eyes standing out of her head with fright, +because the young lady had been foolish enough to shut the windows, +with all the flowers she kept in her room at night, and was almost dead +with the headache. The cook had said at the time: + +"The girl wants to kill herself!" and the maid had answered, her eyes +full of tears, "Who can say!" + +"I believe," added the excellent Bettina, "that all this is because the +young man was such a friend of her lover's, and reminds her of him." + +"My good creature," said Don Tita, "you are a simpleton." + +Meanwhile Don Emanuele was reflecting with a grateful heart how visibly +favourable Providence was to his aims and to those of the archpriest. +To tell the truth, neither the one nor the other had proposed making +Signora Bettina the only and direct instrument of Providence in this +matter. In their satisfaction at possessing a weapon against Don +Aurelio's friend, the famous Alberti, they had planned that Signora +Bettina should confide the story of Alberti's intrigue with the woman +in Milan to her servant, who, as they well knew, was a friend of the +Trentos' cook, and the cook, they hoped, would pass the scandal on +to the maid. And here were their hopes being realised; here was the +machinery already acting in the service of similar confidential reports. + +"Then I understand," the future prelate began, with a guileless air, +"that between your servant and the Trentos' cook----" + +There was a knock at the door. + +"Come in!" cried good-natured Don Tita. + +The chaplain relapsed into silence, dropping his watery eyes, but +otherwise giving no sign of his dissatisfaction at the interruption +sanctioned by his superior. It was Signora Fantuzzo's servant, who had +come to look for her mistress. Don Tita, his mind flooded with the +light of a sudden inspiration, begged her to wait outside. "One moment, +one moment only!" he cried. He himself rose and closed the door with a +bang that--left it open! Then he began declaiming, confronted by the +bewildered faces of the chaplain and Signora Bettina. + +"Listen, sister-in-law, and you also, chaplain. You must not mention +it, but I will tell you something. That young fellow from Milan who is +at the Montanina and who is so intimate with the priest of Lago--do +you know what a precious pearl he is? He is entangled with a woman in +Milan, I tell you, and I know--a woman with a husband, children----" + +"Goodness!" Bettina ejaculated. "Children also?" + +"Well?" Don Tita retorted in a low tone. "She is married, isn't she?" +And he resumed in a loud voice: "Let us hope the rascal has no designs +upon that young girl who lives with old Trento! Supposing her mother +should hear of this, poor woman!" + +Hereupon Don Tita rose, and added softly, "That's done!" Casting at +Don Emanuele the glance of a colleague in art who has proved himself +a master, he crept to the door on tiptoe and flung it suddenly open, +shouting, "Where is she ... ah! excuse me." For there the woman stood +before him, half stunned by the sudden opening of the door. Signora +Bettina rose, thankful to be free at last. The chaplain, not entirely +convinced of the success of this brilliant strategy, was still +pondering the matter, when the archpriest's servant rushed in, in a +state of great excitement. + +"The Fedele woman is here!" + +Signora Vayla's Christian name was often mistaken among the peasants +for her surname. + +"What Fedele woman?" the dazed archpriest demanded. + +"Don't you know? The one from Arsiero--the one with white hair." + +Signora Bettina scurried away, the archpriest closed his eyes and +puffed, as if he had been offered a glass of castor-oil, the chaplain +murmured, "Archpriest!" and stood before his superior with clasped +hands and eyes raised heavenward, which attitude signified an +exhortation to the man to stand firm, and a prayer to the Lord to keep +the man standing firm. Then, with bowed head, he also hastened away. +The archpriest requested that Donna Fedele should be ushered in. He +was convinced she had come to talk to him about Don Aurelio and of the +people of Lago's determination to appeal, if need be, to his Holiness +himself against the priest's dismissal. + + + III + +Donna Fedele had driven over from the Villino delle Rose in the usual +little hired carriage. Near the Posina Bridge she had met Massimo, and +had said to him, laughing, "I am going to see the archpriest about the +'den.'" By a similar channel of communication to that which lay between +the parsonage and the Montanina, certain interesting bits of news had +reached her, and also, amongst others, the fact that at the parsonage +her house had been labelled a "den" on account of Carnesecca's +presence. She had answered Massimo's exhortation to "give him a piece +of her mind" with a smile, a smile as sweet as her voice. But when +the little carriage had turned to the left on the steep rise, the +noble lines of her face assumed an expression of melancholy, which the +meeting with Massimo had not a little to do with. She was worried as to +the position of affairs at the Montanina. She saw, indeed, that Massimo +was daily becoming more strongly attached, but she recognised too that +Signor Marcello was anxious and Leila startlingly enigmatical. Leila +impressed the older woman as a creature at war with herself, and withal +so proud that nothing good could come from any attempt to influence +her. Donna Fedele had won Teresina's confidence, and had heard from +her about the flowers and the closed windows, which incident she felt +should neither be made too much of nor entirely ignored. Teresina's +idea was that the girl was in love, and was ashamed of her state of +mind, feeling bound in honour to the memory of poor Signor Andrea and +by Signor Marcello's trust in her. It was at present impossible to +see clearly in the matter, and Donna Fedele could not rid herself of +innumerable doubts, anxieties, and presentiments. + + * * * * * + +Waiting in the little salon of the parsonage, Signora Bettina and Don +Emanuele strongly reminded the visitor of two frightened chickens, as +they scurried past, hugging the wall, and she recalled so vividly a +certain red wart above the archpriest's left eye, that always became +inflamed when he was worried, that a laugh clutched her throat, and she +had barely time to straighten her face before entering the study. + +The wart was scarlet indeed, but her welcome was of the warmest. Worthy +Don Tita appeared incapable of suppressing within himself--and he was, +in truth, no weak vessel--a certain effervescent mixture of surprise, +pleasure, and obsequiousness. But at this moment Don Tita was no +hypocrite. Rising, he approached his visitor, crying eagerly, "Well, +well, well! Who do I see, who do I see? Your servant, your very humble +servant!" And this cordiality was not the result of any calculation. +There was an unconquerable officiousness in his blood that instantly +rendered him cordial and ceremonious in the presence of any person +worthy of consideration. On such occasions he felt any differences +of opinion that might separate him from such a person shrivel within +him, as by a miracle, and in spite of himself he was bound to convey +to that person, by means of words, gestures, and play of feature, that +he was really much more of his or her opinion than that person might +be inclined to think. Secretly, Donna Fedele was highly amused by the +reception she had of course expected, especially when she reflected +how different would be the scene that must follow. She also took a +mischievous delight in accepting the archpriest's big chair, and in +imagining herself a bishop in her violet skirt, and she longed to reach +out her hand to the snuffbox that lay open on the table before her. + +"I have come," she began, in that gentle, indolent manner of hers, "to +show you that I try to be a Christian, if not a good Christian, at +least a passable one." + +The archpriest gave a loud laugh. + +"That is good! That is good! But who doubts it, Signora? Tut, tut, tut! +Who doubts it?" + +Donna Fedele smiled, but while her lips were smiling her eyes widened +and flashed with a vivid light. + +"Ah! that is the question," said she, and there was a flash in her +voice also. + +Don Tita pretended not to understand, to have forgotten a certain +occasion when Donna Fedele lent her grounds for a peasants' +merry-making that had ended in some rather wild dancing, to have +forgotten, too, a certain unwise sermon of his of which the lady had +unnecessarily reminded him. + +"Tut, tut, tut!" he repeated. + +The sweet voice went on: + +"You yourself have not always considered me such, and you do not at +present, now that I have taken Pestagran into my house." + +Don Tita became the colour of a raspberry. + +"I?" he cried. "Quite the contrary! It is pure charity, Signora! +Charity, charity! A priest's house was one thing, you see, but the +house of a layman is another." + +"It is a lay 'den,' then," Donna Fedele murmured under her breath. + +The archpriest did not hear, and she went on to say, still blandly, +that she had not known the clergy were less bound to perform deeds of +charity than the laity. Don Tita's protests she met with a fixed stare +and in silence. + +Poor Don Tita, remembering that he had said that this lean lady was +more of a _Carnesecca_ (a piece of dry flesh) than Gran Peste himself, +and who was far from realising that had she known this Donna Fedele's +amusement would have tempered her severity towards himself, was as one +seated upon hot coals. + +"But I am not here," she continued, "to discuss Pestagran, or anything +connected with Pestagran." + +"_Ben_, Signora! Good, good!" + +The archpriest said "_Ben!_" relieving his feelings by a lapse into +dialect, but in his heart he thought, "_Male_, Signora! Bad, very bad!" +for although that first pill was swallowed, who could say what Madame +Carnesecca might have in reserve? + +"As you and I are both interested in the same person, I have come +to ask you for some information that might perhaps, under certain +circumstances, affect that person indirectly." + +This time Donna Fedele spoke in a clear and rather loud voice, +articulating her words carefully and looking resolutely at Don Tita. +His face was filled with bewilderment. Who could this person be? +Bettina? No, no--nor the chaplain either. Could it be Don Aurelio, +after all?" + +"It is true, is it not," Donna Fedele went on, "that you are much +interested in the young girl who lives with Signor Trento?" + +Don Tita, greatly relieved that Don Aurelio had not been sprung upon +him, rubbed his hands together softly. + +"I, Signora ... I interested...? No, no, Signora. Not at all, not at +all." + +"What do you mean by 'not at all,' when you are anxious to have her +warned against a certain Alberti because he is carrying on an intrigue +with a married woman?" + +The archpriest made up his mind that Donna Fedele was indeed an +incarnation of the evil one. He muttered, "What, what, what!" and, +gathering his scattered wits together, whispered to himself, "The +monster!" these words referring to his own servant, who alone could +have listened, have heard, and have gossiped. But meanwhile he found no +answer. Donna Fedele waited for a time, and then asked, with her gentle +but pitilessly apathetic air, if he were going to admit or deny the +accusation. + +"I deny it," said Don Tita, recovering from the blow. "I can safely +deny it, Signora. I deny having had any hand in the matter. I was +already acquainted with the fact, Signora, but the secret was not my +own." + +Donna Fedele inwardly regretted having omitted to count the +archpriest's "Signoras." Once before she had counted, or said she had +counted, one hundred and one in half an hour. Presently she went on +with her cold-blooded torture. + +"You see, archpriest," she said, "as so much is known here concerning +what is said and done in my house, it is only fair that I should know +something of what is said and done here." + +Donna Fedele was convinced that the archpriest's servant had orders to +worm out of her gardener's wife all she could about her mistress, Don +Aurelio, Carnesecca, and Massimo Alberti. The servant, on the other +hand, had parted with some parsonage gossip in exchange. Then the +gardener's wife told the story to the housemaid, and although Donna +Fedele invariably scolded her maids for listening to gossip, she had +not been able to stop her own ears, and, as a matter of fact, had +opened them rather wide this time. + +The colour of the wart spread over the whole surface of Don Tita's face. + +"Ah! you must really excuse me, Signora," said he in an injured tone, +"but as to that--that--oh! oh!----" + +And he wagged his head as if it had been on a pivot, and knit his brows. + +A timid "Con permesso" was heard, the door opened slowly, and there +stood the culprit herself with coffee and biscuits for Donna Fedele. +She was a little, fat old woman, with the voice of a goat and a cunning +expression. She placed the tray upon the writing-table and glanced +at her master, expecting him to rise, as usual, brandish the spoon, +and vociferate, "How many lumps, Signora? How many lumps?" Her master +did rise, but slowly and not at once, and he gave her a glance that +made her tremble lest she had done wrong to bring the coffee. "Cape!" +muttered the poor woman, who, like Signora Fantuzzo, was in the habit +of appealing to that distant and invisible crustacean. The sight of +this bewildered woman, ignorant of her position of _lupus in fabula_, +and of Don Tita's face at being obliged to administer coffee and +biscuits to an odious creature who had dared to be insolent to him, +the thought of the scene that was bound to take place between master +and servant as soon as she should have left--all this put the little +demon of comedy that had his home in Donna Fedele's brain into such +extreme good-humour, that instead of refusing the coffee, or at least +the biscuits as her first impulse had prompted her to do, she partook +of both, that she might better enjoy her laugh at Don Tita's sad plight +and smile at her own part of it. + +After the coffee and biscuits, however, she ceased tormenting the +poor man. Donna Fedele, who was capable of fierce dislikes, felt only +indifference for the archpriest. She believed him to be rather weak +than deceitful, rather spoiled by an insufficient and unwholesome +education than base by nature, possessing cunning indeed, but cunning +of a coarse sort, that it was easy to fathom; and she recognised his +good qualities, his disinterestedness, his sincere desire to serve God. +When the servant had left the room she told him, very calmly, that +she had serious reasons for wishing to know the truth concerning the +accusations against young Alberti. Don Tita, who was quickly appeased, +at first barricaded himself behind the assurance that the secret +was another's; but he soon yielded to the temptation to gratify his +interlocutress, and admitted that it was the chaplain's secret, and +it would be terrible should the chaplain suspect that his secret was +not well guarded. "He is my master, you see! A future cardinal! One +centime's worth of cardinal already!" The archpriest often alluded to +Don Emanuele in this way, when he believed he was addressing one not +friendly disposed towards the chaplain. And this time, indeed, he was +not mistaken, for there was no one in the world more uncongenial to +Donna Fedele than the chaplain of Velo d'Astico. She asked at once to +speak with him, and Don Tita hastened away to fetch him. Donna Fedele +felt quite sure he would not be forthcoming, and, in fact, Don Tita +returned, after a long enough absence, with a hang-dog expression, +stammering that the chaplain was out. + +"He will come back," said Donna Fedele, rising. Yes, Don Emanuele would +Certainly come back, but hardly before noon. It was then half-past +nine. Donna Fedele could not wait two hours and a half, and so, without +explaining what she intended to do, she left the parsonage. She made +inquiries of a peasant woman seated in the door of a cottage close by +if she had seen Don Emanuele. "He has just gone past, Signora," the +woman answered. "He went into the church." + +Donna Fedele turned quickly, and was sure she saw the archpriest's +tunic whisk into the parsonage, he very probably having been watching +her movements from the doorway. Mounting the steps, she entered the +church and saw the chaplain kneeling in the first row of benches, in +front of the high altar, and praying fervently. Instinctively she +raised her hand to the holy-water font, but before her fingers had +touched the water she repented of her action and withdrew her hand, +for her feelings at that moment were all too unchristian. That man, +kneeling there with his face buried in his hands, filled her with +wrath. For him to play the saint, he, the hard-hearted, malevolent +creature! He was the secret enemy and denouncer of Don Aurelio, of that +she had no doubt, now that she had discovered him plotting maliciously +against Alberti, because he suspected him of heresy! Donna Fedele was +ready to swear to this also, although she really knew nothing about +it, and had come for the express purpose of discovering whether there +was any solid foundation for the accusations against Alberti. She sat +down on a bench in the shadow near the side door, and after a moment's +hesitation, sank upon her knees. The ancient traditions of her house +had made her an earnest believer. Her faith was simple; she did not +trouble herself with religious contentions and often declared, like +her father before her, she preferred the famous _foi de charbonnier_. +But she detested everything that seemed to her deceit, hypocrisy, or +perfidy, and at this moment a capricious impulse suggested to her to +pray against the prayers of the priest bending low before the high +altar. Kneeling down, she prayed, "O Lord! Listen to me, and not to +him"; but hardly had she placed her arms upon the bench before her +than she thought, "Perhaps he is not praying at all." He seemed to +her a Pharisee, and she did not realise that she was putting herself +in the position of the Pharisee of the parable and that, like him, +she deserved condemnation. Her suspicion, moreover, was unjust. Don +Emanuele was praying with all the strength of his soul, according to +his nature and education, in the only way possible to him. In his own +home no one had ever dared to ask the terrible grandfather for anything +in the usual, direct way. A priest, or a favourite steward, or an old +nurse had been made the go-between. Thus Don Emanuele prayed rather to +His servants than to the Infinite Grandfather Himself. At the present +moment he was praying to St. Louis Gonzaga as to a deified prince, +who, standing upon the throne in all the pomp of state, surrounded by +flowers and winged cherubims, should graciously bend his head in the +suppliant's direction and command the demon to depart. Thus prayed +poor Don Emanuele as best he might, horrified at the fierceness of +unexpected temptation. And it may be that the Almighty, to whom all +causes and all origins are known, judged him far less severely than +did Donna Fedele, who would have brought about a rare muddle had +her prayers for the confusion of the chaplain been answered. Soon +afterwards, hearing some one enter the church, Don Emanuele, feigning +to look around to see if his chair was empty, and having thereby +caught sight of Donna Fedele, sat down and began to read his breviary. +In his own way he heartily reciprocated Donna Fedele's dislike. +The outspoken frankness, which her soft voice only rendered more +irritating, offended him. Besides, he knew her to be the friend of Don +Aurelio and of young Alberti, two persons whom he fervently abhorred, +convinced, however, that it was their opinions and not themselves +that he detested. Conscious of an ill-defined but profound antagonism +between himself and Don Aurelio, and instinctively averse to him, he +was naturally and conscientiously inclined to attribute to him ideas +and opinions unworthy of any Catholic, to say nothing of a priest. The +irreprehensibleness both of his words and actions was another source +of irritation, for he believed Don Aurelio to be a hypocrite. As to +Alberti, what he had read in the newspapers, together with what had +been communicated to him from Milan, filled him with a sort of loathing +for the man. Donna Fedele, the friend of both, could not differ from +them to any great extent. + +Upon hearing her announced by the archpriest's servant the chaplain had +concluded that she had come to plead Don Aurelio's cause. Now, however, +he was aware that she had come about Alberti, that the archpriest's +servant had been eavesdropping and gossiping, and that that wretched +man had been true to himself and compromised him, the chaplain, +instead. As soon as he caught sight of Donna Fedele he guessed her +intentions, and as he read his breviary he was enveloping himself in an +imaginary armour, plated with steel and bristling with points. + +But as the placid lady showed no intention of raising the siege, he +knelt down once more, buried his face in his hands, and having pictured +to himself the moment of the attack, and decided upon his line of +defence, he withdrew to the sacristy. Immediately, and as he had +foreseen, Donna Fedele rose and followed him. Being unable to avoid +the interview, the chaplain preferred that it should take place in the +sacristy rather than at the parsonage or in the street. + +Donna Fedele inquired icily if she might speak with him, her eyes +veiled with haughty indifference. His equally cold answer was a silent +bow of assent. + +"I should prefer some other place," said she. He hesitated for an +instant, and then proposed that she should wait for him in the church. +They would go out together. He remained in the sacristy at least ten +minutes longer, and then made a genuflection before the high altar that +lasted two minutes more. + +"I wish you to give me a piece of reliable information," said +Donna Fedele, coming out of the church with him, and trembling with +impatience. + +"If I can," Don Emanuele answered gently but firmly--"if I can." + +The Signora found it difficult to check an angry outburst. + +"If you can, of course. But I know you can, and, being able to, you +must." + +"If I can," the chaplain repeated, still more gently and firmly--"if I +can. What is it?" + +Very red in the face, Donna Fedele observed that it was a delicate +matter, and one not fit to be handled in the public square. Hereupon +the priest pulled out his watch. + +"I have to go to Mea," said he, with that air of gravity, +impenetrability, and of compunction, and that _Dominus vobiscum_ tone +which were unbearable to Donna Fedele. Once more she fumed. + +"Very well. I will take you there. I have a carriage." + +"I am sorry, Signora. I must go on foot." + +It seemed to Donna Fedele that his short words, his knitted brow, and +downcast eyes spoke of a shrinking, prompted by modesty, of a fear of +giving scandal. She was on the point of calling him a fool to his face, +but checked herself. + +"I will walk also," said she. "The carriage can follow us." + +Don Emanuele continued to wriggle for a while, but said no more. Two +minutes ago Donna Fedele would not have believed herself capable +of walking half a kilometre, but now her nerves were braced with +sufficient energy to carry her all the way to Vicenza. At the Albergo +del Sole she picked up her driver, who, immediately upon his arrival at +Velo, had tied his horse to an iron railing, that he might be free to +begin an imprudent struggle with a wine that was stronger than himself. +As soon as they had crossed the square, the carriage following slowly +at a short distance, the conversation began. The priest walked as if +the soil burnt his feet, as if he were striving to tire out this woman +who was persecuting him. + +She told him openly and simply that, for particular reasons, she +was very fond of young Alberti. She knew that he was said to hold +unorthodox religious views. She hoped that this was not so, but, after +all, his religious opinions were not a matter that concerned her. But +now they were accusing him of immorality. This was a question upon +which she could give an opinion, and, before judging, she wished and +was determined to know the truth. The archpriest had told her that +the chaplain was the one who knew. At this point the chaplain made a +movement of acquiescence. + +"Then you do know?" Donna Fedele exclaimed, stopping short. Don +Emanuele stopped also. He hoped that, having had her answer, this +terrible woman would turn back. + +"I am sorry to say I do know," said he. "It is very serious. Immoral +dealings with a person who is not free. Unfortunately, this is true, +only too true!" + +"But what authority have you for saying this?" + +"Oh, my source of information is--is--is----" + +He appeared unable to find an epithet sufficiently superlative to +qualify the excellence of this source. + +"Well? And the source--the source----!" Donna Fedele exclaimed +impatiently. + +"The thing is a fact," the chaplain retorted gravely and positively. +"The thing is a fact, but I am not at liberty to reveal the source of +my knowledge." + +"At least tell me the name of this married woman." + +"I cannot." + +This, indeed, he was not able to do, and his words naturally were more +full of conviction than ever. But Donna Fedele's patience was at an end. + +"Do you know what I think?" said she. "That there is no source at all, +and that this is a pure invention!" + +"Think what you will," said the chaplain, who had grown very pale; and, +touching his hat in sign of salutation, he started off rapidly along +the road to Mea. + +"Don Emanuele!" called the Signora. The driver, who was half tipsy, and +who was standing near, his hand upon his horse's bridle, dropped the +bridle and flew past Donna Fedele, shouting as he ran: + +"Shall I catch him for you?" + +"Stop!" cried Donna Fedele, but the drunken man already had the +chaplain by the arm. + +"Stop, my lad!" he commanded. + +"No! Shame upon you!" cried Donna Fedele, coming up with the pair and +ordering the driver back to his horse in a tone so peremptory that he +obeyed at once. + +"Now go!" said she, turning to the bewildered chaplain with such a +disdainful air, with so much energy and such fire in her bearing that +she seemed almost to have recovered the brilliancy of her youth. "Go +on serving God by slandering your neighbour! Treat Alberti as you have +treated the priest of Lago! Triumph! I am going back to my house, which +you have called a 'den,' and I am better satisfied with myself and my +'den' than you will ever be with yourself and your palace when you are +a cardinal." And she turned her back upon him. + +"Siora!" (Signora) the driver declared tragically, placing his left +hand on his breast, and waving his right, in which he clasped the whip. +"If you say the word, priest or no priest, Gèsummaria! I will twist his +neck!" + +Where can Donna Fedele's little demon have been dozing? She did not +even smile, but ordered the carriage to turn round, and got in, +heedless of the driver's condition. She could not possibly have +walked another step. All her strength was deserting her in a tremor +that shook her from head to foot. The gentle wind of Val d'Astico, so +pure and fresh, that made the trees sway and the shadows wave upon +the white road, revived her somewhat. Having had a chance to relieve +her feelings, she now felt a sort of pity for the chaplain. But +presently she banished him from her mind, and fixed her thoughts on +the Montanina, on her old friend's last, melancholy desire of a union +between Leila and Alberti, of the inscrutability of these two young +people, and of what the future might have in store. + + + + + CHAPTER IV + SHEARS + + + I + +At Lago di Velo the news of the priest's impending departure had +greatly distressed the inhabitants. Many, indeed, had been displeased +that he had taken Carnesecca into his house, but after he had explained +his action from the altar, condemning the pedlar's doctrines, and yet +reminding them of the teachings of the gospel, no one had dared raise +his voice in censure. The news that Carnesecca was gone and that the +curate must leave spread simultaneously. + +The "Chief" of the countryside, as he to whom his fellow-peasants +freely entrust the handling of all matters of common interest is here +called, summoned a meeting of the heads of families, and spoke sensibly +and in a religious spirit. There was to be no rioting, no disorder, +no inciting of the priest to resist. A priest is a priest, and must +obey his superiors. It is to these superiors petition should be made. +But these were not the views of all. The women were already declaring +that the priest should not leave; that an appeal must be made, if +necessary, to the Pope. The Chief persuaded them to be calm, and await +the result of the first protests. He himself headed a deputation to +the archpriest. But the archpriest repulsed them, giving these honest +souls to understand that they were but fools, ignorant countrymen, and +bullies. They went home cowed, and the general dissatisfaction grew +rapidly. + +Don Aurelio, after halving in vain endeavoured privately to dissuade +his flock from any attempt to retain him, repeated his exhortations +from the altar in language that was both affectionate and firm. Several +of the summer visitors, people of position, also went to the archpriest +in the name of the inhabitants of Lago, begging him to intercede with +the _Curia_. For these the excellent Don Tita had pleasant words, +saying that he had had nothing to do with the much-to-be-regretted +measure, praising Don Aurelio, and promising to act, to speak, and to +write. His flock listened respectfully to Don Aurelio, without the +slightest intention of obeying him, and they listened to the report of +the second deputation without the slightest faith in the archpriest's +promises. The Chief called another meeting, and it was decided that +all those present should go in a body to the bishop and seek to obtain +at least a postponement. On hearing this Don Aurelio begged them first +to listen to something he had to tell them. This was on Friday, and +there were five days more before the date upon which he must resign +his benefice. The peasants intended going in to Vicenza to the bishop +on Sunday morning. But they promised to come to Don Aurelio the next +day, Saturday, at noon. On Friday evening Don Aurelio went down to the +Villino delle Rose, stopping at the Montanina on the way back. It was +nearly eight o'clock, and Giovanni having informed him that the family +were still at dinner, he would not allow them to be disturbed, and +waited in the drawing-room, examining a small collection of books near +the fireplace. They were all works on botany and gardening and belonged +to Signor Marcello. Don Aurelio knew little concerning Leila's taste +in literature, and would gladly have known more. To a direct question +he had asked some days before, the girl had said that her favourite +reading was the works of foreign poets. Don Aurelio, who knew little of +foreign poets, had not ventured to press her with questions, but later +Donna Fedele had confided to him that the two foreign poets preferred +by Leila were Shelley and Heine. He knew nothing of the first, but +the name of the second conveyed a suggestion of fatal scepticism. The +suspicion that Leila's soul contained some bitter dregs of scepticism +had been forced upon him by several remarks of hers which Donna Fedele +had repeated, wherein she had maintained that the acts of men, even +those apparently of a most generous nature, were prompted only by a +spirit of egotism, and her words had seemed to point indirectly to +Signor Marcello's action, in taking into, his house a living memory of +his dead son. + +Don Aurelio had been greatly incensed, and his more indulgent +friend had found it difficult to pacify him by placing before him +the surroundings amongst which Leila had dwelt and the painful +origin of her scepticism. Donna Fedele was less uneasy than he +concerning Massimo's future should this marriage take place. The +girl's eccentricities did not impress her so painfully as they did +Don Aurelio. She remembered that her own girlhood had been fanciful +and passionate also, and understood so much that to Don Aurelio was +incomprehensible. + +Having examined all the books, Don Aurelio caught sight of the maid +Teresina at a door at the further end of the room. She came silently +towards him, advancing on tiptoe, and he went forward to meet her. +Teresina had a secret message for Donna Fedele, who, having been less +well than usual after her raid upon the parsonage, had not appeared for +two days, whereas usually a day rarely passed now without a visit from +her. + +"If you see her," the woman whispered, "tell her things are worse!" + +Don Aurelio failing to understand, Teresina explained. After the affair +of the closed bedroom windows she had promised to tell Donna Fedele +everything that she considered important concerning Leila. + +"And now," said she, "she has got hold of the key of the Velo Park, +and, for the last two nights, after dark, she has been there all alone, +spending hours there. What she does in the Park I cannot say. She makes +me tell lies to the master, and say she is in bed with a headache when +he asks for her. Of course he always asks. Then I must go and wait for +her at the park gate, at eleven, and, to tell the truth, I am rather +afraid. But she won't listen to anything. Last night she was not in +until midnight. Please ask Donna Fedele what I am to do. What would you +yourself advise, Don Aurelio?" + +"First of all I must inform you that I shall not be able to tell Donna +Fedele anything," said the priest. + +Teresina was astonished and asked the reason of his refusal. + +"Never mind the reason," Don Aurelio answered, and added: "You have +done very wrong not to speak. You must do so, and at once." + +At that moment the dining-room door was thrown open and Signor Marcello +himself appeared, protesting against so much ceremony on the part of +his friend, who had refused to have his presence announced. Taking him +by the arm, he led him into the dining-room. + +Leila's greeting was so slight that Signor Marcello spoke to her. + +"You absent-minded puss!" said he. "Here is Don Aurelio." + +For some days past the priest had thought that her usual coldness +towards him had grown. Now he was sure of it. Massimo also seemed to +be in a gloomy mood. Don Aurelio told of his call at the Villino and +of Donna Fedele's condition, which was far from satisfactory, judging +from her look and some vague hints that had escaped her. Leila, who +had been won over by Signora Vayla's charm and affection, listened +attentively. + +"She is a woman who will break down entirely, if she does not have +something done for her health, and that at once. You are her friends, +and it is your duty to make her take care of herself." + +Signor Marcello, more impressed by the tone in which the words were +spoken than by the words themselves, asked what they could do, and what +the nature of Signora Vayla's disease really was. Don Aurelio replied +that he did not know, but that a suspicion had been aroused in his mind +by the very, unwillingness of the sufferer to call in a consulting +physician, and he believed a consultation to be absolutely necessary. + +A painful silence ensued, and then Don Aurelio rose to go. Massimo rose +with the intention of accompanying him as far as Sant' Ubaldo. The +curate turned to Leila and said impressively: + +"Signorina, Donna Fedele is very fond of you. I recommend her +particularly to your care. Hers is a life that is useful to many." + +Signor Marcello had risen also. + +"And so, Don Aurelio," he began, "you are going to have this meeting +to-morrow. Will you be able to bring us some good news afterwards?" + +"I cannot say, my friend," Don Aurelio replied in his fine Roman accent +and rich voice. "I cannot say whether it would be well to remain. But +the Lord tells me that obedience is good." + +There ensued a short struggle between them, for Signor Marcello would +have kissed the hand the priest sought to withdraw in dismay. Then they +embraced, and Don Aurelio felt tears upon the old man's face, and went +out murmuring "Poor fellow! Poor fellow!" + + * * * * * + +As they left, Don Aurelio told Massimo that had he not offered to +accompany him to Sant' Ubaldo, he himself would have asked him to do +so. The young man did not answer, and Don Aurelio, glancing at him, +saw that he appeared not to have heard. It was growing dark, and there +was no other sound in the air but the gentle voice of Riderella and +the deep one of Posina. All Nature seemed filled with a sense of the +mystery of that shining city whose myriad portals opened tremblingly, +one by one, in the splendid space above. Beyond the gate Don Aurelio +paused, and silently put his hand upon his friend's shoulder. In his +eyes there shone a new expression which Massimo failed to see, for he +was insensible to everything save his own feelings. Perhaps the poetry +of the evening increased his fever, but he felt the fever only, not +the poetry. Every pulse in him responded to a burning passion that +had grown during these last ten days, and had discovered itself in +divine moments of contact by a glance or other fleeting, involuntary +revelations in spite of the coldness and gloom with which he had to +contend. Things that Donna Fedele and Signor Marcello himself had said +seemed to breathe a vague encouragement of his hopes, and he could +not rid himself of the apparently inexplicable idea that he moved +among accomplices. He was bewildered by doubts, and his love for Leila +alone radiated the darkness wherein she, too, stood, a dark and half +incomprehensible figure. When Don Aurelio placed his hand upon his +shoulder the fact that during dinner Leila had neither looked at him +nor addressed him was weighing upon his heart. He took his friend's +gesture as a warning. + +"You have seen?" said he. "Do I give myself away so quickly?" + +Don Aurelio's astonished silence revealed to him that it had been only +at that moment that he had given himself away. + +"Then why," he exclaimed excitedly--"why did you put your hand on my +shoulder?" + +"Poor Massimo!" Don Aurelio answered smiling, and perceiving that now +he did really understand his friend. "And so this time it is serious?" + +"Dio! and you can laugh!" cried Alberti. + +"Why, yes, yes! Come, we will talk it over!" + +So this man, who was being unjustly driven from his humble pastorship, +and who saw the moment rapidly approaching when he would not know where +to lay his head, set himself to the task of comforting his friend, whom +the egotism of love had made oblivious to the other's sorrows. + +"You see, this is something that pleases me and will please others +as well," he said, as they passed into the deep shadow of the great +chestnuts. Massimo stopped short. + +"Signor Marcello also? Will it really please him? Really?" + +The shadows were so dark that Don Aurelio did not venture to answer, +for on the road itself, or within the Montanina grounds, some one might +easily overhear them without being seen. It was not until they had +reached the point where the road, issuing from the grove and turning to +the left, winds along the open hillside of the hollow of Lago, that Don +Aurelio revealed Signor Marcello's secret to his trembling friend. + +Massimo embraced him impetuously. + +"What is all this? What is all this?" the priest exclaimed, freeing +himself with difficulty. + +"But Signorina Leila?" Massimo panted. "What are Signorina Leila's +feelings?" + +"Ah! that I really cannot say!" Don Aurelio replied. "I really don't +know. I don't understand such matters, but it seems to me that you +yourself ought to know." + +"But you can see for yourself I don't know. I am completely in the +dark." + +Don Aurelio was at a loss to know what to say. He told Massimo that he +believed he was justified in hoping, for this was also Donna Fedele's +opinion. Massimo's joy flamed forth once more, and without pausing to +ask how and why Donna Fedele and Don Aurelio had come to discuss this, +he inquired what reasons, what signs had led Donna Fedele to form this +opinion. But as to that she alone could enlighten him. + +"I am going to her now!" the young man cried. But Don Aurelio would not +allow it. + +"No, my dear fellow, I want you with me now." + +Massimo demanded why, but the priest replied that he would tell him +when they reached home. A few steps farther on the young man again +stopped, begging and praying to be allowed to go on to Villino delle +Rose at once. It was then that Don Aurelio asked him sadly if there was +really no one else in all the world for him but Leila. His sorrow-laden +accents were as a fiery touch to Massimo. With both hands he seized his +friend's arm, and would not be appeased until Don Aurelio had embraced +him as a sign of pardon. They walked through Lago without speaking, but +beyond the village, on the road that winds upwards round the steep, +grassy hill on which stands the church of Sant' Ubaldo, Massimo opened +his heart to his friend. He told him of the impression he had received +from Leila's photograph while poor Andrea was still alive; he spoke of +his impression of her on the occasion of their first meeting, of the +strange and alluring changes in her mood, of the fascination of the +depths which he believed existed in her soul, of the dawn of passion in +himself, of his remorse, of Signor Marcello's inexplicable attitude, +of the growth of his own infatuation, of the one dream of his days +and nights--to turn his back upon the world and forget it, spending +his days with her in some mountain solitude, fulfilling the duties of +his profession, serving man, and practising religion with that quiet +freedom of soul which no despotism may overcome. + +Don Aurelio listened in silence. When they reached the church he opened +the side door and went in to pray. Massimo followed him, but did not +pray--he thought of Leila instead. That same morning, after having +treated him with almost contemptuous indifference, she had suddenly +sat down at the piano and played Schumann's "Aveu." He had followed +the music with keen delight, gazing upwards through the opening in the +gallery at a slender, dolomitic peak, swathed in the blue mists like +the tremulous outline of a dream. And now, within the little church, he +was trying to recall that indescribable moment, that sweet music, and +the mountain peak, cleaving the blue ether like a shaft of passion shot +skyward. + +Lúzia, hearing her master coming, had placed a light in the little room +on the ground floor. Don Aurelio took the lamp, and climbed the wooden +stairs, followed by Massimo. + +"First, we will talk of your affairs," said he, when he had placed the +lamp on the writing-table in the study. He motioned Massimo to a chair +opposite his own with a certain air of solemnity that startled the +young man. + +"You must answer a question I am going to ask you. And think well +before you answer." + +He looked steadily and in silence at his friend's astonished eyes, and +saw that they were questioning him. + +"It is this," said he. "Do you know whether there was ever any gossip +in Milan about yourself and a married woman? Think well." + +Massimo's brow cleared, and he smiled at the saintly simplicity of this +man, who had lived so far away from the world. + +"Certainly there may have been," he answered, "and not with one alone, +but with two or perhaps even three. You don't know what Milan is. But +did you believe the gossip? Did you doubt me?" + +Don Aurelio hastened to declare that he had not doubted, but +nevertheless he seemed perplexed. Then Massimo guessed there was +something serious, and cried anxiously: + +"Ah! now I understand! Signorina Leila believes in it." + +No, Don Aurelio did not think that the subject had been mentioned at +the Montanina. It had been discussed at the Villino, and though Donna +Fedele did not doubt him, Massimo himself must reassure her. Massimo +thought it would be better for Don Aurelio to undertake to do this. + +"I! my dear boy?" + +Don Aurelio thought for a moment, and then added in a low tone: + +"I am leaving to-night." + +Massimo started from his chair. + +"What! you are leaving? What do you mean?" + +His first thought was, "He is forsaking me at this time!" His second +was, "Why does he leave when there is still hope that he may be allowed +to remain? And why to-night? Where will he go?" And he burst into a +string of questions. + +Don Aurelio checked him at once, and placed his finger upon his lips. +Lúzia might hear! No one knew, and no one must know. There was no +hope that his superiors would allow him to remain at Lago, and there +was danger that the inhabitants might resort to violent measures to +prevent his departure. His duty, his positive and absolute duty, was to +leave at once, and secretly. He would start on foot during the night, +and take the train at Schio at five in the morning for Vicenza. Once +there he would go to the Bishop, acquit himself of the accusations he +believed had been lodged against him, and then ... place himself in the +hands of Divine Providence. He was sure the Bishop would help him to +find a living in some other diocese, where he could be even more out +of the world than he had been at Sant' Ubaldo. + +"Whatever happens," he said, "the Lord will not forsake me." And when +Massimo gave vent to his indignation against his supposed persecutors, +he checked him. "They think they are doing right. Can you look into +their hearts? Can you see into their consciences? We must pray for +them. Promise to do so." + +So saying, he held out his hand, which the young man seized with both +his own, and pressed to his lips. + +"And now you must help me," said Don Aurelio, rising. + +Together they sorted the books, dividing the ones to be returned to +Donna Fedele and to Signor Marcello from those that belonged to Don +Aurelio, which Massimo undertook to send wheresoever destiny might +determine. The priest could take with him only his breviary, a small +pocket Bible, and the "Imitation of Christ." As he handled and laid +aside the precious volumes, his hands trembled, but not a single word +of complaint escaped him. Only once, on handing a fine edition of the +"Confessions of St. Augustine" to Massimo, a book that reminded him of +many hours of reading and religious meditation in the shady solitudes +of the Velo Park, near the gentle murmur of running water, did he lack +strength to say, "This is for Signor Marcello." Massimo, catching a +glimpse of his face, guessed the truth, and instead of taking the book, +seized his hand, pressing it in sympathy. "For Signor Marcello!" Don +Aurelio quickly exclaimed, but he did so with an effort, as if his +wandering thoughts alone and not emotion had prevented his speaking +before. Not another moment of weakness did he have, and even had a +reproof ready for Massimo, who, towards the end, found the strain +too severe, and tried to make one last effort to shake his friend's +decision. They had scarcely finished when Lúzia appeared, on the +pretext of seeing that the shutters were closed. Don Aurelio bade her +go to bed. + +"Thank you, sir," said the woman gratefully, and withdrew. + +Don Aurelio thought for a moment. He must remunerate Lúzia in some way +beyond her monthly salary, which he had already put aside for her. +Donna Fedele had once given him an alarm-clock that was much too fine +for him. + +"It is handsome, is it not?" he said to Massimo. "Please sell it for me +and give the money to Lúzia." + +Ah! Massimo had not considered that the poor priest had perhaps not +enough in his pocket to support him for two days away from home. He +offered him fifty lire which he had by him. Don Aurelio himself had +three lire, and it was with a simplicity truly Franciscan that he +accepted twelve more for the journey to Vicenza, and, if necessary, +from Vicenza to Milan, where, if the worst came to the worst, he could +seek the hospitality which a brother priest had frequently offered to +him. Massimo could not make him accept more. + +"I should have asked you for those twelve lire any way," he said. Then, +with burning cheeks he showed Massimo the drawer in which he kept his +linen, a silent witness to his saintly poverty. He would write from +Vicenza saying where his few belongings were to be sent. As to the +books, the best plan would be to pack them in a case, and get Donna +Fedele to keep them for him. His few bits of furniture must also be +packed up. Then it came into his mind that Lúzia once said, "If you go +away, Don Aurelio, you will leave me the bed, will you not?" After all, +it would be better to leave her the bed and not sell the clock. Poor +Lúzia! She had never lost an opportunity of saying that her own bed was +a wretched, shaky thing, only fit to be burnt. + +"But, my dear friend!" Massimo cried, as if suddenly realising the +fact, "how can I remain if you go? Ah! why did I not think of this +before? I will go with you!" + +Don Aurelio embraced him tenderly. + +"Can you forgive me," the young man cried, "for not having thought of +this at once?" + +But Don Aurelio only pressed him closer without speaking. Presently he +thrust him gently from him, and kissed him on the brow. + +"I do not want you." + +"You do not want me? Why not? Well, I shall come even if I am not +wanted." + +The small petroleum lamp was threatening to go out. Don Aurelio +extinguished it. + +"We shall need it later," he said, "and I don't know whether there is +any more oil in the house. At any rate, I should not be able to find +it. Let us sit down." + +Dark masses of cloud in a moonless sky loomed dimly through one of the +windows. Don Aurelio, whom the darkness hid from Massimo, began talking +in a low voice and with the earnestness of a father. + +"It is I, dear lad, who will be with you. I have never told you, but +I have prayed so hard that God might give you what He is now giving +you, a strong and mighty love, rich and holy. You are not made for +celibacy, you are made for a union ideally human, ideally Christian, +ideally beautiful. You are made to raise up a strong and pure progeny. +The tradition of great families, heroically devoted to kings, is at an +end. We must found families that shall be heroically devoted to God, in +which devotion to God shall be handed down as a title of nobility, as +the just and traditional sentiment of nobility. You must found such a +family. It is my dream for you. It was the dream of----" + +Don Aurelio's voice whispered a name and then was silent. + +"Was that indeed so?" Massimo cried. + +"Yes, it was poor Benedetto's dream for you." + +The vision of a dear, suffering face, with great speaking eyes, flashed +across Massimo's brain amidst the darkness of the room. Benedetto had +dreamed of happiness in love for him! Once more he saw, for an instant, +the face upon the pillow, lifeless and waxen. Tears welled up in his +heart, but he forced them back. + +"You cannot go away," Don Aurelio went on. "You must see Donna +Fedele early to-morrow morning, and reassure her on the point we +have discussed. She does not doubt you, but as she is charged with a +mission, she wishes to receive this assurance from you. Then she will +speak to Signorina Leila at once, to-morrow; she will question her in +Signor Marcello's name, for, through me, he has requested her to do so. +To-morrow night you will know. Donna Fedele is sure of a favourable +answer. Then you yourself can speak." + +The table upon which Massimo was leaning, his hands pressed to his +temples, shook like a living thing. + +"If all goes well," Don Aurelio went on, "send me a telegram to +Vicenza, to be called for at the office.... Are you afraid?" he added, +for the table still vibrated. "Donna Fedele says the girl's is a +self-contained nature difficult to penetrate, but she does not believe +her to be bound to a memory; she thinks that she feels the need of +love, and of a future. She believes her also to be a very storehouse +of moral energies, a little embittered perhaps by her sad experience +of life; this Donna Fedele has to admit. But she is sure that certain +peculiarities will disappear when these energies are properly ordered +and guided by one in whom she has confidence." + +Massimo was silent. He, too, looked upon her as a closed paradise, +darkened by the shadow of a tree of knowledge of good and evil, which +was all too wide-spreading. When Don Aurelio asked him if he had really +been unable to discover any clear sign as to her feelings towards +himself, he answered, with a sigh: + +"I am inclined to think that something in me attracts her, while +something else repels her." + +"What is it that repels her?" + +"Benedetto." + +Don Aurelio was amazed. What did this girl know of Benedetto? Massimo +hastened to explain. Surely Don Aurelio remembered the conversation +at the dinner-table on that first day, and Signorina Leila's words +concerning Benedetto, that had offended him? Soon afterwards she had +brought up the subject again, speaking in the same hostile tone. She +believed him to have been a heretic. She had seemed disposed at the +time to listen to Massimo's defence of him, but later she had always +openly avoided the subject. + +"Well, well!" said Don Aurelio. "But if that is all----" + +He could not bring himself to believe that this girl could be so +influenced by religious questions as to be willing to sacrifice her +future for them. He realised at once that this scepticism, apparently +tinged with but slight esteem, had hurt Massimo. He felt for his +friend's hands amidst the darkness, and did not mention Leila again. + +"It is of Benedetto that I want to speak to you," he said. "I had a +letter from Elia Viterbo to-day. He would have written to you, but +no one in Rome knows where you are. They take for granted, however, +that I know. It was even rumoured in Rome that you had taken refuge at +Praglia. Fancy that!" + +Don Aurelio could not restrain a short laugh of comment. + +"A nice sort of Praglia indeed! He wishes me to tell you that your +friends have decided to accept your proposal concerning Benedetto's +poor remains, and they beg you to communicate with them. It seems that +as you live in the neighbourhood of Oria, they rely on you to help to +carry out their intentions." + +A few of Benedetto's disciples had proposed some months before to +erect a simple monument to his memory in Campo Verano, and had opened +a subscription for this purpose. Others among his followers had +disapproved of this proposal, both because they foresaw that the sum +subscribed would be but small, and because the proposal itself was not +in harmony with the Master's spirit. Much dissatisfaction had resulted, +and Massimo, who was opposed to the proposal, had sought a peaceful way +out of the difficulty, suggested by certain words of Benedetto's on +the occasion of a visit they had once paid together to Campo Verano. +Benedetto had said: "I shall surely end here, but I should like to +rest in the cemetery at Oria. However, that is a vain hope." Massimo +had proposed that the idea of a monument should be given up, and that +instead this touching desire should be carried out. A small piece of +ground, far removed from worldly strife, in the cemetery where Piero +Maironi's parents lay sleeping, and where his wife had wished to +rest--that would be the most fitting monument. And now it was decided +and Benedetto's wish was about to be fulfilled. + +"Will you come to Oria on that day?" Massimo asked. + +Don Aurelio could not promise this. He did not know whence or how far +he might be obliged to travel to reach Oria. But he would come only if +the ceremony were free from all unseemly religious manifestations. Then +he rose and relighted the lamp. + +"It is late," said he, "and you must return to the Montanina." He +opened a drawer of the writing-table and drew from it two letters, +which he asked Massimo to forward on the following day, after having +read them himself. One was for the archpriest, the other for the +village Chief. The dying lamp flickered and went out. + +"Oh!" Don Aurelio exclaimed. "And I wanted to write a few lines more!" + +Massimo struck a match. + +"You can do so," said he. + +Don Aurelio took a sheet of paper and wrote a few words, while Massimo +struck match after match. Presently the priest handed him the paper. +"That is for Signorina Leila when she has said 'yes.'" + +Massimo read the words, quivering with emotion. + + +"Allow a poor priest to bless your love in the name of that Infinite +Love, from whence may it derive eternal life. + + "DON AURELIO." + + + +At that moment they heard a knocking at the street door. Don Aurelio +released himself from Massimo, who had flung his arms about him, and +hurried to the window. It was Giovanni from the Montanina. Signor +Marcello had sent him to see if anything had happened to Signor Alberti. + +"No, no, he will come directly!" Don Aurelio replied. He turned from +the window and felt Massimo's arms clasping his knees. The young man +was kneeling at his feet. + +"Go, go!" he whispered, "and may God bless you!" Their parting was +perforce a sharp one. Massimo started to his feet, flung himself out +of the door and down the stairs, and soon disappeared into the night. +Don Aurelio withdrew to his bedroom, and, kneeling before the crucifix, +prayed with a keen sense of oppression, and almost as if struggling +to overcome an inward enemy, for the two priests of Velo and for all +his superiors, who wished to see him shamed, a wanderer, and hungry. +"Father, Father, they believe they are serving Thee. They believe they +are serving Thee! Forgive them, forgive them!" + +Signor Marcello, who was really anxious, imagined all sorts of reasons +for Massimo's absence, for at ten o'clock he had not returned, although +he could not but be aware that this was the curfew hour at the +Montanina. The old man even grew rather annoyed with Leila, because she +would not admit that anything had happened. + +"He is always in the clouds," said she. "He may have gone to the +Villino delle Rose under the impression that he was walking here." + +It seemed almost as if Massimo's liking for Donna Fedele were +distasteful to the girl. Signor Marcello noticed this, and the allusion +to the Villino displeased him. He asked her if she blamed Massimo for +liking to go there. She protested hotly. On the contrary! She said no +more, but in her heart she was blaming Donna Fedele for her partiality +towards Massimo, although she would have been unable to explain the +reason why. She dreaded further questions, and so withdrew. + +She went to her room determined not to give up her evening walk in the +park, and although it was already late, she meant to await the rising +of the moon there. The moon would rise at midnight that evening. Signor +Marcello would go to bed immediately on Alberti's return, and then she +could go downstairs. She did not light the lamp, but flung herself +into an easy-chair opposite the wide casement window that looked out +upon the upper slopes of the dark forest below the jagged crags of +Summano. Once more she turned over in her mind Signor Marcello's words. +Did she blame him? And so it would displease Signor Marcello should +she even so much as touch his Alberti with the slightest censure. It +was not the first time since his reproof to her on a certain day that +Signor Marcello had taken up the cudgels for Alberti and against her +on matters of trivial importance. And he was so determined to keep him +at the Montanina! Was it possible that the poor old man thought him so +devoted to the memory of his son that he might not even be tempted to +be disloyal to him? + +At this point there suddenly flashed across her mind the idea that +she was the centre of a comedy. What if all had been pre-arranged, +the invitation to Alberti sent through Don Aurelio, and his reception +at the Montanina? What if Donna Fedele's sudden change of attitude +and her daily visits were all directed towards the same secret end? +What if Signor Marcello had been talked over by the priest of Sant' +Ubaldo and the mistress of the Villino, and what if they had succeeded +in persuading him to accept their plan, who knew by means of what +arguments? In a flash all seemed clear to her. Signor Alberti, invited +by people who had themselves arranged the part she, Leila, was to play, +had come to make the acquaintance of and captivate Signor Trento's +heir. In her wrath she grasped the arms of her chair firmly and bit her +lip that she might not cry. And she did not cry, but the flood of tears +she held in check made her bosom heave and heave again. How maddening +it would be if the tears should fall! Contempt, contempt, only contempt! + +She lighted the lamp and rang the bell for Teresina, telling her to let +her know when Massimo returned. He was not back yet, the woman said. It +was with horror that she learned that the Signorina was determined to +go down to the park again that night. She begged and implored her not +to do so, and even threatened to speak, but a sharp scolding was the +only result, and she ended by consoling herself with the hope that this +would be the last time. The following morning she was to go to Schio. +From the drawer of her writing-desk Leila took a sealed letter that lay +there beside the one she had crushed in her hand on the evening of +Massimo's arrival. + +"The usual thing," she said, handing it to the maid. It contained money +that Leila was sending to her father. She was in the habit of sending +it through Teresina and from Schio, fearing that some indiscretion +on the part of the postal officials of Velo d'Astico might reveal +her secret to Signor Marcello. Teresina delighted in this mark of +confidence which enabled her to rise somewhat from devotion towards +friendship. To-night's act of confidence helped her to start by slow +degrees a small rivulet of talk that, like the little rivulets in +nature, bend and twist amidst obstacles, and always find a way to the +great stream for which they are bound. She began cautiously by alluding +to the Signorina's very scanty wardrobe, and by saying she spent too +little on her clothes. Even the master had noticed this and reproached +her, Teresina, for it. But what could she do? She could only mention +it to the Signorina, and so now she had done so. Not extravagance, +certainly not. Too much dress would be out of place at the Montanina; +but she might dress more elegantly. The master thought she had better +get Donna Fedele to help her to choose a good dressmaker. It was true +Donna Fedele got her clothes in Turin, but Teresina was quite sure she +went only to some fourth-rate house. Leila, who got her clothes in +Vicenza, inquired whether Teresina could recommend a good dressmaker in +Schio, whereupon the maid protested. Was there not Milan? And which one +of Milan's great houses would the all-wise Teresina recommend? At this +point the rivulet could find no outlet, and formed a little pool. The +pool filled rapidly, and the rivulet presently began to trickle out on +one side. + +"No, Signorina--I don't know anything about them," the woman at last +made answer. "But there are plenty of people who do." + +"Now, who would be likely to know?" + +This time the rivulet was forced to overflow. + +"I suppose Signor Alberti must have some ladies in his family." + +This speech formed a very waterfall! + +"Let Signor Alberti alone!" exclaimed Leila. + +It had been through no confidence on Donna Fedele's part, but rather +through a vague undercurrent in her remarks concerning the Signorina, +and through a new manner in Signor Marcello's speech and gesture that +the clever maid had recognised an unspoken support of the sentiments +she had early read in Massimo's expression. She did not know what to +make of the Signorina. At one moment she thought one thing, at the next +another, and now that she had thrown out the sounding-line, having +struck against something unresponsive, she tried again. + +"I, Signorina!" said she. "I let him alone? I can see well enough the +master is wrapped up in that young man. It is a beautiful sight, I tell +you!" + +Leila cut her short, and sent her to see if Massimo had returned. She +assured herself it was plain that Teresina would not have spoken as +she had done without having been prompted. Evidently she was in the +conspiracy also. "Ah, no, my friends! No, master fortune-hunter, no, +no, no!" She seized an old photograph of Signor Marcello that stood +upon the table and tore it across. Here was another bargainer like +Alberti, disloyal to a whole religion of memories in order that his +Montanina might not fall into the hands of her parents, or into other +similar hands. "No, Signor Marcello! Ah, no, all of you!" But where +was Teresina? Was it possible that Alberti had already returned, and +that the treacherous creature would not come to tell her in order to +prevent her going to the park? She stepped into the corridor in a state +of great irritation. It was nearly half-past eleven! She listened and +heard Teresina's step in the corridor below. + +"Well?" She flung the question at her from above. + +"Now, Signorina," the other answered softly. "This very minute." + + * * * * * + +A quarter of an hour later, feeling sure that Signor Marcello and +Alberti had gone to their rooms, Leila left the villa and the garden +and started towards the wooden gate that opens into the park from the +high-road just below the little church of Santa Maria ad Montes. With +fierce contempt in her heart for this man, who had come from Milan +with a fine plan for a rich marriage ready in his pocket, she said to +herself that, had her father and mother been upright people, she would +have taken refuge with one or other of them at this time. But she could +not live in the same house with her father's mistress, nor could she +allow her mother to support her on the old Austrian's money. A thought +came to her that had first attracted her when she was but fourteen, and +that had persistently haunted her ever since except during the time of +Andrea's courtship--the thought of escaping from the world. Yet this +morbid idea had never assumed the intensity of a purpose. Even on the +evening when she had closed the windows of her room, which was full of +lilies and tuberoses, she had not meant to do more than indulge her +delight in recklessly facing danger and risk. As a matter of fact, on +waking the next morning, with her limbs like lead, her brow tightly +clasped as by a band of iron, her nostrils, her mouth, and her throat +saturated with the acrid perfume, her first impulse had been to open +the window. Neither was she moved by any tragic purpose in visiting +the park to-night, although there was a pond in it that in some places +was more than two metres deep. She was satisfied with the knowledge +that there was a place of refuge for her should she wish to seek it. +Nevertheless, her hand trembled a little as she pushed open the small +gate and closed it behind her again. She advanced across the open space +to where giant trees guard the entrance to the kingdom of Silence. She +had trembled lest her step, light as it was, should be heard as she +came over the gravel of the garden paths and across the road. Now that +she was moving silently and like a spirit across the grass all sense +of fear left her, and that all-silent darkness seemed to offer her +protection. She listened to the murmur of streams in secret dells, or +in the mountains' open ravines; her foot sank often into soft, marshy +ground. There was a cool, still air, smelling of dampness, in the shady +hollows, but warm upon the sloping banks, and all alive with a wild +fragrance. She flung herself upon her back on one of these slopes, +as if overcome by all this warm sweetness. Night was indeed a tender +mother to all things, and their appealing influence filled Leila with +a sense of sweet fellowship with Nature. She lay without thinking, +revelling in vague yearnings, as at times in her own bed, when the +petals of flowers rained upon her hair and pillow. The voluptuous +spirit of the warm, fragrant earth took possession of her, and softened +the pride that held her back from love. She tore up a handful of grass +and bit it. + +Presently she rose, though loth to leave the fragrant spot, and +wandered towards the long, dark avenue of horn-beams, whose entrance +glimmered faintly on her right. On her left the shadows were unbroken, +and rang with the noise of falling water. She turned this way, knowing +of a path that led from the avenue to some acacia-trees by the rivulet, +the same rivulet that splashes and sings farther on. She found the +path and paused among the acacias on the bank of the stream, which she +could hear but not see. Instinctively she began to undress herself, +at the invitation of that soft voice, then, awaking to a sense of +her actions, she dipped her hand in the water. It was cold. All the +better; it would do her the more good. And she went on undressing, +never heeding where she flung her garments, removing them all except +the last. She put her foot into the running water and shivered. She +tested the bottom--pebbles beneath a couple of feet of water. She put +her other foot in and, her heart gripped by the chill, let herself sink +slowly into the water with closed eyes and parted lips, uttering little +sighs the while. The water covered her with icy caresses and rippled +gently about her neck and heaving bosom. Other sweet voices sounded in +the air. Leila opened her eyes and raised herself in amazement. She +seemed clothed in light, which shone upon the trembling waters and +wrapped the banks and her clothes lying beneath the swaying, whispering +trees in a silver radiance. It was the rising of the moon, a mysterious +awakening of all things in the dead of night. Flowers were raining from +the acacias upon the stream and its banks. The girl pressed her folded +arms against her breast, and, under the gathering moonlight, amidst the +odours of the woods and the rain of flowers, some indefinable emotion +filled her heart with welling tears, which fell hot and silent into the +quivering water. + +Presently she climbed the bank, dressed herself as best she could, and +then, with throbbing heart, with never a glance at the moon shining +amongst billowing clouds upon the brow of Monte Paù, fled back along +the same path and passed out at the wooden gate, feeling like a +castaway who suddenly finds himself safe. Teresina, who was waiting for +her beneath the little porch sheltering the entrance to the garden, and +who had been trembling with a thousand fears, received her with the +same sense of relief. + +"Even you, Signorina, were frightened this time!" she said, seeing +Leila shudder, and being unaware of the dripping under-garment she wore. + +"No, no!" said Leila; "but I shall not go there again." + + + II + +At half-past seven the next morning Massimo was already at the Villino +delle Rose. He knew that Donna Fedele always rose at six, but this +morning she was still in bed, and the maid confided to him that her +mistress must be feeling very unwell indeed thus to break away from +her habit of early rising. Donna Fedele could bear much physical pain, +and hardly ever mentioned her sufferings, which were such as to alarm +any one who looked upon death less fearlessly than she did. But there +were times when she was unable to lead her usual life, which was one +of wonderful activity, taken up with the care of her house and her +roses, visits to the sick and the poor, correspondence, reading, and a +few lessons that she gave. She was training the gate-keeper's little +girl in composition and arithmetic, and teaching French to the Arsiero +doctor's daughter; for, notwithstanding her ill-health, she never +refused her aid to those who sought it. + +She heard Massimo talking with the maid in the garden, and ringing +her bell, sent him word to wait a quarter of an hour for her, if his +patience would allow. Massimo understood the meaning she had intended +to convey by this phrase, "if his patience would allow," and she +entered the drawing-room presently with a smile that bore out the +playful allusion. She was pale, and there were black circles under her +big eyes, but she was in good spirits, and nothing about her suggested +suffering. Massimo began by excusing himself for having come at that +hour, but she checked him at once, saying, "Never mind that; never +mind!" Then the smile faded from her lips. + +"And so he is gone?" she added. + +Massimo replied that he believed so. + +"Ah! then you were not with him when he started?" + +"It was not possible for me to be." + +Donna Fedele said nothing, but her silence and her face seemed to say, +"It ought to have been possible." + +"I wished to go away with him," said he, "but he would not hear of it. +I am here this morning at his wish." + +"I can quite understand that," Donna Fedele replied, somewhat coldly. +She would have liked Massimo to have stayed with Don Aurelio at any +cost up to the last. But, not knowing the circumstances, she refrained +from passing judgment on his action. She questioned him as to what the +fugitive had said and done during those last hours, and while Massimo +was talking kept repeating, "Poor Don Aurelio! Poor Don Aurelio!" +Massimo told her all he could. + +"Now I hope they are satisfied," she said bitterly, rising from her +seat. She looked to see that the drawing-room doors were all closed, +and then returned to Massimo, saying: "I trust no one. We are living +in the realm of spies, to the greater honour and glory of honesty and +Christian charity!" + +Then she immediately broached the delicate subject, excusing herself +for so doing. More tactful than Don Aurelio, she began by asking the +young man if she were mistaken in supposing that he was strongly +attracted by Signorina Leila, and upon his answer, she told him that +for the sake of the friendship between his mother and herself, and also +for his own sake after what Don Aurelio had told her about him, she +would gladly help him. + +"As far as Signor Marcello is concerned, I hardly think you will need +my help," she said. "He sees that it would not be fair to the girl that +she should sacrifice her whole life, and besides, he is very, attached +to you. But how about Leila herself? I believe she cares for you, but +she is struggling with herself, partly, perhaps, because she wishes +to remain true to a memory, partly, perhaps, not to offend Signor +Marcello----" + +Here Donna Fedele dropped her voice and continued, smiling: + +"Perhaps because of some fancy, for you must see that your Leila is +just a little strange." + +Massimo smiled also. + +"Do you think so?" said he. + +"Oh, yes, indeed!" Donna Fedele exclaimed, laughing outright. "And it +is partly for that reason you have fallen in love with her! I have +done the same, you see. She attracts me, being made much in the same +mould as myself--at least, according to what many people say of me, +the Velo priests among others, and the goldsmith at Arsiero, to whom +my gate-keeper took a gold coin last night, believing it to be false +because it did not ring true. What do you think the goldsmith said to +him? 'It is just like your mistress--it is good, but slightly cracked!' +They think my head is wrong, mainly because I am always going about +without a hat, but also because I keep a pluviometer and leave my +windows open at night. Even Carnesecca, who has left the 'den' at last, +told me that if the world called me mad, I might comfort myself with +the thought that it called him mad too! And now will you yourself set +me down as mad if I ask you a very bold question, my dear Alberti?" + +"I shall only laugh," the young man replied, "and my worldly friends in +Milan would laugh even more heartily." + +Donna Fedele sat looking at him affectionately for a time, speaking to +him with her eyes. + +"In that case," said she at last, "I will see Leila this very day, and +try to find out how matters stand. Will that suit you?" + +Massimo was profuse in his thanks, but his restless manner showed her +that he hoped she would start for the Montanina at once. + +"I have ordered the carriage at half-past nine," she said, smiling. "Is +that early enough? And see what faith I am placing in the answer you +gave me a moment since, or rather, what faith I have in you yourself." + +Massimo took her hand and raised it to his lips. She accepted his +homage laughingly, and then rose. She was expecting a pupil. Massimo +might come back for news about two o'clock. That was too late? Then he +might come to luncheon. She would tell them at the Montanina that she +had invited him. Meanwhile he could stay or go, as he pleased. If he +wished to read, the Villino had a small library. If he did not wish to +remain, he had four hours before him for a walk. + +"Take a good long walk, one of those walks that refresh the soul." + +Having given this piece of advice with her air of gentle raillery, she +held out her hand to her young friend. He begged her to have patience +with him a moment longer. Did she think the rumour of his supposed +intrigue in Milan had reached the Signorina's ears? Donna Fedele had +no reason to believe she had heard it. But who had spread this story? +Donna Fedele, by a virtuous effort, remained silent concerning the +Velo priests, and simply alluded to Leila's mother, without further +explanation, nor did Massimo venture to press her with questions. +Before leaving her, however, he wished her to know of Leila's antipathy +towards his Master--Benedetto. But she cut his explanation short, +demanding how that could affect matters. Ignorant alike of Modernism +and of Anti-modernism, content to believe and to live according to +the traditions of her family, Donna Fedele, knowing that both Leila +and Massimo were not irreligious, could not conceive of any religious +dissension between them. Yet certain words Leila had uttered had given +her the impression that the girl's faith sprang from habit rather +than from real conviction. It was just for this reason that she would +be glad to see her married to one who, like Alberti, was strong in +religious belief. + +"How can that matter?" she said. "Love will change all that easily +enough. Besides, I do not suppose that you expect me also, simply +because I am very fond of you, to become an enthusiastic follower of +your Master. It seems to me that we need no other Master than the One +who has guided us now for some nineteen hundred years." + +Massimo would have liked to reply to this, but Donna Fedele dismissed +him, saying: "Go now, go!" with her usual sweet smile, wherein there +was just a suspicion of irony. + +Massimo took the road to the upper Val d'Astico, that led farthest +away from the Montanina. Passing the village of Barcarola, he left the +Pedescala bridge on his right, and went down through the fields to the +banks of the Astico, where for some time he watched the green water +flowing rapidly by, listening to its even murmur and to the beating of +his own heart. The sky was veiled with grey; the mountains that guard +the stream on either side, enveloped in heavy mists, looked like silent +cloaked mourners. + + * * * * * + +Shortly after nine o'clock Donna Fedele's unpretentious carriage was +slowly toiling upwards towards the Montanina. To her great surprise, +on turning in the direction of the candelabrum chestnut, she heard +the querulous tinkling of the bell of Santa Maria ad Montes. It was +always Don Aurelio who said Mass there, from time to time, on certain +festivals. Was it possible he had not started? Leaving her carriage +at the chestnut-tree, she went up to the little church on foot, and +entered. It was empty, but some one was moving in the sacristy. +On going to see who it was, she found herself face to face with +Don Emanuele. She could not check an exclamation of surprise, and +turned quickly away, while the chaplain sank on his knees upon the +prayer-stool, to prepare himself for the Mass. Presently the little +altar-boy told her that the Mass would be for the repose of the soul of +Signora Trento, this being the anniversary of her death. The priest's +preparation lasted a long time, and twice again the querulous little +bell tinkled. Donna Fedele, seated near the small stone holy-water +font with its frieze of "alpine-stars," reflected, not without some +pity, how difficult it would be for the poor chaplain to recover from +his unpleasant surprise. When she thought how furious he had made her, +she experienced a sense of remorse and humility. Amongst the leaves of +the mystic vine adorning the choir, she noticed the words of Christ: +"_Ego sum vitis, vos palmites_." The little demon of sarcasm that dwelt +in her brain took his revenge by suggesting to her that perhaps Don +Emanuele was an unfruitful tendril, but she despised herself for such +thoughts as these, coming to her in church, even while contemplating +the Lord's vine. "At least," she told herself, "the chaplain would +be a green tendril, while I am but a withered one." Signor Marcello +came in, and not having expected her to be there, thanked her by a +glance, believing she had come for the anniversary. Leila came in +behind him. Don Emanuele said Mass with all the gravity of an ascetic +and a prelate. Of the three participants Signor Marcello showed the +most devotion, and having put on his eye-glasses, stood reading the +"Imitation of Christ" from the beginning of Mass to the end, without +once sitting down. Leila was not praying, and her glance often wandered +through the little side-door to the green landscape of the Velo Park +and the bright strip of field between the chestnuts, that she had +crossed in the night. Donna Fedele glanced often and sadly at Signor +Marcello, who seemed to her to have grown even thinner, while his +face was worse than pale, it was yellow. She also studied Leila, who +looked dissatisfied and sullen. She could not help thinking of her +coming interview with this girl, and although she reproached herself +for her distraction, of poor Alberti's grief should Leila's answer be +a refusal, and of the mixed feelings of regret and satisfaction that +such an answer would bring to Signor Marcello. For Don Aurelio had told +her that Signor Marcello would certainly rejoice in her loyalty should +she refuse, but in the event of her consenting he would feel that in +Massimo Alberti he was regaining some part of his son, and that the +danger of Leila's falling again into her parents' power, or forming +some unfortunate union later on, would be definitely removed. The soft, +persistent murmur of the little fountain in the small vestibule behind +her soothed her melancholy; all this uncertainty would soon come to an +end, the interview would be a thing of the past, and its consequences, +whatever they might be, would pass away also; perhaps she herself +would soon be no more. She gave no further thought to anything but the +eternal words the priest was uttering. The quarter of an hour's drive +had sufficed to increase her suffering. During the Communion she was +obliged to sit down, and she felt that she looked like a dead woman. +The lad who was serving the Mass stared at her as he stood waiting with +the two flasks for the priest to present the chalice, and she smiled +inwardly on perceiving his look of amazement. When Mass was over, her +indomitable will helped her to rise and pass out by the side-door, +followed by Leila, while Signor Marcello remained behind a moment +longer. His profuse thanks embarrassed Donna Fedele, who, however, +concluded it would be wiser to accept them in silence. + +"I came partly because I wanted a walk with Leila," said she. "And, as +I am here I should also like to ask you for some advice." + +He seemed somewhat surprised. + +"Certainly," he answered, "any advice I can give." + +Whenever these two talked together there was a tone of respectful +affection in their voices; her voice was almost timidly affectionate. +While they were on the way up to the Villa, the little altar-boy came +to say that Don Emanuele could not come to take coffee, as he had an +engagement. + +"I am the obstacle," thought Donna Fedele. + +"And what do you think of the news about Don Aurelio?" said she. + +Signor Marcello's frame was shaken by silent indignation, the lines on +his brow deepened, and his clear eyes flashed angrily. + +Donna Fedele thought he must have heard the news from Massimo. No, +Alberti had not told him on his return from Lago, and he had gone out +very early that morning. Don Emanuele had brought the news. And how had +he brought it! He had simply come without sending any word, and Signor +Marcello to his intense astonishment had found the chaplain in the +sacristy, where he had expected to find Don Aurelio. Don Emanuele had +then said that the archpriest had ordered him to come as a substitute +for Don Aurelio. It had almost required a corkscrew to drag from him +the information that Don Aurelio had requested the archpriest to take +his place, that Don Aurelio was not ill, and that he had gone away, +leaving a letter in which he said that he recognised that it was his +duty to go. Donna Fedele's fine brow became overcast also, and a flash +of scorn lit up her great dark eyes. Leila knew, too, of what had +happened, for Signor Marcello had returned to the villa to tell her. +She now observed coldly that Don Aurelio had done quite right, and said +no more. A fleeting cloud passed over Donna Fedele's pale face. She +controlled herself, however, and taking the girl's arm, told her that +after a short talk with Signor Marcello, she was going to ask her to +show her that special corner of the Velo Park which she, Leila, had +often spoken of as being so beautiful. Leila consented coldly. + +Signor Marcello asked whether Donna Fedele would prefer his study or a +garden-seat. She chose the study, and smiled, as if to tell him that +the advice she was seeking was of a delicate and personal nature. Once +there her face assumed a sweet seriousness which ennobled it with the +dignified beauty which is nearer to immortality than to youth, and +is the inheritance of years spent in doing good and guided by a pure +conscience. + +"My dear friend," said she, addressing him thus for the first time +in her life, "if one to whom you were bound by ties of respect and +affection should charge you with a mission through a third person, +instructing you also through this person not to speak to him directly +concerning it, and you, having performed the mission, should find +it no longer possible to communicate with your friend through the +intermediary, would you appeal to him in spite of his first injunction, +or what would you do?" + +While she was speaking very slowly and deliberately, Signor Marcello's +eyes brightened with a sad smile, for he recognised the instructions he +had given Don Aurelio. + +"I was in the wrong," said he. "I suppose this walk----" + +She nodded assent, and he went on: + +"We must talk the matter over together. Forgive me!" + +Donna Fedele protested warmly. His desire for secrecy was quite +natural. But Signor Marcello still persisted. + +"No, no! Forgive me!" + +There were no tears in her eyes, only her lids trembled slightly. It +was the first return, after long years, to an intimacy which, though it +had never overstepped the bounds of duty, was conscious, nevertheless, +of the sweet secret that each cherished. With the passing of time +the sweet secret had faded. Only its faint perfume remained, hardly +perceptible in his soul, but stronger in hers. But now, slowly but +irresistibly, the wave of memory was rolling backwards, bringing great +sweetness to Donna Fedele's heart and great sadness to Signor Marcello, +upon whose mind it was being borne that his was the fault that her +youth had faded without marriage, without maternity, and for one long +moment neither of them spoke. + +Donna Fedele was the first to break the silence. + +"I so thoroughly understand your feeling in this matter," said she. + +Signor Marcello took her hand and pressed it, and she added softly: + +"My poor friend!" + +Still he was silent, and still he pressed her hand. But presently he +spoke with a fair amount of composure. He told her how the thought of +this marriage had first come to him. He had made Leila his heir, and on +the very night of Alberti's arrival, in the course of conversation, he +had sought to give her an inkling of this by speaking of the Montanina, +letting her see that the idea that this Montanina his dear ones had so +loved should pass into the hands of strangers would be most painful +to him. She had thwarted him. Knowing her character, he could only +suppose that pride had prompted this resistance to what might seem a +reward for the loyalty of her affection. Or perhaps she had acted thus +because she wished to be free to dispose of herself one day. All this +had deeply grieved him, and in recalling talks he had had in days gone +by with his poor wife, he had assured himself that the girl, who was +passionate by nature, would certainly end by marrying, and that it +would be wise for him to hasten this event that he might influence her +choice. The accident that had brought his son's dearest friend to the +Montanina had seemed to him truly providential, and immediately, indeed +the very next morning, he had taken Don Aurelio into his confidence. + +"My first plan was," he concluded, "that you should ascertain Leila's +feelings. But now, I do not know why, I have grown very impatient. +And so please tell her straight out that should she consent to marry +Alberti, I should die happy." + +"Do not speak of dying, dear friend!" + +"We will not discuss that," replied the old man shortly. + +She had wanted to question him about his health, but she no longer +dared to do so. She did venture, however, to point out to him that, +should Leila refuse to accept his legacy, the Montanina must go into +other hands, notwithstanding the marriage. He replied that as soon as +Leila and Alberti became engaged he would alter his will and leave the +villa to Alberti. + +"Let us hope that all may end well," said Donna Fedele, rising and +smiling her own smile again. "Shall I find you here after my talk with +Leila?" + +"Yes, you will find me here. I would wager now you are thinking, 'How +that old man clings to his home! How can he expect to hold it, in a +way, even after----'" + +Donna Fedele checked him. "Don't, don't! Be quiet! Be quiet!" + +She left the room. Signor Marcello took a Bible which always lay on his +table, and read the eighteenth chapter of the First Book of Kings, the +chapter of the "knitting together" of the souls of Jonathan and David. +As a child he had wept over the fate of the noble prince Jonathan, who +had been his favourite hero. Once more he read that vivid, dramatic +story, and reflected that Jonathan, falling in Mount Gilboa, must have +rejoiced in the thought that henceforth his friend would sit upon the +throne to which he himself had been born. + + * * * * * + +In the drawing-room Donna Fedele found Leila waiting, reclining in an +easy-chair, her parasol in her hand. + +"Are we really going?" said she. + +Donna Fedele seemed to hear in that question all the sarcasm of one who +has discovered what others are seeking to hide, and would fain publish +the discovery. Leila's voice and her eyes both said: "This walk is +a pretext. You are here to talk to me. You have just consulted Papa +on this same subject, and perhaps now the talk with me is no longer +necessary." + +"Of course. Why do you ask?" + +"Because," said Leila, rising from her chair, but lingering near it, +"it seems to me you cannot really want a walk. If you could only see +how pale you are! Look in the glass. If you have something to tell me, +you can say it here." + +Her tone, not her language, was rude. + +"Yes, dear," Donna Fedele answered with a note of icy command, "I have +something to tell you, but not here." + +Leila started without a word. + +"On the present occasion I have Signor Marcello's authority to speak +to you," Donna Fedele added very gently, tempering the pressure of her +command. Leila now had no further doubt concerning the existence of a +plot in which her friend had a part. Massimo's absence, Donna Fedele's +determination to speak to her in a secluded spot, confirmed her +suspicion that Donna Fedele was charged with a mission from Massimo, +and was acting with Signor Marcello's consent, a consent which she had +perhaps wrested from him but a moment since. She resented all this +ardour for the sake of Massimo, and the moral force that she imagined +to have been used against Signor Marcello. Frowning and in silence she +went down the garden path in front of her companion, who could not +keep up with her, and was obliged to ask her to go more slowly. Leila +pointed to a garden-seat beneath the walnuts, near the Riderella. Would +not that do? To her blunt question Donna Fedele replied with equal +bluntness: + +"No, dear." + +Leila said no more. The two women entered the park by the wooden gate. + +"How beautiful!" said Donna Fedele. + +Leila pouted contemptuously. How could she say "How beautiful!" when +they had only just passed the gate? The view was just the same from the +high-road. After all, Donna Fedele might be very clever, but she had +little feeling for Nature. + +Leila walked on, and following a rough grass track, turned to the +right between the chestnuts and a small stream that flowed through the +narrow valley. A little farther on the track lost itself in a flowery +meadow-land between high, shady banks. Donna Fedele sat down here in +the shade of the walnuts and rested a little, gazing thoughtfully into +the dark waters. Presently she turned to Leila, who was still standing, +and tracing figures in the grass with the point of her parasol, saying +gently: + +"Do you know what Signor Marcello spoke to me about?" + +"Perhaps I do," said Leila, still tracing. + +"That is good. What was it?" + +"I shall not say." + +"I can quite understand your not wishing to," said Donna Fedele +indulgently. "It is a very delicate and personal question. All the +same, it is much better to discuss it. In any case, you have expressed +your wishes and no one can coerce you." + +"My wishes?" Leila cried with a start. "My wishes?" + +"Well, did you not tell Signor Marcello you would never consent to be +his heir?" + +Leila's hostile and unwilling manner suddenly changed, and she stopped +tracing with the point of her parasol. + +"We discussed that and other matters as well. I want to talk to you +about that now. Sit down, and don't make me twist my neck." + +"It will be of no use," the girl said impatiently. + +"Perhaps not, but nevertheless you must listen to me. Why are you +determined to make this poor old man so unhappy?" + +"Because I am willing to sacrifice everything to him except my +self-respect." + +Donna Fedele raised her voice somewhat and smiled, to show that she did +not take this rude remark seriously. + +"Do you think I would advise anything that could wound your +self-respect?" + +Leila answered sharply, and with downcast eyes: + +"You see things in one light, and I in another." + +Then she cast a glance at Donna Fedele, as if to say, "It is your turn +now. What answer have you to that?" + +Donna Fedele made no answer at all. She waited a moment and then played +her second card. + +"And when Signor Marcello is gone, what will become of his son's +affianced bride?" + +"Perhaps she herself may be gone too," the girl retorted promptly. + +Donna Fedele was unmoved. "Perhaps," said she. "But if she should still +be here?" + +Leila played among the grasses with her parasol for an instant, and +then said: + +"It will be soon enough to think of that then." + +"Child, child!" + +"No, woman!" cried Leila. "And I thought you would understand me +better!" + +As she spoke her eyes filled with tears, and Donna Fedele longed to +tell her that she did indeed understand her only too well, but checked +herself in order not to spoil her plan of action. + +"Think of your future, dear," she said gently. + +"I cannot decide my future," Leila answered calmly. + +Then Donna Fedele took the third step. + +"Don't you see that all this is a source of anxiety to Signor Marcello?" + +Silence. + +"It is such a great anxiety to him," Donna Fedele went on, "that if he +could only see you settled, and that at once, he would be quite happy." + +The word "settled" was a mistake. Leila felt hot with resentment and +cold at the same moment. + +"Ah!" she cried. "And so he wishes to see me settled. That is just what +I thought. And the means by which I am to be settled, by a strange +coincidence, happens to be ready to hand!" + +The point of the sunshade jabbed the grass fiercely. + +Donna Fedele felt very angry. She raised her eyebrows and gazed +severely and narrowly at her companion, who was still stabbing the +ground restlessly. + +"What do you mean by that?" + +Leila in her turn, threw her a nervous glance, and then brought her +attention back again to the parasol. + +"Oh, you know well enough!" said she. "A strange coincidence has +provided the means of settling me. By a strange coincidence also, some +one who should have gone to Lago came to the Montanina. By another +strange coincidence this some one is a young man, unmarried, and +seeking to get settled too. He is fairly clever at speculating, and +knows how to play his cards. A series of strange coincidences--nothing +more!" + +Donna Fedele's eyebrows went up higher than ever, and her voice, which +had been trembling, now sounded icy. + +"Do you know that you are also insulting me?" + +The point of the parasol stopped tracing. + +"No, I am not insulting you. I am only insulting him--that man who came +so accidentally. You, perhaps, really believe he came by chance." + +"Poor Leila!" sighed Donna Fedele, without anger and with deep pity. + +"Oh, no, no!" said Leila softly. "It is not 'poor Leila!' at all." + +After this both remained silent for a time, and sat gazing into the +water that was flowing onwards with a mournful lament. At last Donna +Fedele repeated: + +"Yes. Poor Leila! And you do not know why I say so. It is because I can +read your heart." + +"You cannot read my heart." + +Donna Fedele felt that this denial was an admission. She waited a +moment longer, and then, with an air of determination, asked the girl +if she had heard any slander concerning Alberti. + +"What do you think I could have heard?" she answered scornfully. "And +in any case do you suppose I should care?" + +This time Donna Fedele could not contain herself. + +"Oh, but you do care! How can you deny it in the face of your anger +which has been aroused simply because you believe the stupid calumny +that he is on the look-out for a fortune?" And the poor invalid rose, +not without difficulty. + +"That concerns me!" Leila exclaimed, forgetting for an instant to help +her friend. She quickly begged her pardon, however, and offered to +fetch the little carriage that had gone up to the Montanina stables. +Donna Fedele made an effort to do without it, but when she had taken +a few steps she was obliged to admit, with her brave smile, that she +could not manage to walk. She must see Signor Marcello, and so Leila +went on to send her carriage for her. + + * * * * * + +Signor Marcello came anxiously to the door of his study to meet Donna +Fedele. She entered the room quietly, saying the conversation had not +been satisfactory, but she believed that, by careful management, they +might still succeed. Signor Marcello immediately inquired, with a +gentle and pathetic expectancy, if Leila's old love still burned too +warmly in her heart. Donna Fedele held out her hand to him, but did not +answer. He held it without pressing it, for he feared a disappointing +answer. Silence alone spoke between them. + +"Then, if that is so----" said he at last. + +Donna Fedele told him that Leila's attitude in the drawing-room had +indicated that she was not only antagonistic, but also overwhelmed with +suspicion, how she herself had then changed her plan in order not to +risk definite failure, how she had spoken of Alberti and found the girl +fierce against him, so fierce that her violence could only be explained +by conflicting sentiments. Leila was convinced that he had come to Velo +for the express purpose of arranging a rich marriage for himself. If +they could persuade her that this was untrue, they might still carry +the day. But of course great prudence was necessary. Signor Marcello +begged her to advise him. The only advice she could offer, however, was +that he should no longer detain Alberti at the Montanina, nor even seek +to persuade him to remain, for she had no doubt he would wish to leave +at once. At this point she deemed it prudent to tell Signor Marcello +of the interview she had had with the young man, who was now awaiting +her return. Then, almost timidly, and with her sweetest smile, she +proffered her help in the delicate and difficult task that lay before +them. + +"It is only natural that I should wish to help. Don't you see that, +dear friend?" she said, realising his gratitude. They parted without +more words, but with a long handclasp. + + * * * * * + +On reaching the Villino, Donna Fedele found that Massimo had not yet +returned, nor did he appear until nearly noon. At the gate he met the +maid, who informed him that her mistress had returned at half-past +eleven, but had forgotten to leave word at the Montanina that he +would not be there to lunch, and had therefore dispatched her with +a message. While walking up the short drive Massimo reflected, with +alternate waves of despair and of hope, first, that the news must be +unfavourable, because if all had gone well Donna Fedele, instead of +sending a message, would surely have sent him off to the Montanina +instead; then, that the news must be favourable, because if all had +not gone well, she would probably not have forgotten to mention his +absence. The maid had smiled at him; this was a good sign, but Donna +Fedele did not come out to meet him, and that was a bad sign. + +As a matter of fact she did come to meet him, but only as far as the +verandah that ran in front of the villa. She had seen him at the gate +and now met him here, neither in the house nor really out of doors, +neither smiling nor downcast. He read his fate upon her face, and +murmured quickly: + +"I knew!" + +She did not at once speak the words of comfort of which her heart was +full, but simply held out her hands to him, and although he tried to +appear composed, she saw him turn so pale that she felt she must give +him some encouragement. + +"I cannot deny that things do not look very bright," she said, "but +perhaps they may not be so bad, after all. I will tell you all about +it. Come with me." And her familiar smile once more illumined her +face. When they were seated in the little study on the ground-floor, +she related all the particulars of her interview with Leila, omitting +nothing and hiding nothing. Her words were like so many lashes to him, +but he listened without flinching. + +"Very well," said he, when his friend ceased speaking. "After all, the +girl is only very silly!" As he spoke his face flushed hotly with all +the anger he had held in check. + +"She is not silly," Donna Fedele retorted. "But I am afraid she was +insincere with me. I really fear some one has been talking to her +about that intrigue you were supposed to have had in Milan. But I have +another idea also." + +Massimo did not ask her what it was. At that moment he felt he was no +longer in love. His one desire was to get away, and never to return. He +regretted having thought, even for a day, of abandoning the field of +strife for Truth and Righteousness, and of yielding to a great love. +He said to himself that he was grateful to this girl's petty, foolish +pride, which was setting him free again. He rose to his feet, and to +Donna Fedele he seemed to have grown taller by several inches. + +"You don't ask what my idea is," said she. + +"I was to have telegraphed to Don Aurelio," Massimo replied. "But I +will go to him instead." + +"You don't ask what I think," his friend repeated, raising her voice +and emphasising her words. "Well, what is this idea?" he demanded, more +to satisfy her than from any curiosity he felt. Thereupon, with some +hesitation, she gave him her impression of Leila's feelings. Massimo +showed himself bitterly incredulous. During luncheon he hardly spoke, +nor did he eat. His friend having mentioned Don Aurelio, he remarked +that he should see him that very evening. They took their coffee in the +verandah. + +"I think you are wise to leave at once, at all events," Donna Fedele +whispered when the maid had withdrawn. "But you must not judge Leila +so hastily. Let me get to the bottom of things first. I will keep you +posted." + +Massimo replied that he was sorry he had called the Signorina "silly," +but that it was no use thinking any more about her. So slight a thing +as the affected mispronunciation of a word had once sufficed to cure +him of his attachment to another girl, and between Signorina Leila +and himself there was a lack of sympathy in outlook that was far more +serious than any lack of sympathy in culture. + +"Could I not leave at once?" he demanded suddenly, looking at his +watch. There was a train at two thirty-seven. Might he not send Signor +Marcello a line, saying he had been unexpectedly summoned to Milan, and +to beg him to forward his luggage? + +Donna Fedele protested. On the contrary, he must go to the Montanina +immediately, and say that when Don Aurelio had confided to him his +intention of going away, his first impulse had been not to allow him +to go alone, but that his friend had requested him to remain and do +several things for him after his departure. At this point Massimo broke +in. Certainly! And this was no pretext, but the truth. And to think he +had forgotten! He must go to Sant' Ubaldo at all costs. He could not +possibly leave before six o'clock. + +"Go up to Sant' Ubaldo and talk to Lúzia," said Donna Fedele. "As to +the books, I will arrange to have them brought here, and the furniture +also. You will see--sooner or later you will return to these parts, +and then certain proprieties will make it impossible for you to stay at +the Montanina, and you will put up at the Villino delle Rose!" + +She smiled as she spoke, and the young man saw she was alluding to a +local custom that forbade a betrothed couple to dwell under the same +roof. "No, no!" said he. The lady laughed outright. + +"How is that? Don't you wish to come to me? Are you afraid of +compromising me?" + +"You know what I mean!" the young man said. "You know what I mean!" And +he took a hasty leave, even forgetting his hat, which the maid brought +after him to the garden, while Donna Fedele's silvery laugh echoed +behind her. + + * * * * * + +After the unpleasant interview Leila took refuge in the gallery at +the head of the stairs leading from the drawing-room, and remained +there, watching to see when Donna Fedele would leave Signor Marcello's +study. Sooner than she had expected she heard Donna Fedele open the +door between the billiard-room and the salon, and saw her enter and +glance about her as if looking for some one. Leila drew back to +avoid being seen, dreading to be summoned, and remained quiet until +the tinkling of the bell above the door told that Donna Fedele had +gone away without asking for her. And so it was all over. They would +not worry her any more. But still she was not satisfied. A sense of +weariness and discomfort in all that she tried to do had taken the +place of her previous irritation. Until an hour ago she had delighted +in contemplating herself in the attitude of repelling love by pride, as +by pride she had repelled riches. And now a cruel doubt was torturing +her. What if, after all, there had been no plot, and Alberti had really +come to the Montanina by chance? But in any case she was bound to +despise him for not having spoken openly to her, and in thinking of +him as a fool she thought she had struck a fatal blow at the passion +of which she was ashamed. She determined to go to Lago to distract her +thoughts, and hear what they were saying there about Don Aurelio's +flight. Thinking she might meet Alberti if she went by the usual road, +she took the path under the chestnuts, and sank upon the first seat she +came to, trying to quiet her restlessness by listening to the murmur of +the wind, and by watching the breeze swaying the long meadow grass. And +at last dreams conquered. _He_ came upon her unawares in the Velo Park +at night, amidst the whispering of the wind, in the wavering moonlight, +beneath the fragrant rain of blossoms from the acacias. He flung his +arm about her, drew her towards him, and pressed his lips to hers, and +then the vision suddenly faded. + +The luncheon-bell roused her to a sense of painful reality. At the +entrance to the villa she met the maid who had come with Donna Fedele's +message. At this moment of reaction against the mockery of her dream +the message was a welcome one. She found Signor Marcello already at the +table, and wearing an expression that promised nothing pleasant. His +greeting was of the slightest, and his manner made her blood boil, for +she attributed it to her persistent refusal to become his heir rather +than to the other and true reason. Why should he try to force upon her +what he might think a great favour, but for which she had no desire? +She was obstinately silent. Signor Marcello was the first to relent, +although the thought of the girl's having told Donna Fedele that her +self-respect forbade her acceptance of his fortune still rankled. +Such a remark betokened much pride and little affection, the old man +had reflected. He observed presently, however, in a fairly mild tone, +that she had eaten nothing. Leila could hardly bear this display of +tenderness, which always followed any outburst of displeasure on his +part. As soon as she had had her coffee she withdrew, that she might +hide the tears which were ready to fall, though she could not have +explained exactly what prompted them. + +A moment later Signor Marcello rose and went into the drawing-room, +where he hoped to find Leila. He stood still for a moment, listening +for a voice or a step, but he heard no sound. Then he sat down sadly +at the piano and began to play. Leila, who was standing in the upper +gallery, gazing fixedly upon the steep, green slope, crowned with +chestnut-trees, recognised the air by Pergolese on which he had +engrafted his own fancies during the night that had followed his fit of +unconsciousness. And once again those sensitive fingers were touching +the keys in an inimitable fashion, pouring into them all the bitterness +of a lonely old man, who had lost everything on earth, and who now +felt the icy breath of opposition. She forgave him his black looks at +luncheon, and came down slowly and noiselessly to the drawing-room, and +sat down near the piano, where Signor Marcello would be sure to see +her. He did so immediately and at once stopped playing. She wanted to +say, "Go on," but pride held back the words. He stretched out his hand +to a music-stand, drew forth a piece at random, placed it open upon +the rest, and then sat gazing silently at it, instinctively waiting +for a word from her. This time Leila could not avoid murmuring, "What +is it?" and so reconciliation began. Signor Marcello turned to replace +the piece of music, which was a manuscript copy of an air from that old +comic opera called "Le Prigioni di Edimburgo," in the stand, but Leila +insisted upon his playing it, believing her request would please him. +He began to play, in a happier frame of mind, while Leila sat listening +to the music, to which both were utterly indifferent. But soon he flung +the manuscript aside, and placing a large volume of Clementi upon +the rest, turned to a page that was thickly strewn with pencil-marks. +Leila knew the volume, but not this particular page. Signor Marcello +leaned forward, his large hands, their fingers crooked like the talons +of a hawk, resting upon the keys, his eyes fixed upon the music, and +his whole face wrinkled and quivering with the effort of reading and +interpretation. He surpassed himself. When he had finished Leila +expressed her preference for Clementi, and took the volume into her +hands. + +"Poor Clementi!" said Signor Marcello. "Who knows where he will end!" + +She did not understand at once. + +"Where do you suppose he will end?" she questioned. + +"Oh, probably in some old book-shop." + +She had not the courage to say that even if she could not accept his +wealth she would gladly take the book. + +"Ah, dear Lord!" sighed the disheartened old man, straightening his +shoulders and pressing his face into his hands. Leila, overcome with +pity for him, tried to find something to say that should soften the +bitterness of her refusal. Each would have gladly welcomed a word of +affection from the other, and yet both were silent--she standing, +examining the volume of Clementi, he sitting, with his eyes fixed on +the empty music-rest and his hands lying motionless upon his knees. +Finally, Signor Marcello rose, saying, in a tone of tender melancholy, +"Goodbye, dear," and moved on his way to his study. Leila, who was +absorbed in the confusion and turmoil of her own feelings, did not at +once respond to this exceptionally tender greeting. She roused herself, +however, with a start, and softly followed the old man to the door, +whispering, "Papa!" And when he turned round in astonishment, she +raised her face to his for a kiss. + +He kissed her brow gently, his face lighting with satisfaction, and +took her hand, saying, "Come with me, dear." She saw that her action +had been interpreted as a first sign of yielding to his wishes and +hesitated, but presently followed him with beating heart. + +They passed into the billiard-room. He closed the door behind her, and +then, returning to where she stood, placed both hands upon her head and +said, smiling, while his eyes were wet with tears: + +"Were you thinking of Andrea?" + +At the moment she did not realise the true meaning of this question, +and answered, without thinking: + +"Yes, Papa." + +Then she trembled lest she had brought about a misunderstanding, and +also with the emotion of hearing him speak of Andrea. + +"God bless you!" said the old man. + +She shuddered. Why did he bless her? She longed for him to explain his +words, but it was impossible to say anything. The old man had not been +moved to bless her through any misunderstanding, but only by her gentle +and affectionate action, which always sufficed to make him forget any +displeasure. At the bottom of his heart, indeed, the hope was growing +that the prayers of one who was no more might persuade Leila to desist +from her refusal. + +"Goodbye," he repeated. Then, seeing her indecision whether to go or +to stay, whether to speak or remain silent, he yielded to an impulse +and took her hands again, saying, with a smile: "I saw Signora Vayla +after you had a talk together. I want you to know that it was I who +thought of a certain plan when a certain person came here, and it was +only because I did not want to sacrifice you to my own selfishness. +I believed that Andrea himself would approve. But if it be indeed no +sacrifice for you to remain as you are, I can but rejoice in the +thought." + +Leila did not answer, and appeared unwilling to understand. Her silence +made Signor Marcello regret he had spoken with such openness. But now +he could not unsay his words. + +"Go out and get some air," said he. "You should go up to Lago and see +what is going on there, now that Don Aurelio has gone." + + * * * * * + +She had no desire to go out. She would have preferred to shut herself +up in her own room and think over Signor Marcello's words, but she +dared not give way to the idea. It would be better to walk to Lago. +Through the open verandah she passed into the garden, trying to fix +her mind upon Don Aurelio's flight, and what the people of Lago were +saying. But the very trees she passed seemed to be reminding her of +those thoughts from which she shrank. She began walking faster to +escape their silent scrutiny, but on the up-hill road, where she was +obliged to go more slowly, the great, spreading chestnut-trees renewed +the tyranny and hung over her in compassionate lament. + +Defiant, she hurried on; yet a sob quivered in her throat, and she +shook with a strange impulse on passing the footpath leading to the +small lake whose waters lay quiet and clear in the shadows of a group +of horn-beams. + +No one was to be seen among the huts of Lago, but an old woman was +drawing water at the fountain in the square. Leila questioned her. Was +it really true that Don Aurelio had fled? Gèsu! of course it was true! +And what did they say about it up here? "I tell you, Siora, they are +all up at Sant' Ubaldo, making a great to-do. They say they are going +to do for the archpriest. You go up, Siora, you go up, too! That young +gentleman who is staying with you has been talking to them. You go up +and talk to them also. You had better go!" + +Leila, very pale, stared vacantly at the old woman, wondering whether +she should not turn back again. + +"Go up! Go up, too!" the other repeated. And Leila felt ashamed at +having shown any hesitation. She fancied that she must have given +herself away. + +"Yes, yes!" she exclaimed. "Of course I am going." + +She took the Sant' Ubaldo path, and at a short distance from the +carriage-road that leads down to Velo she met two women and a man, who +were talking quietly as they walked. "They are all in the wrong," the +man was saying--"the priest who ran away like a thief, the archpriest +who was bound to get rid of him because he was a good Christian, and +the women who will not go to church nor receive the sacraments because +the young priest is no longer there." + +"That is so," said one of the women approvingly. Then she greeted Leila +respectfully. + +Leila stopped them. What had happened? The Lago priest had run away, +and the women of the village were furious with the archpriest and the +bishop also; they had assembled and, together with a few men, had sworn +that they would not enter the church again, neither on Sundays nor at +Easter, neither for baptism nor for marriage, until their priest's +return. A gentleman, a fine, handsome young gentleman, had addressed +them wisely and like a good Christian, but had not succeeded in +convincing them. The women had also written some words on the doors of +the church. And what were they about now? Now they had all dispersed, +having arranged to reassemble in the evening. And the young gentleman? +He was gone also. "Your servant, your servant, your servant!" and the +trio started onward again, leaving Leila to proceed alone. There was no +one near the church. She stopped to read what was written on the low +side door: "Closed until Don _Urelio_ returns." + +She heard steps behind her, and looked round to see Alberti and Lúzia +bringing a basin of water and a sponge. + +Before Leila caught sight of Massimo he had had time to adopt a +manner of calm, courteous indifference. He had done all he could to +pacify the turbulent people of Lago. He had sought to exculpate the +archpriest and the bishop by declaring that they had evidently been +misled by slanderous stories. He had tried in every way to make the +people see that by refusing to go to church they would not only be +grieving Don Aurelio most deeply, but injuring him with his superiors, +for the latter would not fail to say, "What sort of religion has this +priest been teaching?" Then he had spoken of the Blessed Sacrament, to +which more worship and respect was due than to any priest. He had not +succeeded in convincing them, but his conscience was at rest, for he +had risen above rancour and resentment, as Don Aurelio himself would +have done. And this conquest over self filled him with a great calm +that did not desert him even in Leila's presence. He felt himself out +of the reach of her unjust prejudices, more firm in his new resolve to +look upon the time when love had overcome him as a time of weakness, +more determined to stifle a passion that clashed with his self-respect, +to keep himself for some other woman who should be more in sympathy +with him. + +"Good afternoon, Signorina," he said, smiling. "I failed to achieve my +purpose in words, and now I am going to see if a sponge will serve me +better." + +He fell to rubbing the writing vigorously. Leila, who was very pale, +asked who had written the words, as if she knew nothing of what had +taken place. Massimo flung the sponge into the basin and related +everything with the utmost composure. Leila thought at first that +Donna Fedele could not have told him of their interview, but it +presently struck her that his easy manner was too unlike his usual +bearing and was not natural. Meanwhile, a peasant who had come from +Masa, catching sight of the basin and sponge, and of the use to which +they had been put, paused, and, smiling derisively, advised Massimo to +desist, else he might find that trouble was in store for him. + +"From what quarter? From you?" Massimo demanded resolutely. The man +was somewhat taken aback, and mumbling, "Ah, no, Signore!" walked off, +still muttering under his breath. + +"Signorina," said Massimo, in the same indifferent tone as that in +which he had first addressed her, "are you going on or returning home?" + +Leila looked at him in astonishment. + +"I must stay here a little longer," he said, reading in her face that +she dreaded he might offer to accompany her. A clap of thunder burst +from the heavy clouds hanging over Priaforà. There was no immediate +fear of rain, for the countryside beyond the foot of the mountain lay +in sunshine, and the points of Summano, flushed with a golden glory, +stood out against a clear sky. But the clap of thunder helped Leila out +of her dilemma. + +"I shall go home," she said. + +"In that case," Massimo replied, "may I ask you to tell Signor Marcello +that I must start for Vicenza, on my way, possibly, to Milan, by the +six o'clock train. I have one or two things to do here for Don Aurelio; +then I shall come down and say goodbye." + +He raised his hat. + +"I will not offer you my hand," he added. "It is unfit." + +Leila started violently. + +"I mean that my hand is too dirty!" + +The young man smiled, and exhibited the hand that had held the sponge. +Leila responded only by the slightest of bows, and took the short cut +that leads straight downwards from the church. She could have cried +with mortification, for she was sure he had meant to be sarcastic, and +she was, moreover, furious with herself for having so readily shown +her susceptibility to the sarcasm. At Lago she met Teresina, who had +been sent by the master to meet Leila and bring her the key to the +Velo Park, in case she might like to come back that way and gather +some flowers for the dinner-table. But Leila preferred to go straight +home. She did not allude to Alberti's departure, which he had requested +her to announce; but the maid did so, however, in a very guarded +manner, giving it as her opinion that, in consequence of Don Aurelio's +absence, Signor Massimo would cut short his visit at the Montanina. +Upon learning that he was to leave that same evening, she gave an +exclamation of relief, and, making an excuse that she really must know +about his departure, because of some clothes the young man had sent +to the wash, she inquired whether Signor Marcello would not try to +induce him to stay longer. "Oh, no, no!" Leila exclaimed, with so much +assurance that the maid was emboldened to speak out. + +"Well, I am glad of that!" she said. Leila remained silent, but +the woman's ejaculation struck her as very strange, for heretofore +Teresina had been in the habit of speaking of Alberti in a tone of +poetic admiration. Teresina, indeed, was only waiting for a word +of astonishment or a question, but as Leila showed no intention of +breaking the silence, she decided to proceed with her explanation. +She remarked with a smile that she had that morning heard fine things +concerning Signor Alberti. She had gone down to the station with +the cook, who was on her way to the market at Arsiero, and the cook +had repeated to her what the servant of Signora Bettina Pagan, the +archpriest's sister-in-law, had told her. They knew all about this +Signor Alberti up at the parsonage of Velo. They knew that, although +he went to church, he was really much worse than Carnesecca as regards +religion. And, moreover, he led an evil life with a married woman in +Milan. "Indeed!" said Leila, with perfect indifference; and not another +word did she utter. The maid, somewhat dismayed by this silence, +hastened to proffer her excuses for having spoken of what did not +concern her. A shrug of the shoulders was Leila's only answer. At that +moment they turned in at the Montanina gate. The maid said no more, +and went about her business. Leila stopped, and, leaning against the +handrail of the Riderella bridge, gazed into the water, her heart torn +between bitter pain and satisfaction. "He is unworthy, then! He is +unworthy!" she repeated monotonously to herself, standing there like +one turned to stone, while on either side the long, straggling branches +of the rose-bushes pressed clusters of red roses against her, and the +breeze, laden with the scent of new-mown hay, touched her softly, +urging her to listen to the seductive voices of the flowers. "There is +still love," they were saying. "There is still life!" But she neither +saw nor heard them. For her the future held no love, no life. + + * * * * * + +Signor Marcello received the news of Massimo's proposed departure with +apparent satisfaction. Leila reflected that he would be still better +pleased did he but know what the Velo priests had learned. It seemed +to her that by telling it she would more thoroughly confirm her own +belief in it, but when the moment came to speak a forbidding voice +vibrated deep within her. She spoke notwithstanding, her face aflame, +but felt as she did so that she was doing wrong, very wrong. Signor +Marcello listened with a frown, and when she had finished he observed +that the priests of Velo would have done better to keep such things +to themselves, and that he did not believe a word of the story. What +could those men know about it? But, he added, things being as they +were, it was useless to discuss the matter. On leaving the study, Leila +crossed the drawing-room, and glancing at the easy-chair in which she +had sat waiting, parasol in hand, but a few hours since, she thought +of Donna Fedele, and then suddenly remembered a phrase of hers she had +forgotten: "They have been telling you something evil...." And the +voice deep within her said, "Donna Fedele knows of this story, and does +not believe it." + + * * * * * + +Alberti returned to the Montanina towards four o'clock, and found a +telegram from Don Aurelio awaiting him, which said that the priest +was starting for Milan. There was also a letter from a Milanese +friend, which he saw was too long and not sufficiently important to +demand immediate attention, as he was pressed for time. He packed his +portmanteaux and then went down to the drawing-room. There was no one +there. He glanced at the piano and thought of the pansy that had fallen +from Leila's belt and of the music of the "Aveu." Then, suddenly, he +imagined himself holding in his arms the woman concerning whom he had +been so deceived; but quickly and by a strong effort of his will he +recalled his angry contempt for her. + +"And so you are really going?" the old man said, with an embarrassment +the meaning of which Massimo could not wholly grasp. + +"I am really going," he replied. He showed Don Aurelio's telegram, and +said that, although the priest had a friend in Milan, he himself wished +to be there, at least during these first days, to give him all the +help he could. When he came to the conventional expression of thanks, +he declared that his gratitude to Signor Marcello was very great, and +not for his hospitality alone. Here he paused, his emotion getting the +better of him. + +Signor Marcello, himself deeply moved, would have been willing to +swear, at this moment, that the Velo priests were either mistaken or +had lied. He longed to say, "Come back soon!" but restrained himself, +and begged the young man to write and give him frequent news of himself +and of Don Aurelio. When Massimo looked at his watch and rose to go, +Signor Marcello rose also and followed him into the hall, arranging for +his luggage to be carried to the station. Then he kissed him twice. +"Once for _him_," he said, "and once for myself!" + +"I hope you believe I am not unworthy of this," the young man whispered. + +The answer came with a ring of conviction that startled him, so charged +was it with hidden meaning. + +"I believe you." + +Massimo had already placed his hand upon the handle of the door above +which hung the bell, but he hesitated before opening it. + +"Do you wish to say goodbye to Leila?" Signor Marcello asked. + +"If I might," Massimo answered, bowing slightly. + +Leila was sent for, but she had gone out, taking the key of the little +church with her. + +"Then you will see her in passing," said Signor Marcello, and silently +gave up the idea of walking with Massimo as far as the church. The +young man went down alone, asking himself whether to enter the chapel +or to pass on, as it was plain the Signorina wished to avoid seeing +him. On reaching the porch he paused, still hesitating. + +Leila recognised his step, and on hearing him pause guessed his +indecision. Rising from her knees, she also stood hesitating whether +to remain where she was or to go out and meet him. She hoped he would +pass on, but presently both arrived at the same conclusion, that it +would be best to act with complete indifference. And so it came about +that she started to leave the church and he to enter it. They met upon +the threshold. + +"You are going?" she said, without offering him her hand. "I wish you a +pleasant journey and _au revoir_!" + +"We shall hardly meet again," Massimo suggested, smiling. "But I shall +never forget the days I have spent under your roof." + +"My roof! Oh, no!" Leila broke in. + +"And I wish you all possible happiness for long years to come," he went +on, disregarding her interruption. "I do so from my heart, Signorina." + +"Thank you," said Leila. + +Massimo bowed, and walked quickly away, glad to have shown himself less +embarrassed and more haughty than the girl herself, to have spoken as +if he should never see her again, and as if this thought did not affect +him at all. + + + III + +Leila had gone to the church in order to avoid, if possible, taking +leave of Alberti. Their short interview left her dissatisfied with +herself, as usual, and she chafed at the tone of almost contemptuous +indifference he had so successfully assumed. She twisted her own +meaning into it. It was the tone of one, she thought, who had witnessed +the defeat of his plan rather than of one who had been disappointed in +love. Instead of returning to the house she followed the path along the +Riderella and presently sank upon a rustic seat under the walnut-trees. +She was mortally weary, and sat listening half unconsciously and with +an aching heart to the small, soft voice of the little waterfall close +by. Teresina had brought her a letter from her father, whose habit it +was to address his letters to the maid, "Teresina Scotz, Post-office, +Schio." She had already, read the letter, and had put it in her belt, +intending to throw it into the Riderella, but she had forgotten its +contents, and so proceeded to read it over again. It contained but a +few lines. Her father inquired if the preceding letter had gone astray, +and asked for an answer, the very answer Teresina had that day carried +to Schio. Leila tore the sheet into small pieces and threw them into +the stream. + +She was accustomed to send her father the greater part of the allowance +Signor Marcello made her for her personal expenses, accompanying the +enclosures with a few short sentences. She despised her father, and +knew that she was justified in her contempt of him. She sent him the +money as a contemptible thing flung to a contemptible person. She +knew he was deeply in debt, but nevertheless she had no belief in +the poverty he was always pleading. Her life at home had convinced +her that he was an adept in the art of cheating his creditors, and +that, while he made a display of poverty, he carefully concealed his +money. But what was this to her? Had her mother asked her for money, +she would have sent it to her also. But her mother, who wrote to her +from time to time, asked for her affection only, in terms of religious +unction. Leila never answered her letters, and had, on one occasion, +quickly returned her mother's pious gift of a rosary, that had been +blessed by the Holy Father. "The Trento fortune would be put to fine +purposes should it come into my hands!" she reflected. Once more a +doubt assailed her concerning the mistaken conclusion at which Signor +Marcello might have arrived after that kiss of hers. How should she +rectify this? She dismissed the thought, wearily, and sat motionless, +her eyes fixed upon the tiny waterfall. Amongst other pictures that +floated into her tired mind, there came a vision of the dark lake, +encircled by, the bending, peering hornbeam-trees. + + * * * * * + +It was a great trial to Leila, two hours later, to come down from her +room to dinner. She felt she could not eat, and she dreaded Signor +Marcello's questions that were always more searching when he was in an +affectionate mood. She knew if she did not go down he would come up +and worry her to death with endless questions. And so she went down, +and invented a headache as an excuse for her want of appetite, and, as +she had foreseen, Signor Marcello's innumerable questions forced her +to tell a string of untruths. Partly from shame at her own deceit and +partly from impatience, she was once on the point of declaring angrily +that there was nothing at all the matter with her. But she restrained +herself, and presently Signor Marcello lapsed into grieved silence, +even more inclined to conclude that Donna Fedele was right, and that +the girl was indeed suffering on account of Massimo's departure. He +remained silent until the dinner was over. As soon as Giovanni had +withdrawn, and before Leila had finished her coffee, he inquired if she +had seen Alberti, who had wished to say goodbye to her. She answered in +the affirmative, half indifferently, half in annoyance, finished her +coffee, and, rising, asked permission to retire. + +"Go, if you like, dear," Signor Marcello replied, but he called her +back again before she had reached the door. + +"Listen, my child," he said. "I give you my blessing now, whether you +may decide to marry at some future time or continue to live alone. +But if you choose to live alone, I hope you will not accuse me of +selfishness because I had hoped----" + +And he smiled his pathetic smile, so full of sadness and tenderness. + +"Thank you, Papa," Leila murmured. And she could not refrain from +adding, as she thought of the misapprehension under which he was +probably labouring: "I am not sure I deserve your blessing." + +The coldness of her words wounded the poor old man. Leila felt she had +hurt him, and was sorry, but she could not regret words which were +intended to free him from harmful illusions. She slipped silently from +the room, closing the door softly behind her. + +Signor Marcello did not move. Not for a long time had the house +seemed so sad and empty. He drew towards him one of the two glass +bowls that ornamented the table, and contained two cyclamen plants +that had not yet blossomed. This style of table decoration was one +of Leila's fancies, and Signor Marcello disapproved of it. He gazed +with affectionate compassion upon the little plant, with its dark +leaves, streaked with pale green, that had been torn from its nest of +moss at the foot of some chestnut-tree and placed in these unnatural +surroundings. He had always greatly loved flowers and carefully +cultivated them, feeling that they returned a kind of real affection +for any care that he bestowed upon them. This little tortured plant +that sought to please him with its rich greenness seemed to him to show +more affection for him than Leila. He would have liked to press his +lips to this small, living thing, had he not been ashamed of what might +appear foolish sentimentality. + +A long, dull peal of thunder from Priaforà, which all day long had worn +a threatening aspect, interrupted his fancyings. He remembered that the +large window in the drawing-room was open, and, in order not to disturb +Giovanni, who was having his dinner, went to shut it himself. He then +made the tour of the ground-floor, closing all the windows, faithful +to his habit of sparing the servants as much as possible. Presently he +returned to the drawing-room. It was rapidly growing dark, although +it was an hour before sunset. There was a flash of lightning, and more +thunder. Giovanni came in to attend to the windows, and catching sight +of his master as a flash illumined the room, asked if he would have a +light. Signor Marcello did not wish for a light. He sent the man to +close the upstair windows, and then stood gazing out into the shadows, +cloven repeatedly by the lightning that flashed out of Val d'Astico. +The usual noisy precautions against thunderstorms sounded above his +head--excited voices, hurried footsteps, and the banging of shutters. +The great, tragic cliffs of Barco gleamed white for an instant and +then were lost again in the darkness. The poplars along the Riderella, +standing transfixed in the motionless air, like the outposts of a +reserve force, waited in rigid silence for the approach of the battle +that was raging along their line. Suddenly the rain came pouring down, +the flashes ceased, and all was darkness. Signor Marcello stood gazing +into the sounding shadows until he heard Giovanni come in again to +light the lamps. As usual when there were no guests, and the Signorina +did not spend the evening in the drawing-room, he ordered him not to +light up. His own brass lamp would be enough. When the man had brought +it Signor Marcello put on his glasses and began to read the newspaper. +Contrary to his habit, he soon wearied of it. But it was only half-past +nine, and he was not sleepy, and as he had been suffering recently from +insomnia, he did not wish to go to bed at this early hour. He felt no +desire to play, for his heart was cold and heavy. He felt physically +well, and no further symptoms had followed his fit of unconsciousness. +Had he perhaps been mistaken about it? Must he look forward to long +years of such a life as this? At least, if he must live, he would fain +do so to some useful purpose. Some years ago a friend's advice had made +him think of starting an agricultural school. Why not take up that +plan again? He might at least write to his friend and ask his opinion +again. And he reflected how to word his letter. But the idea began to +fade from his mind almost as soon as he had formed it. By an effort +of his will he rose to his feet, determined to prevent its complete +escape by writing immediately; but still he hesitated, and stood lost +in thought, his lamp in his hand. The sound of the rain had sunk to an +even and melancholy whisper. The old man set down the lamp and went +into the open verandah to look upon the night. + +There was no wind, but the rain was coming down persistently, as it +does in the autumn, and it hid the mountains and the lights of Arsiero. +This was the spot where Don Aurelio and he had their coffee on those +occasions when the priest said Mass at Santa Maria ad Montes. And he +was gone also, dear Don Aurelio! He was gone for ever. He would never +see him again. + +The old man returned to the drawing-room with a heavy heart. Bitter +words against the priests of Velo rose to his lips, and agitated +his face as he took up his lamp again, meaning to go to bed, for he +had now lost all desire to write. At sight of the Bible and of the +"Imitation of Christ," on his bedside table, he was immediately filled +with remorse for having yielded to impulse, and for having harboured +uncharitable thoughts. He confessed his shortcomings in prayer, then, +as a castaway clings to a rope, he clasped the little Bible in both +hands until peace once more encompassed his spirit. As he laid the +Bible down again he determined to go to confession on the morrow to +the archpriest himself. Quieted by this determination, he proceeded to +enter the day's expenditures in his account-book, as was his habit. +As it was the last day of the month, and he had forgotten to pay the +servants' wages, he counted the amounts out carefully, placing them +in separate piles on his writing-table. He also set aside his monthly +dole to the poor. The melancholy patter of the rain reminded him of the +plants of cyclamen in the dining-room. He hunted in a cupboard until +he had found the two pots from which they had been removed--cruelly, +as he thought--to be placed in the glass bowls. Then he restored them +to the pots, delighting in the kindly action, and carried them out +lovingly, regardless of the rain, and set them side by side, behind +the villa, on the edge of a grassy slope. As he stood upright again +his head swam, but this did not trouble him. Even in his youth he +had often been seized with giddiness on resuming an upright posture +after bending over some plant. He waited until the giddiness passed +away, and then returned to his room, said his evening prayers upon +his knees, undressed himself, and got into bed. At that moment the +dizziness returned with renewed violence. He rested his head against +the head-board. A thunderbolt seemed to tear through him from his neck +downwards. He thought he cried out, but in reality he made no sound. He +felt his arms becoming as blocks of ice, and he recognised that this +was death. He tried in vain to move his lips and pronounce the words, +_In manus tuas, Domine_. Then all was over, and the only life the room +contained was in the heedless flame of the little lamp that illumined +the quiet face of yellow marble resting against the head-board, and the +only heart that throbbed was the small and heedless one of the watch +upon the bedside table. + + + + + CHAPTER V + THE SHADOW OF SIGNOR DA CAMIN + + + I + +Donna Fedele arrived in her carriage at ten o'clock. A despairing +note from Leila had brought her the news at nine. She got out at the +entrance to the open verandah in order not to pass the chamber of +death, and Leila came on to the verandah to meet her. They kissed in +silence. Leila's eyes were full of tears, and Donna Fedele looked +ghastly, but she had no tears. They entered the drawing-room, and +Teresina, who happened to be coming in from the dining-room at the +same moment, began sobbing at sight of Donna Fedele, and covered her +face with her handkerchief. When she had succeeded in controlling her +feelings she handed Leila a telegram. While the girl was opening it and +reading it Donna Fedele softly questioned the maid. Had they noticed +anything wrong during the day, or, perhaps, during the evening. + +Nothing, nothing. He had not been in good spirits, that she must admit, +but, of course, they all knew that Don Aurelio's flight and Signor +Alberti's departure had upset him. Teresina, whose tongue was now +loosed, evidently had something more to say, but she checked herself, +and fell to sobbing again. + +And how had they made the discovery? + +It was Leila who answered. Giovanni had gone in with his coffee at +seven and had found him dead. He was sitting up in bed, his shoulders +outside the covers, and his head resting upon the head-board. The +doctor had assured them that death had been instantaneous, for the body +was composed, the face calm, and there had evidently been no attempt +to rise or ring the bell. Death had probably taken place as soon as he +got into bed, and before he had arranged himself for sleep. The lamp +was still burning when Giovanni went in. Teresina now gave further +particulars. Giovanni, who slept on the ground floor, had heard his +master pass his door twice before he, Giovanni, had gone to bed. He had +heard him open the door of the villa on the side towards the mountain, +and early that morning, while putting the dining-room to rights, he +had missed certain plants which the Signorina had placed in two glass +bowls. They had been found later, in ordinary pots, out of doors. No +one in the house knew anything about this change, and it must have been +the master who set them out, that they might enjoy the rain. At this +point the tears welled up in Donna Fedele's eyes, which seemed at the +same time to be smiling with tender emotion. + +"You will need help," she said to Leila, controlling her feelings after +a moment's struggle. The girl handed her the telegram that had just +arrived. It was from Signor Marcello's agent, announcing his speedy +arrival from Vicenza with a lawyer. + +Donna Fedele inquired if there were any relatives who ought to be +written to. Teresina knew that there were some distant cousins, but the +master had more than once said to her, evidently with a motive, that in +case of his death they were not to be troubled. + +Giovanni appeared and summoned the maid, who presently returned to say +that the archpriest and his chaplain wished to know if the Signorina +would receive them. Leila, much annoyed by this intrusion, consulted +Donna Fedele, who advised her to see them. + +"Meanwhile," said she, "if I may----" + +Leila understood at once, and murmured, "Of course, of course!" Donna +Fedele crossed the billiard-room and study to the chamber of death. On +reaching the study her remarkable fortitude almost forsook her. Only +a few hours ago she had sat here with him. She could see his wrinkled +face--his speaking countenance that was still youthful, his eyes that +so quickly revealed the impulses of his warm heart--and his frank voice +seemed to be still speaking to her. She felt as if he had only just +left the room. The arm-chair behind the writing-table was pushed aside, +upon the table lay an open account-book, and the bedroom door stood +ajar. Donna Fedele pushed it open very slowly and very reverently. Upon +the bed, between two lighted candles, lay her old friend, dressed in +black, and clasping a crucifix in his ivory hands. The gate-keeper's +wife, who was seated opposite the bed, near the window, rose as Donna +Fedele entered. The latter proposed that she should go out for half +an hour. When the woman had left the room Donna Fedele approached +the bed and stood gazing tenderly upon the waxen face of the one man +whom in her youth she had really loved. The sad evening of his long +day had drawn to a close, and at last he was with his loved ones. Had +fate decreed differently for him and for her, had she become his wife, +this parting would have been more terrible. She sighed, almost as if +regretting what might have been. Closing her eyes, she saw him again as +he had been in his youth, and let her mind dwell upon the secret love +of long ago, which had been so sweet even in its bitter and restless +anxieties. Both had been led astray at that time; they had been +over-heedless of a great danger. She more than he, indeed, for had he +but spoken, had he but wished it, she would joyously have sacrificed +everything to him. Her father had been alive then. Good God! if this +had really happened, how horrible it would have been! She stooped +to kiss the ivory hands, and then, sinking upon her knees, prayed +fervently, promising her dead friend that she would be as a mother to +the woman his son had loved, and would seek to bring about the union he +had desired. She rose, consoled. She could hear distinctly the ticking +of his watch on the bedside table. It was as if some part of him still +lived and understood. Many flowers had been strewn upon the bed. She +reflected that another woman in her place would surely take one to +cherish, but she could not bring herself to do so, nor could she tell +what prevented her. Once more she kissed the ivory hands and then the +crucifix, thus setting a seal upon her promise. + + + II + +On leaving the chamber of death she was greatly astonished to find +Leila in the study. The girl was quivering with indignation against the +archpriest and the chaplain, especially against the chaplain. She was +so upset, indeed, that she would not tell her story here, so close to +the peaceful dead. Donna Fedele and she withdrew to the billiard-room. +It appeared that both the archpriest and the chaplain had greatly +deplored Signor Marcello's sudden death, for reasons of a religious +nature, and on her reminding them of the purity of his life, of his +charities, his great piety, and of the fact that he had received the +Sacraments but a few days since, the archpriest had answered coldly, +"We can only hope for the best!" and the chaplain had not opened his +lips. + +Then the archpriest had taken the liberty of alluding to the needs +of his church, believing he was addressing an heiress, and at last +the chaplain had asked her, with a great show of humility, if "that +young man" were still at the Montanina. "I said 'Yes,' Leila went +on, "simply because I was so indignant, and they are nothing but +busy-bodies! I am sure they know Alberti is no longer here, for the +archpriest turned red and the chaplain yellow." Had Donna Fedele been +aware that Leila knew of the rumour that had started from the parsonage +concerning Alberti's supposed intrigues in Milan, she would have been +better able to understand her extraordinary indignation, one element +of which escaped the girl's own consciousness. She expressed regret +that she had not done at once what she was now determined to do--to +shut herself up in Signor Marcello's room and not to leave it again +until she was ready to leave the villa. After all, she was no one in +this house. Her duty was to remain with Signor Marcello until the end, +but once Signor Marcello was gone there was no room for her at the +Montanina. Donna Fedele sought to bring Leila to look upon matters in +a different light, but seeing that she was becoming exasperated, she +deemed it wiser not to insist, and so took her leave, saying she would +return in the evening. Leila expressed no pleasure at this promise, +but kissed her in silence, and then withdrew to the death-chamber. +Donna Fedele did not want to leave until she had seen Teresina, but she +was not feeling strong enough to go in search of her. She therefore +rested in a low chair in the drawing-room and waited. At last she heard +Giovanni and the cook talking in the dining-room, and the prudent +footman came to the door to see if they were safe from listeners. So +Donna Fedele was able to send for Teresina and tell her of Leila, who +had insisted upon shutting herself up, and talked of leaving as soon as +the funeral was over. + +"I hope she will come to my house," she said, "at least for a time. +But I really don't know what she has taken into her head--whether she +proposes going to her father, or what." + +Teresina was unmoved. Go away! Nonsense! She was the heiress. Her +poor master had given Tefesina to understand this most clearly. +Donna Fedele expressed a doubt. What if the girl should refuse the +inheritance? Teresina was startled now. How could she possibly refuse? +If for no other reason she would accept in order to be able to help her +father. And she proceeded to tell of the money she was in the habit +of sending off for the Signorina. Besides, how would the girl herself +get along? "My good woman," said Donna Fedele, "when it is a question +of pride...." But the maid could not understand such pride, and the +Signora did not attempt to explain it to her. She requested Teresina +instead to let her driver know that she was ready to go home. The +servant begged her to remain until the arrival of the agent and the +lawyer, when they would learn something positive concerning the will. +But she could not persuade her. Donna Fedele replied that she did not +wish to intrude, and that she would not return unless she were sent for. + + * * * * * + +She was not sent for, but towards evening she received the following +letter from her dead friend's agent: + + +"MADAM,--The maid Teresina Scotz begs me to inform you that this +morning the notary, Signor Dr. Camilli, and I went to the office of the +Royal Prefect of Schio, in whose presence my poor master's holograph +will was opened, it having been in accordance with regulations +deposited by him with the above-named notary. I also take pleasure in +informing you that Signorina Leila Camin is therein appointed sole +legatee, and that the maid, Teresina Scotz, is to be the recipient of a +legacy amounting to five francs per day, exempt from taxation. Signora +Scotz begs me to inform you, further, that a telegram has reached +me from Padua, signed Girolamo da Camin, which contains, besides +expressions of condolence, the declaration that he is Signorina Leila's +father, that she is a minor, and also the announcement of his intended +arrival some time to-day. He will probably come by the last train this +evening. The heiress admits that she is the above-named gentleman's +daughter, and that her twentieth birthday fell only a few months since, +whereas I am aware that my lamented master believed her to be older. + +"I am, Madam, + "Your very humble servant, + "MATTEO CAROZZI, _Agent_. + +"Val d'Astico (Vicenza), _1 July..._." + + + + + CHAPTER VI + IN THE TOWER OF PRIDE + + + I + +The engineer Luigi Alberti, Massimo's uncle, descended from a family +of solid and respectable Milanese burghers, had a small apartment +on the third floor of a house in Via San Spirito. The apartment was +simple, furnished in an old-fashioned style, with old furniture, +pictures, some of which were really good, and books, but devoid +of modern conveniences, and a faithful reflection of its master's +character. Luigi Alberti often used to say, in his Milanese dialect: +"Sont un andeghee" ("I am an antique--a man of the past!"), and this +with the air of one who has voluntarily withdrawn from the world, +and lives in a solitary and cherished corner of his own. His humble +spirit, his disregard for this world's goods, the purity of his life, +his unostentatious generosity, marked him as a Christian of apostolic +days. Parsimonious with himself, he was free-handed with his nephew +Massimo, an orphan of insufficient means, of whom he was fond from a +sense of duty rather than from any promptings of affection. His heart +was engrossed in a sacred cult, the memory of his poor wife, who had +died some years before, leaving him childless. She had been a woman of +exemplary Christian virtues, with a keen intellect and gentle manners, +and she had loved her husband devotedly, despite his few physical +attractions, his ineptitude for social life, certain strange little +ways, and his aversion to a rational modern spirit, to which she would +gladly have opened their doors and adapted their mode of life. He +would not take his nephew into his home, that he might not be obliged +to change his own old-fashioned habits and those of his old servants, +a man cook and a maid, who were devoted to him. Instead he set apart +for Massimo three rooms on the second floor of his house, where the +cook's wife waited upon him. In his intercourse with his nephew the +engineer was always somewhat ill at ease, and kind rather than cordial. +Massimo's father and mother had squandered their fortune by living +beyond their means, and Massimo's refined ways appeared to fill his +uncle with awe. In offering him, as his nearest relative, his generous +assistance, a comfortable lodging, an allowance, and the hospitality +of his board whenever he felt inclined to accept it, he had done so +almost apologetically, and as if his offering had been unworthy of +Massimo's position. Massimo himself was painfully conscious of the +distance between his uncle and himself, not only in externals but in +ideas. The engineer was intolerant in his political opinions to the +verge of madness, and though not a "Clerical," being always guided in +political matters by the _Perseveranza_, and voting even when this was +forbidden by the ecclesiastical authorities, he had the fierce Clerical +hatred of Modernism and religious reform. He disapproved of priests +taking part in public life, and of their associating themselves with +the political press. But in church and sacristy he respected their +authority unquestioningly. So when he heard Massimo spoken of as a +disciple of Benedetto, and Benedetto branded as a heretic and rebel, he +was greatly distressed. He questioned several priests who he believed +could inform him accurately, for he lacked the courage to speak openly +to his nephew. He found some who told him that it was unfortunately +true, that his nephew was identifying himself with those who refused +to admit the fundamental doctrines of Catholicism, the Sacraments, and +the authority of the Pope. Others assured him that this was not so. +He continued to avoid mentioning the matter to Massimo, fearing to be +dragged into a discussion, and his simple faith would not admit of +discussion. Only once, in a letter, had he alluded to these fears of +his. The young man's plain and entirely orthodox answer had reassured +him, but only for a time. It was also a matter of regret to him that +Massimo had not tried to put his medical studies to some use. He heard +much talk of other studies of a theological and literary nature, of +lectures on Science and Faith, and on Christian Socialism. "Bellissim +rob!" ("Fine nonsense!") he had said to one who praised Massimo's +activity. "Fine unprofitable nonsense!" But not even on this point +would he express himself to Massimo. He felt it would be useless, and +that he must be resigned to being unable to understand this specimen +of the rising generation, and to being misunderstood by him. Reason +decreed that Massimo should be his heir, and he fully intended to +dispose of his belongings according to the dictates of reason, but his +mental refrain was ever, "He will find only what he will find!" + +Since his wife's death the engineer had kept no account of his +expenditure. A very small portion of his not inconsiderable income +sufficed for his own personal needs, the rest being divided between +Massimo--to whom he made a fixed allowance--such needy persons as +appealed to him, subscriptions to charitable institutions, and gifts to +the small country town where he and his wife had spent many summers. + +A month before his journey to Val d'Astico, Massimo had delivered two +lectures at the Università Popolare, on "The Italian Reformers of the +Sixteenth Century," wherein he had put forward the argument that had +these men, many of whom were distinguished both for genius and virtue, +not rebelled against the authority of the Church, their views would +have been more widely accepted, and that the Church would have gained +thereby. The engineer was scandalised by these lectures, as were the +majority of Milanese Conservatives, who joined hands with Radicals and +Socialists in crying anathema upon the lecturer. To the Conservatives +he was a canting heretic, to the Radicals and Socialists a weakling, +almost a coward, and to all a dreamer. The engineer expressed his +opinion freely to several persons, and, among others, to a priest, +Don Santino Ceresola by name, a warm-hearted creature, zealous in +promoting good works, who at that very time was cherishing a plan for +the founding of a most admirable institution, quite, however, beyond +his means. He had often obtained large sums from the engineer for +other purposes, and now he could not help reflecting that, should a +rupture occur between uncle and nephew, his much dreamed of Home for +Grammar School Students might gain by it. When his mind was taken up +with a project such as this, the good man lost all sense of proportion, +especially of the proportion of their means that his friends might be +expected to subscribe, and his persistent harping on the one subject +exasperated most people and rendered himself and his special charity +alike odious. But he went on his way, rejoicing in this easy form of +martyrdom, his bearing fully justifying the nickname of "Beata Ciapasü" +("Blessed Take-what-you-give-her!"), which he owed to his face, like +that of an aged nun, his squeaking voice, and the beatitude with which +he accepted money and insult alike. He had several times mentioned the +Home to the engineer, who, having a level head, had always sought to +convince him that he would not succeed in raising money enough even to +buy the land. One day, after Massimo's departure for Velo d'Astico, +the priest appeared in Via San Spirito in great delight, and with the +news that an old lady had presented him with two thousand square metres +of land at Porta Vittoria. He inwardly echoed the engineer's amazed +"Is it possible?" and promptly determined to renew his siege upon the +fund that had so often assisted him before. He began by begging the +engineer to draw him a plan, just a little plan, just a sketch to begin +with, with a rough estimate, just a few short lines. The engineer saw +quite clearly what he was aiming at with all his diminutives and at +first refused; but at last, yielding to the other's insistence, he +exclaimed: "Well, listen, then! I will do my best with the plan, but +as to money...!" And his laugh was full of meaning. The blessed one +protested, "The idea!" He had never thought of asking him for money. +Nevertheless the wedge had entered, and Don Santino's visits became +frequent. The engineer was induced to go to Porta Vittoria with him +on several occasions. Once the priest failed to find him at home, +and so waited for him, talking the while with the maid, Bigin, whose +confessor he was, and who was as simple at sixty as she had been at +twelve. Don Santino told her his plans, first swearing her to secrecy, +and then instructed her what to do to further them, almost going the +length of promising her Paradise if she should manage to get his Home +mentioned in her master's will. He inquired casually concerning the +relations between uncle and nephew, and learned that on one occasion +the uncle had spoken of his nephew's life as being wasted. Bigin could +not promise much, because: "The Lord preserve me from speaking to him +of his belongings! He will never stand any meddling on that subject!" +However, should the occasion present itself.... But the occasion failed +to present itself, mainly because it would have taken the good creature +a century to grasp the true purpose of this _Pensionato_, this Home, +which at first she took to be some superannuated and poverty-stricken +clerk or employée whom her master was to be asked to support. "No, no; +that is not it at all!" cried Don Santino gravely. "That is not it?" +she queried. But after this she contented herself with committing to +memory the five words, "_Il Pensionato_--Don Santino's Home," and with +repeating to her master, in season and out, that if she were rich she +would give Don Santino her shirt, a thing she did not do, but which, +after all, she might have done easily enough, despite her lack of +riches. + + + II + +Having left Arsiero at six in the evening, Massimo reached Milan +shortly after six the next morning. They were not expecting him at +San Spirito. The engineer, who had been not very well for a couple +of days, was still in bed, but the cook and his wife gave the young +master an exceptionally warm welcome, the reason for which it would +have been difficult to perceive. The pair had soon guessed the motive +of Don Santino's frequent visits ... it was evidently some plan to get +a lot of money out of their master. "You will see," Peppina had said +to her husband, Togn. "That priest will keep at it until he has got +everything away from him." It was easy to arrive at the conclusion that +the master would die impoverished, and there would be no comfortable +little pensions to the servants. Togn and Peppina united in blaming the +stupidity of Bigin, who could not be made to see that, in speaking on +behalf of her confessor, she was working for her own beggary. The good +creature would retort, in horrified accents: "Aren't you ashamed to +think of such things? Aren't you ashamed?" + +The two, therefore, gave Massimo an unusually warm welcome, because +they looked upon him as being equally involved in the threatened +danger, and their only hope lay in his intervention. They decided to +warn him at once, but this, they saw, must not be done too abruptly, +nor before they had studied the best means of introducing the subject. +Peppina, who was more grasping, more hot-headed and impatient, than +her husband, would have liked to speak that very morning; but while +they were still arguing, Massimo left the house on his way to Porta +Magenta, where Don Aurelio's friend dwelt, not a stone's-throw from the +Monastero Maggiore. + +He walked slowly, thinking of Velo, of the silence of the +chestnut-groves, of the deep voice of Posina; thinking also, against +his will, of Leila. The vulgar façades of the houses on either side +oppressed him, and he shrank from the noise and bustle of the city. He +longed to see Don Aurelio again. It would be like another glimpse of +Lago. The stones of Milan seemed to breathe a spirit of antagonism, the +very spirit of the long letter he had received just before leaving the +Montanina, and which he had read over and over again on the journey, +enjoying the bitter satisfaction of realising its painfulness to the +utmost. It had been written by a friend whom Massimo suspected of none +too much loyalty either to himself or to the opinions he professed, and +was a minute recital of hostile acts and words that had been directed +against Massimo from the camps of the most unyielding Clericals and +of the Modernists and from sceptical Milanese society. The society of +St. Vincent de Paule had decreed the explusion of this member who had +virtually constituted himself the apologist for the Italian heretics of +the sixteenth century. The sale of his lectures had been prohibited, +and there had been allusions in the Clerical press and in the pulpits +to their insidious nature. In one Clerical house it had been reported +that Massimo had gone to Velo d'Astico to seek Don Aurelio's assistance +in preparing for the publication of a Modernist periodical. Moreover, +most unedifying reports had been circulated concerning Massimo's +relations with a certain married woman. This was the only part of +the letter that amused Massimo, for the woman referred to was a most +estimable person, and the reverse of all that is beautiful, graceful, +and fascinating. In the Modernist camp they despised Massimo for a +poor, priest-ridden, lukewarm, timid creature, who was incapable of +freeing himself from the fetters of tradition and of rebelling against +the Church's tyranny over the conscience. They looked upon him as an +old young man, twenty years behind his times, not quite a Clerical, but +differing only slightly from one, and they laughed at him. + +In society the women, with but few exceptions, were more strongly +opposed to him than the men. The latter set him down as a creature +of indecision, a mediocrity given to half-measures. The women, even +many who went to church regularly, accused him of pharisaism and of +cowardice. His friend wrote that one evening he alone had defended +him against the goddess major and the goddess minor of a certain +aristocratic house, a mother and a daughter who were among his most +bitter enemies, but the act was set forth more in the light of a virtue +than as if the writer had really been convinced of the justice of his +arguments. + +None of these details were new to Massimo, who had left Milan in the +midst of the storm; but as he had the feeling of having been absent +a hundred years, he had been unprepared to find it still raging +so severely on his return. Don Aurelio, in his place, would have +prayed meekly for the malicious offenders, and would have consoled +himself with the words of the "Imitation of Christ": "_Quid sunt +verba nisi verba?_" But Massimo merely felt a supreme contempt for +all this uproar; and if, during the past weeks, he had ever doubted +his own faith, and had ever been tempted to withdraw from all +religious controversy, now, confronted as he was by this host of +hostile, mocking, or compassionate faces, he burned to show them how +unyieldingly he stood his ground. + +Don Aurelio and his friend had both gone out. The servant believed they +had gone to see the Archbishop, but they might return at any moment, +and Massimo met them on the stairs as he was going away. At first Don +Aurelio hardly recognised him. In Milan? How was this? On catching +sight of Massimo the other priest's face darkened. He was a most +excellent man, unbending as regards doctrine, but just and charitable, +incapable of playing the spy and of hypocrisy. He defended Don Aurelio +because his Rosminian views were known to him, as were his exemplary +life and great piety. But he had disapproved of Massimo's lectures, and +knowing the young man but slightly, believed a certain amount of the +scandal that had been circulated concerning him. + +Massimo understood, and instead of detaining Don Aurelio, asked him +to come and see him towards noon. Then, notwithstanding the early +hour--it was barely ten o'clock--he decided to call upon the very lady +whose name had been so maliciously coupled with his. She had sent him +a note to San Spirito on the previous day, begging him to come and see +her at any hour, as soon as he reached Milan. Massimo now went out of +courtesy, but not willingly, despite the affinity in political and +religious views that had once drawn them together in a common effort at +propaganda. The good lady, possessed not only of a husband to whom his +wife's visionary schemes were a constant trial, but of four big sons +as well, each more badly brought up and ill-mannered than the others, +received Massimo with an embarrassing outburst of affectionate anxiety. +At last! At last! But, dear Alberti!... What had he been doing? Why +had he run away? Why had he stayed away so long? What had he taken into +his head? Did he not know that things had been getting worse and worse +here? Did he not know they were all against him? Had he been here he +might have defended himself, might have convinced them--but instead he +had disappeared, and no one had known anything about him. There had +even been a rumour that he had entered a convent, like that master of +his--some said at Subiaco, some at Praglia. And did he know this and +had he heard that? Hereupon the lady who, in theory, professed a lofty +contempt for the world and its doings, but in practice revelled in +every bit of slightly improper gossip that was brought to her, related +to Massimo more or less the same things that his friend's letter had +contained. On reaching the most delicate point, she covered her far +from youthful face with both hands and exclaimed, between groans and +laughter: "Dio! Dio! Alberti! Don't you know you should not be here? +that perhaps I am doing wrong to receive you? Have you heard what they +have dared to say?" + +Now, the lady had a very good-looking parlourmaid, and Massimo, who was +irritated beyond measure by the torrent of gossip that had spread in so +many directions, and who was also keenly alive to the ridiculous side +of the situation, could not resist saying: + +"What have they said? That I come here to make love to your +parlourmaid?" + +For a moment his hostess was perplexed, but she was too simple and +good-natured to take offence, and was even relieved by his mistake, +for she believed Alberti to be incapable of deceit. Not until after +his departure, when she paused to examine the nature of his mistake, +did she ask herself how he had happened to notice the girl's youth and +grace, and in her simple heart she exclaimed, "Just think of that, +now!" But at the time she promptly changed the subject, with a hasty, +"Enough, enough! We had better not discuss it!" And she brought forward +a plan about which she was enthusiastic--a plan for a third lecture. +He really must deliver a third lecture to explain the first and the +second, and correct certain impressions, especially that of subservient +submission to authority. + +She had consulted several of her women friends, and was in a position +to suggest a subject that was at once most interesting and most +appropriate--"From Döllinger to Loisy." "My dear friend," said Massimo, +"if I take up the pen again, which I doubt, it will be to use it as a +lash." + +On reaching home towards noon he found a telegram from Donna Fedele +announcing Signor Marcello's death. The news filled him with +astonishment, and grieved him most deeply. He had not realised how fond +he was of the old man. He went in to greet his uncle with the telegram +in his hand, his face wearing an expression of sorrow. Usually their +meetings were painfully silent, both uncle and nephew--the younger man +especially--racking their brains to find topics of conversation that +would not lead to an unpleasant clashing of views. On this occasion the +sad news relieved them of the difficulty. The telegram contained the +information that another would follow, stating the day and hour of the +funeral. + +"Shall you go?" the engineer inquired. + +Massimo hesitated slightly. A "yes" rose to his lips, but he answered +"No" resolutely, in order to bind himself and to avert all danger of +yielding to a possible weakness. The engineer made no comment, but his +expression said plainly that the "no" struck him as strange. "You will +want to send a telegram," said he, and offered to send the cook out +with it after luncheon. But Massimo declared this would be unnecessary. +He would send it himself. He lunched with his uncle and then withdrew +to his own apartment, his heart full of visions of Leila alone and in +tears in the villa over which hung the shadow of death. He took up his +pen to write the telegram. Once more the desire assailed him to go--to +see her again. He flung down his pen, crying aloud in an angry voice: + +"Good God! How weak I am!" + +He glanced anxiously about him, fearful lest some one might have heard. +Once more he seized his pen and reflected. He sought for unusual words, +words that should adequately express his sentiments towards the dead +man and towards the living woman. But they would not come. Then he +decided that a telegram, couched in conventional terms, would be more +fitting. And what if, instead of a telegram, he should send a letter? +He decided at last to telegraph to Donna Fedele and to write to the +Signorina, and rapidly wrote as follows: + + +"SIGNORINA,--I feel sure that you are mourning for one who has been +a father to you. I myself mourn for him even more deeply perhaps, +grateful above everything for his affection and esteem. I bless his +memory as I do that of his son. + + "MASSIMO ALBERTI." + +Peppina announced Don Aurelio. The sad news that Massimo had to tell +him filled him with sorrow, but did not surprise him. He had foreseen +this, but had not expected it to happen so soon. Poor Signor Marcello! +After his last confession he had spoken of Signorina Leila, expressing +grief that he must leave her, soon probably, alone and unprotected, +exposed to the danger of falling into her father's hands again, and +to a destiny no one could foresee. Here Don Aurelio paused and looked +inquiringly at Massimo. Massimo replied without waiting for further +questions. + +"You see, I am here." Don Aurelio gave silent sympathy. Presently he +asked softly if his friend were going to the funeral. "No," said the +young man; "I shall write. Or rather, I have already written. Read +this." And he handed him the letter. Don Aurelio studied it for a while. + +"That is good," he said at last. "I can see why you have used the word +'affection,' but I cannot say why you say 'esteem' as well." + +"Believe me," said Massimo, "it is the right word." + +Don Aurelio returned the letter with a sigh, and without demanding +further explanations, which he felt would be distressing. Then he told +of his visit to the Archbishop, to whom he had presented a letter from +the Bishop of Vicenza. His Eminence had received him most kindly, and +promised to take him into his diocese. Naturally, it might be some time +before the right place was found for him, and meanwhile, in order that +he might earn something, they would get him some pupils. The autumn was +approaching, there were the October examinations in view, and it was a +favourable time. Finally, assuming a fatherly air, the Archbishop had +advised him to keep much to himself, and then, with a smile, that was +also fatherly, he had alluded to the priests of Velo d'Astico. "I can +fancy what they are like," he had said. "Good men, but the sort that +see heretics everywhere. I know a priest who came to me to denounce a +colleague of his as a heretic because he so disliked wine that he made +his salad with lemon instead of vinegar!" In a word, Don Aurelio was +more than satisfied with his visit. And how about his books? What would +become of them? Massimo reassured him. Donna Fedele would attend to +everything. He was curious to know what Don Aurelio's friend had said +of him, after their meeting on the stairs. + +"I noticed the face he pulled," said Massimo. + +Don Aurelio smiled. + +"He told me several unpleasant things about you, but all in perfect +good faith, poor man, for he was only repeating what he had heard! He +informed me that you were a Theosophist, that you did not believe in +the divinity of Christ, in the Resurrection, in the Real Presence, and +so forth and so on. To tell the truth, I had all I could do to convince +him that he was mistaken. Once convinced, however, he was greatly +relieved. Nevertheless, he advised me not to see too much of you." + +"We will write to each other," said Massimo. "Besides, I do not intend +to stay long in Milan." + +He proceeded to enlighten his friend concerning the troubles and +vexations that made life in Milan a burden to him, and then he opened +his heart to him about certain other anxieties that would prevent +his going away again immediately. In his own right he possessed only +forty thousand lire, which sum was invested in a mortgage that would +shortly be paid off. His uncle, besides the hospitality that was always +open to him, made him an allowance of two hundred lire a month. The +sixteen hundred lire that his own capital produced represented the +small foundation of his independence. Notwithstanding his affection +and respect for his uncle, Massimo could not help fearing that the +deep-rooted, though unacknowledged, disparity in their views would +one day bring about a crisis which would make it impossible for him +to continue to accept his uncle's generosity. Therefore, as he was +disinclined to practise medicine, and his favourite occupations not +being of a money-producing nature, he must find some profitable +investment for his small fortune. He told Don Aurelio these things with +a melancholy smile for having to consider such matters which harass +even the most fervent idealist. The conditions made it imperative +for him to look out for some one who wished to borrow capital, to +go through formalities with notaries, and draw up contracts, or +he might be obliged to make inquiries into the stability of bank +shares, of shares in industrial enterprises, or to consider other +similar undertakings. He could not think of Government bonds, for at +the rate of interest they were then producing his income would have +been diminished by two hundred lire. "And two hundred lire," he said, +"represents a sum which may mean much to me." + +The friends went out together, Don Aurelio to pay a call which he hoped +would result in two lessons a week, and Massimo to post his letter and +telegraph to Donna Fedele. + + + III + +The next morning Peppina informed Massimo that her husband begged for +an audience. The man came in, and Peppina also put in an appearance +again, but remained standing near the door, a few steps behind her +husband, and in an attitude of reinforcement. Hardly had Togn uttered +his introductory, "Well, you see...." than he began to flounder in an +ocean of excuses for what he was going to say. "Begging your pardon, +sir.... It may not be my place.... It is not fitting.... I know +that.... But, after all.... Well, there!... Certain goings on.... It +is entirely on your account.... One can't always hold one's tongue.... +Certain goings on.... Ain't that so, wife?..." Peppina, thus appealed +to, murmured, "Exactly!" and with a final, "Well, there!" Togn brought +his preamble to a close. + +He began the second part of his oration in much the same manner, +however: "Well, you see...." And, looking over his shoulder from +time to time to solicit confirmation from his wife with an "Ain't +that so, Peppina?" he proceeded to relate the manœuvres of Blessed +Take-what-you-give-her! He briefly sketched the priest's career, +dwelling especially upon this last episode, the institution to be +erected at Porta Vittoria, the gift of land, and the frequent, almost +daily visits to the engineer. Thus he prepared a final effect in which +his language became somewhat stronger, and was coloured by that special +form of cant, the prophecy of evil: "Well, I can solemnly assure you +that this Ciapasü will be the ruin of this house! I warn you because +it is my duty to do so--which is the wife's opinion also--ain't it, +Peppina? And you can trust us. Now I had better tell you exactly how +matters stand." + +But Massimo did not hear the prophetic recital of the machinations that +threatened the engineer's "pile," because he promptly interrupted the +orator as soon as he had grasped the true meaning of the discourse. How +was this? Was the engineer not master of his own money? What right had +they to complain if he spent it in one way rather than another? Seeing +the evil turn matters had taken, the couple protested that they had +dared this step solely in Massimo's interest, whereupon the young man +became so furious that the unfortunate pair made a hasty exit, leaving +behind them a string of frightened excuses. + +Later in the day Massimo went to see his notary. On his way home he +met the friend who had written him the famous letter, and who had been +to San Spirito in search of him, wishing to carry him off to lunch at +the house of a certain lady with whom both were acquainted. Massimo +declined the invitation, but his friend insisted. He had received a +note from the lady, couched in terms of Napoleonic firmness. "I know +that Alberti is in Milan. Bring him to lunch to-morrow, dead or alive." +Massimo's friend himself had had his invitation three days before, +and believed it was going to be a large gathering. This hostess, who +was clever, selfish, sentimental, and cultured, sometimes indulged +in the amusement of inviting a lot of people of the most opposite +tendencies, demanding only, if they were stupid, that they be either +rich or titled; if intellectual, that they have a clean shirt, but +even accepting certain celebrities with a dirty one. Some few objected +to these gatherings, and never went a second time, but most of her +guests were glad to come again, some because of her chef's skill, +or the quality of her wines, some because of their hostess's clever +conversation and the splendour of her house, so that they might boast +of their invitation and either praise or abuse everything. Massimo +was convinced that the lady wished to have him simply in order to +play him off against his enemies. He could already imagine her +self-justification: "I asked you out of pure friendship, in order that +you might have an opportunity of explaining your position." Whereas, +in reality, her sole motive would have been that she might enjoy the +spectacle of a struggle between clever adversaries. She might accuse +him of cowardice, but what was that to him? Under no conditions and +from no one would he accept an invitation to lunch while poor Signor +Marcello still lay upon his deathbed. His friend declared that this was +going too far, but failed to move Massimo by his arguments. + +The young man lunched with his uncle, whom he found quite restored to +his usual health, and in conversation with Don Santino. On catching +sight of Massimo the priest hurried away almost in a state of +panic. His uncle did not mention this visit until after coffee was +served, and Bigin, who had waited upon them, had gone to have her +own lunch. Then he spoke softly, in a tone that was exaggeratedly +confidential, and as if by the simple words, "You saw that priest?" he +had been divulging a secret concerning the safety of his money. His +confidential communications rambled on, always in an undertone, always +good-natured, unusually affectionate in tone if somewhat confused in +substance, owing to his preoccupation with the thought of a fixed goal, +and his anxiety lest he should be checked by some one or something +before reaching it. The engineer's face wore a pleased expression, +and, in the beginning, his chuckles almost outnumbered his words. The +chuckles were evoked by thoughts of the cook and his wife, who could +not endure the sight of the priest. Their master had noticed this, had +guessed their secret fears and laughed at them, for his great kindness +to his domestics did not prevent his valuing them at their real worth, +and, perhaps, at a little less. And so he had guessed that they hated +the sight of the priest because they feared he might "reduce them to +their shirts." The cook had once said to him, "That priest knows what +he is about when he comes here!" The parlourmaid was different. She +was all devotion to Don Santino. The engineer had one day told Bigin +that he was prepared to give this holy man everything he possessed, +for he was sure she would repeat this to the cook. He had said more +or less the same thing to Peppina also. "On purpose, you know!" said +he in a soft falsetto, and chuckling with satisfaction at his own +cunning. Then he began talking seriously of the priest's plans and +his own intentions. He had made up his mind to give his assistance as +architect, plus a sum of five thousand lire. The priest was hoping to +get much more out of him, but as to that ... and the excellent man +concluded, "He has got his head turned!" He added that he knew his own +duty, and not only his duty towards his servants. Massimo reflected +that his uncle must have heard of his interview with Togn, and that +by this discourse of his he was simply seeking to reassure him. This +greatly annoyed the young man. He protested that his uncle had no +obligations save those towards his domestics. While he was speaking +the engineer kept mumbling, "Well, well, well!" his eyes fixed upon the +tablecloth, his hands moving as if to ward off his nephew's words. When +he could, he ejaculated, "Just listen to me now!" and then proceeded +to make a sort of testamentary declaration of principles, in that tone +of gentle firmness he sometimes assumed. He was entirely free to do +what he liked with the income derived from his profession, but what he +had inherited from his parents must go to relatives. Hereupon Massimo +protested even more warmly. The engineer frowned, appearing to wish to +convey to him that this was a matter of duty rather than of affection, +and finally exclaiming excitedly, "Well, we will drop the subject--we +will drop it--for now I must take my 'constitutional' for the sake of +my digestion!" he rose from the table and so dismissed his nephew. When +he was taking his constitutional, by walking fifty times backwards and +forwards through a suite of four small rooms, he always preferred to be +alone. Massimo went out, fully determined to leave Milan, to provide +for himself, to do all that lay in his power in order that his uncle +might have no reason to look upon him as a burden and a check upon his +works of charity. + + + IV + +Before dinner the same friend came to look up Massimo again. The +hostess, disappointed at not having him to lunch, hoped to see him in +the evening. It was not a reception night, and Alberti would meet only +a few friends. + +He went there towards half-past nine, and found his hostess alone with +her unmarried daughter, a girl of about five-and-twenty. The Signora +had not expected him so early, and seemed almost disappointed, for she +was secretly alarmed lest he had come early in order to leave early, +which intention would have upset her plans. She was most gracious, +and at once referred to his sorrow, inquiring about the dead man, the +villa, and the country. But she had soon buried poor Signor Marcello +and forgotten him, and passing easily from the tone of condolence to +that of jest, she inquired with a smile, but without offering any +explanation for her question, if Praglia was far from Velo d'Astico. +Massimo's face flushed hotly, and he was on the point of retorting +that it was as far from it as all the Milanese tongues--save her +own--were from telling the truth, when fortunately two men and two +women were announced. These new-comers received a cordial welcome +from the unmarried daughter, who had been hardly civil to Massimo, +and had sat reading a newspaper while he was telling of the Montanina +and of Signor Marcello. The two women were foreigners. One, who was +young and very handsome, was a Russian. The other, old and ugly, was +a Swiss. The elder of the two men was a professor at Pavia, a big, +stout man, clumsily built and noisy, and very gallant. The other, who +was young and slim, was a politician, who took a lively interest in +intellectual matters, and who also was a ladies' man, but possessed +of far greater refinement than the professor. Massimo was more or +less well acquainted with all four. The name of the handsome Russian, +a mystic Theosophist, had even been coupled with his by the Milanese +world. She had, indeed, displayed a liking for him, and Massimo could +forgive her her theosophic mythology in consideration of her beauty, +her cleverness, and also of her mysticism. The elderly Swiss, who was a +frigid Positivist, always spoke of Massimo as bigoted and retrograde. +The politician was strongly inclined to esteem this young man, who was +so full of idealism, and whom so many were attacking. But not having +much moral courage, he would not have dared to take up the cudgels in +his defence. + +As soon as the four appeared Massimo realised that his hostess proposed +to start a discussion. He was glad of the presence of the professor and +the elderly Swiss woman, who stimulated the spirit of strife within +him. None of the new arrivals took much notice of him at first, and the +professor and the Swiss immediately began to quarrel. Their opinions +were really identical on all points, but when, in a discussion, his +elderly friend found herself confronted by another woman, both young +and attractive, the professor would at once join forces with the +latter. Hereupon the Swiss would show her irritation so plainly, and +say so many sharp things to the professor, that his delight knew no +bounds, and when occasion presented he never failed to introduce a +discussion with this end in view. The kindling which he most frequently +used to set the fire ablaze was some outrageous proposition concerning +love. But this would no longer serve, for the old lady had become over +familiar with the trick. This time the professor chose a fresh opening. +Russia, he said, should declare war against Switzerland on account of +the Nihilist refugees. The Swiss dame immediately attacked him, with +coarse personal allusions. + +Every one laughed, the Russian girl and the professor most heartily +of all, while the elderly woman continued her tirade in French, +declaiming against "_cet homme insupportable_." The politician, to +whom the subject of Russia appealed, offered to negotiate peace at +St. Petersburg. Hereupon the old woman turned upon him and was backed +by the professor, until at last the hostess succeeded in making her +voice heard--a small, husky voice, like the high notes of a diminutive +piano, enclosed in a packing-case and played upon by spirits. "Enough, +enough! I myself shall dictate the terms of peace! And what do you say, +Alberti? Say something!" + +The name of Alberti rather than her imperious "Enough!" had the effect +of oil upon the waters, and the sudden silence seemed to say, "What +has he to do with it? What can he say?" As a matter of fact Alberti +answered that he had nothing to say--really nothing, but as there was +strife going on, he should take refuge in armed neutrality. "Then you +will have us all against you!" said the Swiss. The Russian woman, who +had, as yet, hardly opened her lips, here murmured, "Yes, indeed!" and +the hostess's unmarried daughter smiled meaningly. The professor was +taking careful note of all these bad symptoms. Things were looking +black for this Alberti. "But Alberti is armed," said the politician +pleasantly. The hostess, greatly pleased at the turn the conversation +was taking, gave it a final push. + +"You were wise to arm yourself, Alberti," said she, laughing, "for +Signorina Grüssli has warlike intentions." + +"Yes, indeed!" cried the sexagenarian Grüssli. "And I am glad to be +able to tell Signor Alberti so, because we have talked a great deal +together in the past, and although our views differed, I have never +been so displeased with him as I am now. Oh, no!" + +"But why, why?" demanded the hostess, anxious to fan the flame. + +"It is needless to say. All present know, and Signor Alberti best of +all." + +"I assure you I do not," said Alberti with a cold smile. "But in any +case----" + +"You mean you don't care a rap for me? But there are others I fancy +for whom you will care. If you don't know I am going to tell you. I +attended your lectures on the heretics of the sixteenth century, my +dear sir, and I and many others with me did not approve of your saying +they should have held their tongues and obeyed! Ask these ladies and +gentlemen here!" + +The professor protested, declaring himself to be too much of a +Positivist, too far removed from Alberti's ideas and from any religious +sentiment to care whether heretics be spoken of in one way rather than +another. To him there was no difference between heretics of whatever +shade and Catholics of whatever school. He might, perhaps, admit that +unyielding Catholics, being the most logical, were therefore the least +uncongenial to him. The Swiss dame caught him up sharply. She admitted +there was little to choose between heretics, Modernists, and Papists, +but there was the moral question, the question of self-respect, of +honesty. "I should think so!" said the daughter of the house. But it +was the handsome Làlina, the Russian, who added fuel to the fire. + +"I am not a Positivist," she began, speaking in French, "but my +disappointment was far greater than Signorina Grüssli's, and I am glad +to be able to tell Signor Alberti so. I hold Anne Besant's views, but I +might perhaps have become a Catholic had the ideas contained in Signor +Alberti's articles been recognised by his Church. I was enthusiastic +about those articles. I thought their author would prove an apostle +full of faith and ready to accept martyrdom. But his lectures showed me +plainly enough that he is no such apostle, that he would not even seek +a stone-cold pile." + +Here the daughter of the house laughed, putting as much impertinence +as possible into her laugh; and her mother sought to ease matters by +saying, not without a flash of mirth in her eye: + +"Oh, poor Alberti! How they are abusing him!" + +"As to the pile," said the politician, "it seems to me Alberti went +out of his way to find it, and that he is standing upon it at the +present moment. It may not be a pile of the Holy Inquisition, and it is +probably of '_bois de sandale_,' but nevertheless I can smell the odour +of burning. But as far as that goes, Signorina Grüssli, I also burn +without any pile at all." + +"That may be," cried the Swiss woman, "but there is no odour of burning +about _you_--only of cooking!"[3] + +Meanwhile Alberti was thinking: "Shall I refrain from telling these +foolish creatures the truth, just because they are women? If they keep +it up I certainly shall speak out!" His hostess claimed his attention. + +"Why don't you speak, Alberti? Why don't you defend yourself?" + +"He has been burnt at the stake," the professor cried gaily. "Let us at +least respect his ashes!" + +"No," said Massimo, delighted to have hit upon a harsh answer. "I will +not defend myself. I should be in danger of convincing many. I have +isolated myself, and you cannot think how delightful it is to be alone. +I do not feel the slightest desire to defend myself. Allow me to remain +silent. Should I speak, I might utter words of too defiant, too violent +a nature." + +"But we don't ask you for humility and gentleness. We ask you for +reasons," the hostess retorted. + +"No, no, dear lady, I have not heard any one ask for reasons!" + +"But I do--I ask for them," she pressed. + +"Ah, you only!" said Massimo. He was silent for a moment and then went +on, smiling: "I have something to ask for also. I would not accept +Signorina Làlina's 'stone-cold pile' because it would not even serve to +make a cup of tea. I should like to know if this other terrible pile +upon which they tell me I am standing will heat a cup for me?" + +"Don't get furious, Alberti!" his hostess warned, while her daughter +murmured: + +"He will bite us presently!" + +"Oh, no, Signorina!" said Massimo, laughing. "You may beware of me in +the future, but at present I am muzzled." + +Tea was served in another room. His hostess took Massimo aside. + +"Why did you refuse to defend yourself?" said she. "It was a mistake. +The professor raised a great to-do against you, even at the University." + +"What is that to me?" said Massimo, and he entered into conversation +with the two foreigners, showing himself in a more amiable mood. He +made no effort, however, to be amiable to the daughter of the house. +Signorina Grüssli and the Russian might not be very level-headed, and +they were not deliberative nor sufficient, intellectually, for the part +they wished to play, but they were at least honest, and enthusiastic in +support of their own views. The hostility displayed by the daughter of +the house was based upon conceit and ignorance. + + * * * * * + +On leaving, the politician offered to accompany Massimo. "Well, well, +my dear Alberti," he began, taking the young man's arm as they reached +the street. "You did quite right not to get into a discussion. Those +are people who reason little and poorly. The professor is about as +clever as a rhinoceros, and as to the women--they do what they can, +poor things! Even the Russian! She is awfully pretty, but there are +other topics besides religion I should like to discuss with her. She +certainly is awfully pretty. But never mind that. I wish you would +kindly enlighten me a little, for I am really very much in the dark. +Answer me seriously, exactly as you honestly feel, and I promise +not to betray you. Do you really believe that this old bark of St. +Peter's will not end at last in some shed connected with the Navy +Department? Or, at least, do you really believe it can go on being +propelled by oars or by wind, and that St. Peter himself will not +sooner or later be forced to get a motor? You are not to answer me as +you would do in public. I know well enough how you would answer there. +Of course you call yourself a Catholic. One might as well put such a +question to the Cardinal of Milan. I am asking you for your private +opinion--here--between ourselves. Will you give it to me?" + +"Why not?" said Massimo. "I will answer you as Pius IX answered those +cardinals who were saying how safe was the bark amidst the tempest. The +bark will neither sink, nor run aground, nor end in a shed. But as to +the crew--that is quite another matter." + +"Words, words!" said his disappointed interlocutor. "This is a jest. I +did not ask you for a jest." + +"I beg your pardon, but the matter of the shed, the oars, and the motor +was a jest also. But if you really wish it I will answer you seriously. +If I believed that the Church to which I belong could fall, I would not +wait for an earthquake, but leave it at once. But I assure you that not +even an earthquake could drive me out of it, such is my faith in its +foundations." + +"Happy man!" cried the honourable deputy, stopping, and dropping +Massino's arm. "But look here--besides the visible Church you Catholics +have an invisible one, have you not? Well, then, in your place, I +should feel a great deal safer in the invisible Church in case of an +earthquake." + +They were standing in front of Café Cova, where a group of friends +were awaiting the politician. "Listen to me," said he. "You are young +and I am almost old. I have a great liking for you, and I am going to +take the liberty of giving you a piece of advice. Don't think so much +about religion. Be satisfied with your own beliefs and practices, but +don't meddle with religious questions for the general public. Our +public gets out of patience when too much religion is forced upon it. +It cannot understand that a young man like you should be so deeply +interested in matters that concern another world than this. Do you +see?" The political personage pronounced that smiling and familiar "Do +you see?" with all the warmth of his liking for the young man, and also +with somewhat of gentle authority, the authority of that world that did +not understand Massimo, of a great and powerful world composed of men +who have reached comfortable places, and are persuaded that the great +essential is to get as much enjoyment as possible out of life--and of +other men who have not yet "arrived," who are engrossed in politics, +and who, not in words but in their secret souls, set slight value upon +everything that is devoid of political importance, and is outside the +field of the struggle for political power. + +"No, I don't see!" Massimo replied, laughing. "I must tell you that I +delight in vexing the public." + +"A strange taste, my boy!" said the elder man, and entered the café. + +Finding himself alone, Massimo started homewards. He was pleased +with himself--bitterly, fiercely pleased. His tower of pride was a +comfortable place, whence he could look out upon Leila, his uncle, +the hostile world, the scoffing world, the indifferent world. In his +thoughts he raised it as high as the clouds, covered it with gold and +steel, and joyed in dwelling alone in his impregnable stronghold. In +his preoccupation, instead of turning out of Via Manzoni into Via Monte +Napoleone, he kept straight on as far as the arches of Porta Nuova. +Now it was a question of choosing a place somewhere outside of Milan, +whither he might transport his tower. Thinking and searching, he passed +the arches. The idea of applying for a post as parish doctor somewhere +in the mountains, which had flashed across his mind at the Montanina, +again took possession of him. Meanwhile, he wandered onward as far as +the railway bridge, where he was once more aroused by the sense of +topographical reality. + +On reaching home he sat down to write to Donna Fedele to excuse his +absence from the funeral. But while writing, it occurred to him that +he might pay a visit to the Velo cemetery instead in the course of a +few days. He could easily go there from the Seghe station, between two +trains. He tore up his note and wrote another, announcing that on the +4th of July, at one o'clock, he would leave the train at Seghe for this +visit, and expressing the hope that his friend would bear him company. + + + FOOTNOTES: + +[3] To be cooked, in colloquial Italian, means to be over head and ears +in love.--TRANSLATOR'S NOTE. + + + + + CHAPTER VII + FROM THE HEIGHTS TO THE DEPTHS + + + I + +On the 4th of July at a quarter to one, Donna Fedele reached the Seghe +station in her usual small carriage, drawn by the usual small horse. On +hearing the whistle of the train on its way from San Giorgio, she left +the waiting-room where she had been amusing herself by talking with a +dirty old herdsman, and went out into the broiling sun without opening +her parasol. Before the train had come to a standstill she had caught +sight of Massimo at one of the windows of the last carriage, and was +hastening towards him, smiling joyously. Massimo's expression showed +how pale and ill he thought her looking, and at first both shrank from +referring to their recent loss. As they left the station she inquired +when he intended to leave. By the next train, he told her, and he was +going back again to Milan. They would have two hours together, and the +carriage would take them to the San Giorgio cemetery in a very few +minutes. They drove along the banks of the Astico, which was swollen +and noisy after the heavy rain of the night before; and she talked of +Signor Marcello's death, referring to the premonitory symptoms, the +particulars of that last day, and of the thunderstorm, and telling of +the plants he had carried outdoors, the money he had laid ready on the +writing-table, the lamp that had been found burning, and the aspect +of the body. She spoke very quietly about it all, not mentioning Leila +on account of the driver. At San Giorgio the custodian of the cemetery +pointed out a dark mound of freshly upturned earth, and then left them. +Donna Fedele had brought two roses with her, one of which she now gave +to Massimo. They knelt down and placed the roses upon the upturned +earth, and prayed silently, while the custodian struggled with a group +of inquisitive urchins who had slipped in at the open gate. Their +voices seemed disturbing to the peace of him who slept there. Donna +Fedele rose, ordered the children to kneel down and be silent, and her +quiet power compelled their obedience. Then she returned to Massimo, +remaining there beside him for a few minutes longer. He felt that she +was moved by an emotion far deeper than his, but he knew nothing of the +past, and this feeling drew his thoughts away from his dead friend to +her. + +Before getting into the carriage again, she said that she wished to +speak to him on a critical matter. She could not do so in the carriage +or in the waiting-room at Seghe, and she therefore suggested that they +should cross the small wooden bridge that connects Seghe with the group +of houses known as _Schiri_, and follow the shady path along the left +bank of the Astico. + +"I must talk to you about Leila," she said, when they had left the +carriage near the Seghe post-office, and were walking along a narrow +street between two rows of grimy cottages. "I must"? thought Massimo. +Why _must_ she? Had she been charged to do so? He remained silent, and +put himself on the defensive. + +"I must ask your advice, not so much for Leila as for myself in dealing +with her." + +Their conversation was interrupted by a meeting with some friends of +Donna Fedele, who were coming from the bridge. Presently, when they had +passed the cottages, they came in sight of the broad and angry river, +threading the wide, green plain to the stretch of open sky between the +two wings of the valley beyond. + +"Poor Signor Marcello always loved this spot!" said she. + +"You wish advice for yourself?" Massimo asked. + +"Yes, yes! For myself!" Donna Fedele answered. "Do you know that Leila +is staying with me now?" + +Massimo stopped short, and Donna Fedele looked at her watch. + +"We have an hour and a quarter longer," said she. "Let us go and sit +down." + +They crossed the bridge, and sat down on a low wall in the broken +shadows of the hornbeam-trees whose branches hung over the sunlit +stream. Donna Fedele began by speaking of the will, and of Signor +Marcello's mistake as to Leila's age. Andrea had said she was nearly +eighteen, when she could not have been more than sixteen. He himself +might not have known. + +"Leila's father," Donna Fedele went on, "who heard the news +immediately, no one knows how, telegraphed that, as his daughter was +a minor, he was coming at once to assert his rights as her guardian. +Leila had a terrible attack of nerves, and refused to see her father. +So he sent to beg me to fetch her, and I took her home with me. Then +the funeral took place, but she did not go. She was in no condition +to do so, indeed, for she spent the whole day in bed with a raging +headache. I went, and, of course, her father was there." + +"What sort of a man is he?" Massimo asked, interrupting her. + +"Ah! Disgusting to look at! Imagine one of those wax heads out of a +barber's window, grown old, with badly dyed hair and a dirty skin! He +talks idiotically, and with great stiffness. You would say he was +starched with self-consciousness. In my presence, at least, he showed +extreme embarrassment. If I did not know him to be a sly fox I should +set him down as an imbecile. After the funeral he came to pay me a +visit, 'to perform his duty,' he said, in his affected way. He asked +to see Leila as her steward might have done, but not her father. She +would not hear of this, and after a few muttered expressions of pity +for her he took himself off, perfectly satisfied. He is unique in his +way. This morning he sent me a note, saying he was going away for a few +days with the agent, and that on his return he hoped to find Leila at +the Montanina. But Leila...." + +Donna Fedele pronounced these two last words very softly and then +lapsed into silence, slowly drawing mystic signs in the grass with the +point of her parasol. She was waiting for a question that did not come. + +"Leila is a great anxiety to me," said she, "and I do wish Don Aurelio +were here to advise me." + +Massimo immediately began talking of Don Aurelio, of his present +condition, and of his hopes for the future. At any other time Donna +Fedele would have listened eagerly, and have put a thousand questions. +But now she was impatient, feeling that Massimo was only trying to +avoid talking of Leila. + +"Perhaps you could ask his advice for me?" said she at last. + +Massimo answered coldly that he would do so if she wished it. + +"But you yourself ought to see Leila." + +The young man started. How could that be possible? The train would be +starting in half an hour now. + +"You might stay here," Donna Fedele murmured. + +Stay here? Certainly not! The harsh answer was delivered with emphasis +and decision, and seemed like a protest--almost a reproach. + +"It would really please her." + +In spite of his emphatic refusal, Donna Fedele made this remark very +calmly. Massimo, however, was as clever as she was at not hearing what +he did not wish to hear and not understanding what he did not wish to +understand. + +"But you wrote to her," she went on. "I know you did, because they +brought the letter to her at the Villino while she was ill, and I +myself received it. What did you say?" + +It was Massimo's turn now to be deaf. + +"I should not like to lose my train," he remarked. "I have only about +twenty minutes left." + +"Lose it!" Donna Fedele was getting excited. "You would certainly do so +if you had heard Leila's confession to me this morning," she added. + +"What confession?" + +"Stay here, if you want to know!" + +Massimo rose. The colour had fled from his face. + +"I must not," he said. "And you--forgive me for saying so--should not +ask me to. It would be too humiliating after her treatment of me. But +now I shall really lose my train if I do not start. Goodbye." + +"Go, then," said Donna Fedele, without rising. "But you are only a +great, foolish boy!" + +"A boy?" + +"Yes, a boy! You do not know what love is yet. You do not know that +when one really loves, one loves! There can be no question, then, of +humiliation. When one really loves, one loves!" + +They heard the whistle of the train at the Arsiero station. Massimo +said goodbye and hurried off, but Donna Fedele knew that the train +always whistled some time before it actually started. She rose, too, +but very slowly, and stood thinking over her own words: "When one +really loves, one loves!" + +She was back again, young and passionate, with Marcello in the forests +of Lavarone, and living again in that sweet moment when, had he asked +it, she would have given herself blindly to him, forgetful of all else. +Then suddenly the noisy, plaintive waters awoke her to realities again. + +She rejoined Massimo at the station just as the train was coming in, +and had time to whisper to him: "Stay! She loves you--she has almost +admitted it!" + +"She loves you!" The words pierced him like an arrow, pinioning him. He +could neither move nor speak. Donna Fedele began to hope that, after +all, he would stay. But he suddenly started from her side and jumped +into the train, almost without knowing what he was doing. The engine +had been uncoupled and sent to fetch some freight-cars, and Donna +Fedele was able to speak to him again through the open window of the +first-class compartment, in which there were other travellers besides +Massimo. As she might want to write to him, she inquired if he intended +to be in Milan during July. He told her that a letter from Rome had +lain a very dear and solemn charge upon him, which would oblige his +leaving Milan almost immediately and going to the Lake of Lugano. For +the future he had other plans. Donna Fedele brought her face as near as +the open window as possible and whispered a farewell: + +"She loves you!" + +The train started. Massimo's head swam, and he closed his eyes, partly +so that he might escape recognising a fellow-traveller whom he knew. +He pretended to be asleep, and saw Leila coming towards him. He opened +his eyes quickly, that he might no longer see her, and his gaze rested +upon the flying greenness of this happy valley. Then he closed them, +that he might see her once again, and he had a vision of her fair +head, drooping upon her breast as if to hide her face. Presently he +saw two little white hands being raised very slowly, and felt them +resting at last upon his shoulders. With a shudder he opened his eyes. +He no longer saw the glittering landscape, but always that fair head. +The train thundered into the Mea tunnel. Then he felt her arms about +his neck, her face against his, and kisses and tears, and heard the +oft-repeated words, "I love you, I love you!" His breath was coming in +gasps, and he suddenly thought, "What a weak fool I am! What has become +of my tower of pride?" He put his head out of the window and watched +the passing trees and fields, repeating to himself, "Fool! Fool!" +Besides, Donna Fedele had said "almost." It was she, she alone, who +was trying to put things straight. But if it really were so! He drew +back from the window, searched his pockets for a newspaper he could +not find, bowed to his fellow-passenger, apologising for not having +recognised him sooner, and began discussing the railway that would one +day connect Rocchetta with Asiago. + +He had two hours to wait at Vicenza. He knew no one there, and so +walked slowly up and down the broad avenues of plane-trees leading to +the station. It was five o'clock and very hot, and only a few idle +people like himself were pacing silently in the sultry shade. He +thought for a moment of coming to live in this peaceful, unknown little +town. But no, Velo was too near. As he entered the station once more he +heard the cry, "Thiene--Schio!" By taking that train he could be back +at Villino delle Rose before dark! Farewell, farewell, green valley, +dear streams, roses blowing in the mountain breeze! He went to the café +and read the _Corriere della Sera_ through from beginning to end. He +even dipped into the advertisements, and found the following notice: + +"The post of parish-physician to the united communes of Valsolda will +remain open until the end of August. Salary 3,500 lire. Applications +to be addressed to the Mayor of Drano (Como)." + +Half an hour later he heard the cry, "Verona--Brescia--Milan!" + +Massimo rose, still lost in thought, and still clutching the _Corriere +della Sera_. + + + II + +Before she returned to the Villino, Donna Fedele went to Seghe to see +a poor young fellow who was dying of consumption, and who worshipped +her as an angel from heaven. He had known her when working as painter's +apprentice at the Villino. A wild life had brought disease upon him, +and, remembering Donna Fedele's gentle admonitions, he had begged her +to visit him. She went often to read to him or to show him illustrated +books and photographs. To-day she found him unhappy and restless. The +chaplain of Velo had been with him, and having noticed a copy of the +Gospels, published by the Society of St. Jerome, which the Signora +had given him, he had advised him not to read it, saying he would not +be able to understand. Donna Fedele hid her indignation as well as +she could, and promising the poor boy that she herself would read and +explain the holy book to him, she went away, leaving him comforted, +but carrying with her much sadness and another weight upon her soul. +Leila had not told her in so many words that she loved Massimo. She had +simply offered to leave the house, in case, she said, Signor Alberti +were so indignant with her that her presence there would make it too +embarrassing for him to stay there. That was all she had said, but her +tone, her manner, and her face had spoken eloquently. If Massimo had +yielded to her entreaty and had stayed, perhaps.... + +But he had gone, and in Donna Fedele's heart hope was giving way to +disappointment, and with Leila in her present state of mind, she +foresaw the danger of a catastrophe. The girl had not said anything to +her to arouse suspicion, but in the past she had more than once told +Teresina that, should she again be forced to live with her father, she +would certainly kill herself. Poor, frightened Teresina had thought her +mad, but Donna Fedele did not think this. She admitted that she was +strange, but she thought her largely the victim of a false conception +of religion, the result of a naturally eccentric temperament, ignorant +upbringing, and evil example. She hoped that Leila's speeches to the +maid had not been serious, but her present gloomy silence was not an +encouraging sign. She did not wish Leila to go out alone; therefore, +when, on reaching the house, she learned that the girl had done so she +trembled with fear, though she tried to reassure herself that Leila had +gone out to avoid a possible meeting with Massimo. The servants knew +nothing of her whereabouts; they had only seen her leave the grounds +by the great gate. Donna Fedele went down to question the gate-keeper, +but the man, who worked at the Perale paper-mill, was away. His wife +told her that the Signorina had left a message that she was going to +the Montanina to fetch something, and that she would not be home before +six o'clock. Evidently Leila had thought that, if Alberti came to the +Villino, he would be leaving by the six o'clock train, and this only +meant that she did not wish to be in the way. To make sure, however, +Donna Fedele dispatched her maid to the Montanina, with the excuse that +Leila might need her help. + +At six o'clock they both returned from the Villino with Teresina, +who had begged to be allowed to go back with them and to visit the +house, which she had never been inside. Leila greeted Donna Fedele +affectionately, without inquiring for Alberti or about the visit to +the cemetery, and then withdrew to her own room. Donna Fedele answered +Teresina's request to see over the house with a sweet smile, but hardly +had Leila left the room than the woman's face assumed an expression +of anxiety and embarrassment that showed the Signora something had +happened, and that the maid's desire to see the Villino was merely an +excuse. + +"I will show you my study first," said Donna Fedele. + +The study was in one comer of the house, looking south and west, and +it was the room in which they were least likely to be disturbed. As +soon as Donna Fedele had closed the door she inquired in a low tone +if anything unpleasant had happened. By way of answer Teresina buried +her face in her hands and began to sob. Donna Fedele urged her gently +to explain herself, and the maid began by protesting in a voice which +shook with emotion that it was not her fault, that she had thought she +was doing right, and that, after all, she had only told the truth. +Donna Fedele could make nothing of all this. What had she done? What +had she said? Little by little the woman became more calm, and told her +story. + +"I was not expecting to see the Signorina," said she. "I was in the +scullery when I heard steps in the passage outside the kitchen. I +looked to see who was there. It was the Signorina, and she greeted me +affectionately. She seemed perfectly calm, and told me she had come for +the photographs of poor Signor Andrea from the master's room, and for +the one the master had placed in Signor Alberti's room. + +"'You have come for them?' said I. 'Are you really not coming back +again to the Montanina?' She answered angrily, 'No, no!' and I +understood what she meant, for you know what she has often told me +about her father, about living with him, when she wished me to help her +send him money. I understood perfectly, but did not dare say anything. +'Shall I come too?' I inquired. 'No, no,' said she, 'stay here and go +on with your work. I will go in alone. Is there any one in the house?' +I told her there was no one, for Signor da Camin went away this morning +with the agent, and the footman was having his afternoon out. Even the +cook had gone out. Then she left me, and I felt rather anxious in case +she might want help. As she did not return, I made up my mind to go +after her. I waited a little while outside the master's door, thinking +she was in his room, but suddenly I heard steps on the floor above, +near the guests' room. I went into the salon. She was on her way down +the wooden stairway, and on catching sight of me she turned very red +and made a gesture of impatience. I begged her pardon, and asked if I +could not get her a cup of coffee or anything else. She did not even +answer me. + +"'Are you going away at once?' I asked. 'Yes,' said she, 'almost +immediately.' Then she went into the poor master's room, where I +believed she had already been, but she was there only a few seconds, +and came out with the photographs. On reaching the drawing-room she +flung herself into an easy-chair without speaking. I was at a loss +whether to go or to remain, but concluded at last I had better go. When +I reached the doorway, however, she called me back. 'Do you know,' said +she, 'whether Signor Alberti had permission to take that photograph +away with him?' I was astonished at this question. 'No,' said I. She +frowned. 'How shameful!' she exclaimed. 'Excuse me, Signorina,' I +answered, 'but the photograph is still there. I myself placed it in one +of the drawers of the table. I forgot to tell you so just now.' I found +the picture and gave it to her. And then--having known so much about +all this, somehow I began to talk, and took the liberty of putting in +a good word for Signor Alberti. She grew very angry. 'What is this you +are saying?' she demanded. 'Don't you remember what you yourself told +me about him?'" + +Here Teresina paused, begged Donna Fedele to excuse her for what she +was about to say, and then went on: + +"'Donna Fedele has probably been talking to you!' Signorina Leila +cried. 'No!' said I, 'I have never seen her since the funeral. It is +true I told you some evil tales about Signor Alberti, but I found out +later they were only gossip.'" + +Teresina, feeling very ashamed and penitent, now had to relate what +she had told Leila concerning Massimo's Milanese entanglement, and she +also confessed her later discoveries. On the day of the funeral the +archpriest's sister-in-law, talking to the seamstress, Angela, about +Alberti, had said that the young man was a most improper person, and +a deadly enemy of all priests. Her brother-in-law, she said, had been +instrumental in bringing about his departure; the chaplain had received +a letter from a Milanese priest who knew a lady who was deeply attached +to Signorina Leila, and who was in the greatest anxiety concerning the +presence here of this disreputable young man, whom all Milan knew to +be mixed up with a married woman. Her brother-in-law had found a means +of informing the people at the Montanina about this, and thereupon +the young man, who had come especially to arrange a rich marriage for +himself, finding himself unmasked and his plan discovered, had taken +the next train home. Signora Bettina had said that the archpriest had +his eye on a certain count from Vicenza, who, he thought, was made for +the Signorina. But this, of course, was a secret. Angela had at once +decided that it was her duty to hand on this information to her friend +Teresina. + +"I told the Signorina all this with the very best intentions," the +woman went on, "because I saw there had been a conspiracy against poor +Signor Alberti, and I felt I had somehow been in it also, and I was +dreadfully upset." + +"Well, and what happened?" Donna Fedele inquired anxiously. + +"I am going to tell you," sighed Teresina. "First of all she looked +angry--Dio, how angry she looked! But she never uttered a word. Then +presently she began to question me, and made me repeat over and over +again what Angela had said. At last she rose and ran quickly upstairs +to her own room. I waited a bit and then I followed very softly along +the corridor and called, 'Signorina, do you want anything?' I heard her +turn the key sharply in the lock, and that was all. I stood waiting for +some time, and then, fearing she would be still more angry should she +come out and find me there, I started to go away. I had not gone ten +steps, however, when I heard a cry, followed by a kind of gasp--that I +have heard her give before, once when she had received an unpleasant +letter from her father. It is a sound ... ah, ah! ... as if her breath +were failing her. But she was soon quiet again, and I made up my mind +it would be wiser to go down to the drawing-room and wait for her +there. She came down in a few minutes as pale as death, but quite calm. +It was then I asked her to let me go with her to see the Villino. At +first she hesitated, but just at that moment your maid arrived, and we +started off together. Before reaching the bridge over the Posina who +should we meet but the archpriest! When he came up to us he smiled, +and made one of his sweeping bows. Gèsummaria! you should have seen +the Signorina! She drew herself up as stiff as a soldier, and gave the +priest a stare with eyes that were as cold as ice, and passed on. I +said nothing, and she never opened her lips until we got here." + +Donna Fedele smiled. "Poor Teresina!" said she, as if in pity for an +unnecessary anxiety. Then she proposed that they should go over the +rest of the house, and in such a careless manner that Teresina felt +rebuffed. "I beg you to pardon me if I have gone too far ..." she said. + +Donna Fedele understood, and throwing aside her apparent apathy, which +was nothing more than absent-mindedness, she overflowed with kind +words, making no comment, however, upon Teresina's story. Presently she +inquired about Leila's father. Hardly had his name been pronounced when +Teresina cried, "Goodness! I had almost forgotten!" That horrid man! +Before going away with the agent he had asked her, with a laugh, half +cunning, half stupid, about her poor mistress' jewels. She had answered +that she knew nothing about them. Just fancy their falling into such +hands! She knew well enough that the poor mistress had had a lot of +rings and bracelets, a string of pearls and sapphires, and a diamond +ornament. The master had no safe, but kept them in a secret drawer of +the writing-table in his own room. + +"Do you know why he asked?" said Teresina. "I am willing to swear it +was because he had taken them already. For one whole day he did nothing +but look over papers in the study. He is sure to have found some note +or memorandum of them. Besides, last night I heard him go into the poor +master's room, and he was in there a long time. I will take my oath my +dear mistress' jewels are travelling at this very moment. And to think +of his asking me! You can fancy how I feel, knowing that he is quite +capable of accusing me of theft." + +Donna Fedele sought to reassure her, and having at last got rid of her, +went to lie down, for she felt completely worn out. Still, the physical +relief only increased her mental unrest. That hot-headed Alberti! Why +was he not here now? Love was waiting for him, and he must needs play +the haughty prince! And yet perhaps, should he yield, the girl might +take it into her head to play the haughty princess too. + +From her window looking east Donna Fedele could see the great arch of +sky between the two ranges of hills stretching across the plain. Her +eyes fell upon the cemetery of San Giorgio. How bitter to think of the +Montanina in the hands of that man, plundering and laying irreverent +hands on everything belonging to her poor old friend! She summoned all +her faith to convince herself that Marcello was at peace and satisfied +that good must come from all these ills, but it was not easy. Then she +turned over an idea that had come to her in the night, to ask Camin's +permission to take Leila away with her into Piedmont, so that she might +be spared, for a time at least, from the misery of living with him. The +girl would have time to recover, and so many things might happen in +that time! Having decided to do this, Donna Fedele made an effort to +free her mind from all thought, hoping that sleep might come. + + + III + +She had indeed fallen asleep when, half an hour later, the maid came to +announce dinner. The Signorina was already downstairs. Donna Fedele was +tempted to stay where she was, for she was still weary and disinclined +to eat. But she forced herself to get up and go down. The table was set +in the verandah in the front of the house. Leila appeared so calm that +Donna Fedele was encouraged to tell her of Massimo's visit, and of the +news he had brought of Don Aurelio. In speaking of the priest, she said +how deeply she felt the loss of his wise and spiritual counsel. + +"For I am a wicked woman," said she. "I lack gentleness and charity, +especially towards certain other priests who are unlike him." + +Leila let the matter drop, and began to talk of the little cemetery +where she had never been. She had planned to go there on the following +morning, and hoped her friend would be able to accompany her. They +would take some roses--plenty of roses. She would have liked to take +white roses, but just now there were only a few red ones in the Villino +garden. The talk went on to roses. Donna Fedele was dissatisfied with +hers. It seemed to her that at that moment the place would have been +more appropriately named after the thorns. She must really plant a +great many more trees. The Villino should look as if it were resting +upon a basket, full of roses, and be muffled in them up to the very +eaves. + +"We will take a little trip to Milan," said she, "and go about among +the horticulturists, choosing what is best. Would you like that?" + +Leila seemed pleased, and said she believed her father would allow her +to go. Donna Fedele was amazed at her submissiveness. + +"I ought to go into Piedmont on business also," she added. "Would you +like me to ask your father to let you come with me for three or four +weeks?" + +Leila assented, waited in silence until the maid had withdrawn after +serving the coffee, and then said, with a ghastly smile, playing +nervously with her spoon the while: + +"Now that everything is over, may I know if a certain person came to +the Montanina in accordance with a preconcerted arrangement?" + +Donna Fedele gave a start, and raised her eyebrows, offended by this +reflection upon her own honesty. + +"Now that everything is over," she retorted severely, "I can assure you +that I never lie, and that there was no preconcerted arrangement. When +Alberti came he had as little thought of marrying you as I have of +marrying Carnesecca!" + +Leila gave a harsh, forced laugh. + +"What makes you think of Carnesecca?" she asked. + +"Because I see him," was Donna Fedele's reply. "There he is, coming +through the small gate, which the keeper has forgotten to close, as +usual." + +Leila glanced over her shoulder. There, indeed, was friend Carnesseca, +coming slowly towards the verandah, hat in hand. On reaching the steps +he paused, regardless of Donna Fedele's smile of encouragement. + +"Come in, Carnesecca!" she cried, and then hastened to correct herself. +"I beg your pardon--I mean Ismaele!" + +"Why should you beg my pardon, White Lady of the Roses?" said the +pedlar of Bibles. "Why, and for what? They have put a scornful name +upon me because I preach Jesus and the most righteous servants of the +Lord, and thus they have insured me a humble seat among the blessed. +_Beati estis cum dixerint omne malum._ I glory in my title!" + +Donna Fedele, protesting that she had no intention of mocking him, +invited him to come up the steps and sit down, and ordered coffee for +him. Then she inquired what had brought him back to these parts where +he had been so roughly handled. He said he was on his way to Laghi, and +that he was ready to undergo there the same martyrdom he had suffered +at Posina. + +"At this time of the year," said Donna Fedele gravely, "it will +probably take the form of potatoes." + +"I wish it might!" the old man replied. "But if the Caiaphas of Laghi +resembles him of Velo, it will probably be stones." + +"Look here, my conscience tells me that I myself should be pelting you +with a few pebbles at least!" + +At this half-laughing, half-serious declaration of Donna Fedele's, +Carnesecca flung his arms heavenwards, innumerable rents in his coat +revealing an extremely dingy shirt. + +"No, White Lady of the Roses. You are not called upon to cast even the +smallest pebble against me. I have never offered you a Bible, because +I am quite sure you have one already. I do not seek to convert you to +Protestantism, for you are a Christian already. I come to-night to +thank you once more for your kindness in receiving me beneath your +roof." + +Donna Fedele inquired if he intended to push on to Laghi that same +evening. No; he was tired. He had come all the way from Vicenza, and +had been walking seven hours. Donna Fedele expressed pity for him, +but hastened to destroy an illusion he had evidently cherished. She +had entertained him once when his bones were broken, but she had no +intention of doing so again, now that he was on his way to get them +broken once more. He spoke of a vague hope that the Montanina hayloft +might afford him shelter for the night. He had not heard of Signor +Marcello's death, nor was he acquainted with Leila. The young girl +sat silent and unmoved while her friend imparted to him the mournful +intelligence, falteringly and in a low voice. Carnesecca was greatly +shocked, and, having said good-night, went his way, without stating +whether or no he had altered his plans for the night. + +The friends went out to a corner of the garden where some chairs had +been placed. + +"'White Lady of the Roses,'" said Leila. "A pretty name!" + +"Too pretty for me," Donna Fedele replied. "But Carnesecca would +certainly do better to confine himself to inventing names, instead of +preaching Luther and Calvin, and I don't know whom besides." + +Leila inquired carelessly who this man really was, and how he had +become a Protestant. Donna Fedele told her his story. She went into +much detail, and for some time failed to notice that Leila was not +listening. The girl's eyes were fixed upon an empty chair. Donna Fedele +lapsed into silence, but still Leila sat gazing at the chair. Although +it was nearly nine o'clock, and the sky was overcast, it was still +light in this part of the high, open garden, with its light gravel +paths. Presently Leila became conscious that Donna Fedele was looking +at her. She left off looking at the chair, but did not break the +silence. A few drops of rain began to fall, and Donna Fedele suggested +that they should go in. Seeing the maid busy clearing the dinner-table, +she asked her to send the keeper to close the small gate through which +Carnesecca had come and gone. Leila hastened to say she would like a +little exercise, and would take the message herself. + +The keeper was just going to bed when she entered the cottage beside +the main gate. His wife received her, and Leila asked to see a +sick child of theirs, inquiring after it with so much affectionate +solicitude that the mother was greatly touched. Leila remained some +ten minutes at the lodge, and then returned to the Villino without +having mentioned the open gate. Entering the drawing-room in the dark, +she heard Donna Fedele's voice: "Did you send?" And unhesitatingly she +answered: + +"Yes." + +Donna Fedele begged her to play something. In the dark? Yes, in the +dark. The old piano had been silent for many months, for its mistress, +who had been a fairly good musician in her youth, now only played +occasionally for the amusement of some childish visitor. Leila played a +composition of Signor Marcello's--his only composition, a Barcarola he +had written some thirty years before. When it was finished she paused, +waiting for a word from her friend, a request for more music. But the +elder woman did not speak. The only sounds that broke the silence were +the quick ticking of an alarm-clock and the gentle patter of the rain +upon the gravel. + +"You know that, do you not?" said Leila at last. + +Out of the shadow the sweet voice answered softly: + +"Oh, yes!" + +That sweet and soft "Oh, yes!" told Leila things which she had already +vaguely guessed. She rose from the piano and went towards the corner of +the drawing-room whence the voice had come. Bending over Donna Fedele, +she sought her hands and silently kissed first one and then the other. +Donna Fedele gladly yielded to the kisses that seemed to say, "I also +am a woman, and I understand." They held a second meaning as well, but +one that was still hidden. + +"Are you not going to play any more?" Donna Fedele whispered quickly. +She was grateful for the kisses, but words would have grated upon her. +Leila did not answer, but still stood holding her hands and pressing +them. + +"Shall we go to bed, then?" Donna Fedele went on. Leila dropped her +hands. "You must go," said she; "but if I may, I should like to stay +and play a little longer." She turned on the light. Donna Fedele rose +from her chair with a smile. "That is right, dear," said she. She +embraced Leila, rang for her maid, and then withdrew. + +Leila remained standing motionless until the house was quite still. +Then she sat down at the piano again and went on playing at random +until the maid returned and began closing the heavy double doors +opening upon the verandah. Leila begged her to leave them open. She +would close them herself. Perhaps she might go out again to get a +breath of air. + +"It is raining, Signorina," said the maid; "and now the wind is +rising." But Leila had begun to play again and made no answer, and, +after a moment's hesitation, the woman decided she had better go and +leave the doors open. Leila paused to listen, heard her mounting the +stairs, and then heard her footsteps on the floor above. She rose and +went to assure herself that the door had really been left open, peering +for an instant out into the night. There was little wind, but it was +raining steadily, and the shadows were black. She went back to the +piano, and hid her face in her hands as if searching in her memory for +music. Presently she let her hands drop upon a chord, while her head +fell forward and her eyes stared unseeingly. Once more she raised her +head, and once more went to peer into the whispering shadows. Then +she closed the doors, shot the bolts noisily, and opened them again +quietly. Then she put out the light and went up to her room, whose +single window looked south across the plain of Arsiero, upon Priaforà +and the Montanina. It stood open. Over yonder, between the plain of +Arsiero and Priaforà, flowed the invisible Posina. Leila held her +breath to listen, but she could not hear the river. In her mind's eye +she saw the bridge that spans it, the water flowing noisily far below +over its bed of grey gravel, the canal that runs along beside it, +higher up, and then turns southwards, shaded by birch-trees, flowing +silently and rapidly. A gust of wind blew the rain into her face. She +closed the window hastily, and then smiled at herself for shrinking +from a splash of rain. She looked at her watch--it was half-past ten. +There were still two hours before the moment she had fixed upon, when +she would throw herself from the bridge into the swift and silent canal +below. + +She sat down at her table beneath the lamp, feeling it her duty to +leave a few written words. She wrote as follows: + + +"DEAR FRIEND,--I am going to my death. I do not know why I should die, +but still less do I know why I should go on living." + + +And beyond that? Should she ask pardon? But for what? And if not to +ask pardon, why should she write at all? To bid farewell? Donna Fedele +would remember those two last kisses. She could not even find words +to write with. There was nothing within her save icy purpose, held +stiff by action. She tore the note in pieces, rose from the table, and +changed her dress. The gown of deep mourning she had on was one Donna +Fedele had lent her. She changed it for the grey dress she had worn on +the day she came to the Villino. Then she took up a silver chain-bag +that had been a gift from poor Andrea, and in which she kept certain +other souvenirs of him. A little plaque, upon which was engraved the +word "Leila," was incrusted upon the chainwork. Her eyes fell upon the +plaque and the name that reminded her of a quarrel. Several times she +put the bag down only to take it up again, uncertain whether to carry +it with her or leave it behind. An inner impulse moved her to leave it +behind, and at that moment the frost that bound her heart melted into a +very tempest of desire. Once more she opened the window, and, yielding +to the passionate impulse, flung her soul towards him, wherever he +might be. "I love you! I love you! I give myself to you! Take me, take +all of me before I die! Kiss me, kiss me! Hurt me with your kisses!" +She spread her arms wide, writhing as if in a spasm of pain. She raised +one arm, pressed it against her mouth, gasped, and closed her teeth +upon it, holding them there until the violent throbbing of her heart +was quieted somewhat. The clock at Arsiero struck eleven. From the +silver bag she drew a photograph of poor Andrea, and wrote beneath it: + + + "July fourth--I am coming!" + + +Then she placed the picture on the table near the inkstand, where it +would be seen at once, and she finally decided to take the bag with +her. She glanced about her to see that everything was in order. She +took the "Journal d'Eugénie de Guérin" from the bedside table and +placed it upon the chest of drawers. Donna Fedele had given it to her +to read, but she felt she had nothing in common with Eugénie de Guérin, +who would have been horrified with her at that moment, and that it +would be an act of hypocrisy to leave the book where it was. She looked +at her watch. It was only a quarter-past eleven. There was no danger +of meeting any one on such a dark and rainy night, and she decided to +wait no longer. She cut a piece of cord from one of the curtains with +which to tie her skirts before the leap, that they might not float over +her head, and put on her rubber goloshes that her footsteps might not +be heard on the stairs. Then she put out the light, and went down very +softly and cautiously. + +Suddenly she remembered that she had forgotten to destroy the pieces +of the note she had written. Should she go back and get them? She gave +a shrug of indifference and then crossed the drawing-room, listening +to the quick ticking of the clock, and judging from that in which +direction the verandah door lay. Very cautiously she parted the wings +she herself had only pushed together, and passed quickly out. She +had only gone a step or two, however, when she gave a sudden spring +to the left, upsetting several chairs, for a form had started up in +front of her. She did not cry out, but making for the verandah steps, +disappeared into the garden. But Donna Fedele had heard the crash of +the overturned chairs, and she cried out: "Who is there?" Carnesecca's +voice answered, "A woman! A woman has left the house!" "What woman? +Where is she now?" Donna Fedele cried again from the window in great +alarm. "I don't know. She has gone away! She has disappeared!" "Follow +her!" came the order. "She is a sleep-walker!" + +Carnesecca tore away into the darkness towards the small gate. A +silence followed which was soon broken. Donna Fedele, going down the +verandah steps, wrapped in a dressing-gown, heard Carnesecca saying +in a soft and soothing voice, "Wake up, Signora! Wake up!" Ah, then +she was safe! Donna Fedele's strength failed her, and she sank upon +the lowest step, regardless of the pouring rain. Leila, who had been +overtaken on the grassy slope below the gate, had screamed on feeling +herself grasped, and had then fallen in a dead faint. + + * * * * * + +"What a piece of good fortune," said Carnesecca, bringing the +insensible girl into the house with the help of the cook and the +housemaid--"what a piece of good fortune that I could find no shelter +anywhere, and so determined to take the liberty of spending the night +on your verandah! Otherwise this child of God might have come to +serious hurt with her sleep-walking!" + +"Yes, yes! Good fortune indeed!" said Donna Fedele, who was still +trembling, while the maid and the cook could only mutter: + +"Gèsummaria Signore! Blessed Lady! Dear Lord preserve us!" + + + + + CHAPTER VIII + HOLY ALLIANCES + + + I + +Three days later, on the Friday, Girolamo Camin, Auditor, Francesco +Molesin, Doctor-at-Law, and Carolina Gorlago, Camin's housekeeper, +reached Arsiero together by the first train, and packed themselves, +with all their bags and umbrellas, into one of the small carriages that +abound at that station for driving travellers to Tonezza and Lavarone. +Dr. Molesin hesitated somewhat when about to get in, on account of +Carolina, but, encouraged by his friend Momi,[4] friend Checco[5] +finally took the second inside seat. Carolina, a vulgar-looking woman +about five-and-thirty, climbed up beside the driver, making no effort +to hide her vexation. Then the driver whipped up his horse, and they +started off in the direction of the Montanina. + +Auditor Camin, whose claim to kinship with the ancient and honourable +family of da Camin was purely fictitious, was ugly with an ugliness not +so much the fault of his features as the bloated unhealthiness of his +complexion and red eyes, a dyed, parti-coloured beard adding little to +his beauty. He wore a straw hat, a long olive-green overcoat that had +seen better days, and a red and yellow muffler as a protection against +any bleak winds that might blow from the mountains of Val d'Astico. +For the same reason Molesin had also enveloped himself in a long brown +coat, and had wound a heavy black and white shawl around his neck. +There was not much resemblance between the two friends. Sior[6] Momi's +small and bleary eyes were always fixed in an expressionless stare. +Sior Checco's, on the other hand, which were larger and darker, looked +out from beneath his respectable felt hat with a grave melancholy, +even when he smiled. Molesin wore a moustache only, a fair moustache, +which was growing grey, and though he was older than Camin he looked +healthier. The woman loomed large beside the small driver, whose +extreme youth seemed to cause the two inside passengers considerable +anxiety. Molesin, who was especially, nervous, did not dare to lean +back, and kept hurling instructions at the boy in a manner that was +not in keeping with his usual grave demeanour. "Be careful, I tell +you! Go slow, I say!" Nor was Camin what might be called a fearless +traveller, but the idea of being upset was not his greatest anxiety at +that moment. He had noted Carolina's vexation, and was now intent on +stroking her broad back affectionately at frequent intervals. "Are you +quite comfortable? Hold tight! Hold tight, I say!" he kept on saying. +Carolina gripped the iron encircling the box-seat, and deigned no +reply. When they had crossed the Posina bridge, a proceeding which made +Molesin shudder, the horse subsided into a walking pace. + +"Thank the Lord!" Sior Checco murmured, and upon learning that the +Montanina was near at hand, he once more resumed the business talk that +had been interrupted by leaving the train. The driver, who had as much +curiosity as any newspaper reporter, finding that they were discussing +things he was unable to understand, turned his attention to his +neighbour. Who was the gentleman behind him? The woman answered dryly: + +"I don't know." + +"Are you a relative of that other gentleman who is sitting behind you?" + +"I don't know." + +"You don't belong to these parts, do you?" + +"I belong to much better parts!" she retorted, and the boy was afraid +to ask any more questions. + +She was really a native of Cantù. A master-mason from Como, who had +known her as an inn-servant, had married her and taken her with him +to Padua. Having separated from her husband, she took service with +Sior Momi, first as cook and then as housekeeper, and now she both +served and ruled, besides holding a position in his household which +constituted something of a stumbling-block to Camin's ambitions of +ingratiating himself with the Clerical party. + +"Is this the famous Montanina?" asked Molesin, raising his eyes to +the green hillside along which the carriage was driving. And being +impressed by the villa's high and pointed roof, and the lower ones +of the outbuildings and the church, of the so-called _casoni_ of the +plains, certain large cabins with straw-thatched roofs, he gave vent to +the following memorable criticism: + +"Un cason che gà famegia--a big house with a family of children." + +Sior Momi laughed his own peculiar laugh--"Aho! aho!"--his mouth +opening wide. + +"Good, good! Very good!" said he. "A big house with ... aho, aho!" + +It was his habit to re-echo other people's clever sayings as a delicate +form of flattery. + +Teresina and Giovanni received the party at the south entrance. +Giovanni could hardly keep a straight face at the sight of the bundle +of overcoats and many-coloured scarves, but Teresina's expression was +funereal. She accompanied the new master's housekeeper to a room on +the second floor which she had chosen for her, and on the way Carolina +informed her that she was aware she was the "girl's" maid--Süra[7] +Lella's maid. It was perhaps because _el Leila_ is a popular personage +in Lombardy that Carolina could never get Leila's name straight. + +"You and I are sure to get on together," said she, in her broad Lombard +dashed with Paduan. Then she proceeded to sing the praises of her +master, whom she pronounced a good-hearted creature enough. + +"However," she added with a smile worthy of her public-house education, +"you had better be careful of him, for he has a weakness for fine +women." + +"Tut, tut!" said Teresina, with flaming cheeks, "this is no talk for me +to listen to!" And in her heart she added, "Gèsu! What company for me!" + +Carolina Gorlago was not satisfied with the room, which, although +spacious and lofty, had only a roof-window, and in a most deliberate +fashion she proceeded to take possession of another room in the +front of the house, above the salon. This apartment was known as the +"swallow-room" in allusion to its decorations, and many years before, +when his son was still a boy, poor Signor Marcello had told Teresina +that it would one day be the nursery for Andrea's children. Teresina +had never forgotten this, and now, at sight of this Carolina boldly +establishing herself here as mistress, the tears came to her eyes, and +she hurried to her own room to relieve her feelings. But Giovanni soon +came in search of her. The master wanted her. "Master, indeed! The +Signorina is our mistress!" she cried angrily. "I don't believe we +shall get our wages from the Signorina," said Giovanni. "He will pay +us, and so I am bound to call him master." + +Sior Momi had chosen for himself the corner room on the first floor +looking towards the kitchen. Little did he care for a fine view; this +room was admirably situated for watching the servants, for spying, +and for eavesdropping. He inquired if coffee had been prepared for +his housekeeper also, and which room she would occupy. Upon hearing +that she had not been satisfied with the one prepared for her, his +heavy face betrayed no surprise. "Bad, bad, bad!" came mechanically +from his lips, prompted by his habit of seeking to please, at least in +the beginning, whoever might be speaking to him. At last he inquired +for Leila. Teresina had a letter for him from Donna Fedele. She gave +it to him and then withdrew, saying she would take the coffee to the +dining-room. But she had hardly closed the door when she opened it +again hesitatingly. Would the housekeeper come to the dining-room for +her coffee also? This time the mask-like face and the bleary eyes +smiled slightly. + +"No, no! She will have her meals with you, with you!" + +The man impressed Teresina as a perfect fool. Had she not been aware of +the affair of the jewels, she would have found it hard to believe he +was the cunning rascal whose very name had been so hateful to Signor +Marcello. + +Molesin took an especial interest in friend Momi's affairs, and Momi +was full of attentions for friend Checco. Sior Momi had extorted money +from many people by means of numberless tricks, but, at the same time, +he had got into debt. One fine day he had declared his inability to +pay, and had made his creditors an offer of twenty per cent. The +creditors having called a meeting and consulted together, had entrusted +the defence of their interests to Molesin. Many of the unhappy victims +who had been duped by Momi were priests, and in the ecclesiastical +world the forensic and financial abilities of Dr. Molesin were very +highly esteemed. This man, who, having devoted two years to the study +of law, and spent much time hanging about the courts, now gave himself +out as a Doctor-at-Law, accepted the defence on the understanding +that he was to have thirty per cent. of whatever sum he might be able +to squeeze out of Momi over and above his offer. Upon being invited +to consult with him, Momi, who was in ignorance of this arrangement, +fancied he would be able to get round his friend by the offer of a +handsome present. Molesin feigned intense scrupulosity, for he believed +Momi to be possessed of hidden means, and he had also great hopes that +Leila, now an heiress, would be induced to save the honour of her name. + +Upon hearing that Leila, who was still a minor, had come into her +fortune, Molesin hugged himself. + +Now was the time to watch Momi, for that sly rogue would certainly try +to get all he could, and give out as little as possible. Now was the +time to watch the daughter also. He had already interested himself +from a distance in her affairs. Having been a fellow-student of the +archpriest of Velo d'Astico, he kept up a fairly active correspondence +with him, his declared purpose being to obtain news of Signorina da +Camin for his friend Momi, who was cut off from communication with the +Montanina. The archpriest honestly credited this explanation of his +old friend's curiosity, and promptly answered his letters. And in this +way Checco had learned of the arrival at the Montanina of the famous +young Modernist. He became alarmed, fearing, not his Modernism, but his +youth. Should Leila marry, his fondest hopes would be frustrated, and +it was he who found means of conveying the news to Signor Camin. On the +very night of Signor Marcello's death the archpriest had written to +Molesin that Alberti had fled, and that damaging information concerning +him which had been received from Milan had probably led to this happy +solution. Then, with but slight ceremony, the cunning doctor had +proceeded to drag an invitation to the Montanina from the heiress's +father. + +The short journey, to take place on the following morning, had then and +there been planned at Camin's house and in Carolina's presence. That +night the honest doctor slept but little. He knew that he was about +to begin a game of cunning with the "sly rogue," whom he knew to be a +sharp-witted adversary, despite a weakness for women that Checco, minus +this defect, regarded as a lamentable flaw in an otherwise peerless +composition. + + * * * * * + +Molesin was somewhat worried by the fact that, as yet, he had failed +to catch a glimpse of Leila, and that her father had not mentioned +her. He questioned Giovanni, who was taking him to the room that had +been prepared for him, "Where is the Signorina?" Giovanni told him she +was out, and Molesin naturally concluded she had gone for a walk. On +his way down to coffee he met Teresina on the stairs, and put the same +question to her, "Where is the Signorina?" + +"She is not here." + +"Not here? What do you mean by that?" + +Teresina stared at him, somewhat nettled by his tone. + +"She is with Signora Vayla, sir." + +"Strange that Momi should not have said so," Molesin reflected, going +towards the dining-room. As he entered by one door Carolina disappeared +through another, her face wearing an angry scowl, and Sior Momi was +still muttering impatiently: + +"You have your orders! Be a good creature and obey!" He had been +ordering her to vacate the "swallow-room," and take the one Teresina +had prepared for her. + +Molesin had no idea who this Signora Vayla might be nor where she +lived, but his keen insight put him on the scent of some trouble +existing between father and daughter. As he sat silently sipping his +coffee it was borne in upon him that probably the girl had refused to +come in contact with Carolina. He longed to know the truth--it was +important that he should know it. If father and daughter were going to +lead a cat-and-dog life, Sior Momi would undoubtedly wish to make the +most of these few months before the girl became mistress of her own +fortune, and grab as much as possible--money, bonds, jewels, everything +in fact that could not easily be traced, and then ... why, he, Molesin, +would find himself in no better position than before. + +"Tell me, my good Momi," said he, between calm sips of coffee, "when +shall we have the pleasure of seeing your daughter?" + +Momi replied that she was indisposed. + +"Oh, poor girl! Poor girl!" Molesin became tenderly solicitous. "I do +hope we have not upset her!" + +Momi reassured him. Leila was not in the house. She was staying with a +friend at Arsiero--an old friend of Signor Marcello's. She had insisted +upon going to this lady's house immediately after the sad event. He +went on to declare that this friendship between his daughter and +Signora Vayla was a thorn in his flesh. The obstinate and eccentric +girl had always been prejudiced against her father, first by her own +mother and then by the Trentos, and he had no doubt that her Arsiero +friend had now undertaken to encourage this prejudice. In fact, a +letter he had just received from the lady as good as proved the truth +of this suspicion. Sior Momi herewith drew a letter from his pocket +and handed it to Molesin with a great show of candour. The man of law +reflected that the very act of showing it to him proved this to be a +first move on his adversary's part. He read as follows: + + +"_Villino delle Rose, July sixth._ + + +"DEAR SIR,--I regret to be obliged to inform you that during the night +of July fourth your daughter had a violent attack of fever. The doctor +declared it to be of a rheumatic nature. At present her temperature is +almost normal, but she is very weak. The doctor wishes her to be spared +all excitement, and for this reason I feel that a visit from you at the +present moment would be inopportune. + +"I take the liberty of adding that the mental shocks Leila has so +recently received have certainly affected her general health, and the +doctor shares my opinion that a change to other surroundings, for a +time at least, would greatly benefit her. Your own affairs, I expect, +will keep you here for the present, but as I am going to Turin on +business, I should be delighted if you would allow me to take Leila +with me. Her company would be a great pleasure to me. Trusting you may +see your way to consent to this proposal, I am, + + "Yours very truly, + "FEDELE VAYLA DI BREA." + + +"But I'll go and see her, all the same ... eh?... I had better go, +don't you think so?... I am her father.... It is my right!... The +rights of paternal authority.... Don't you think so?... Eh?... Hadn't I +better go, all the same?" + +Momi appeared now to be stating a proposition, now to be asking for +advice, and the change of tone, the words, and the smile were but so +many blandishments lavished upon the watchful cat, who, having laid +aside the letter, sat for some time watching his rat in silence. At +last, with a slight shrug, Molesin replied: + +"Benon! All right!" + +Sior Momi thought he noted a tone of disapproval. + +"Why not, then?" + +"I said, 'All right,'" his friend repeated, this time in a more +encouraging tone. "Meanwhile," he added, rising, "let us go over the +house." + +Camin rose also, but his eyes were blinking nervously, this being the +only external sign of internal discomfort to which he was subject. He +persisted in seeking his friend's advice. + +"No, no! Come now! Tell me--had I better go or not?" + +"Have I not just said 'All right'?" Molesin reiterated. "Go or stay +away--it is all the same to me." And he added that, should Sior +Momi decide to pay his visit, he himself would go and call upon the +archpriest. + +This time it was Momi who said "All right!" but, as a matter of fact, +he did so coldly enough. He was conscious of the suspicions the letter +and his comments upon it had aroused in his formidable guest, and +he was wondering what machinery he could set in motion through the +archpriest to help in carrying out his own plan, which was, to allow +it to appear that the relations between his daughter and himself were +strained, while, secretly, he would be winning her over to his side. He +blinked nervously two or three times before he could control himself, +and then he and his guest started on their round of inspection, Momi +never failing to emphasise Molesin's comments with his sycophantic +laugh. Carolina's bag was still in the "swallow-room." Molesin noticed +this, and Sior Momi saw that he had done so. The woman was on a round +of inspection on her own account, and the couple met her on the stairs +as they were coming down. + +"I say!" cried Momi, in harsh and commanding tones, "put that bag where +it belongs, will you?" + +Carolina looked at him furiously and passed on. Molesin followed her +with his eyes as far as the upper landing. + +"My dear Momi," said he, placing his hand on his friend's shoulder and +emphasising his words, "I am afraid your daughter's personality and +this lady's--their personalities, you understand--will be likely to +clash!" + +"Aho! aho! What is the matter now?" + +"Oh, nothing!" + +"Aho, aho! You son of a dog...!" laughed Sior Momi, expressing by his +epithet his admiration for his companion's sharp-sightedness. + + + II + +Towards eleven o'clock the worthy Camin, having held a brief +consultation with Teresina in the study, informed his friend that he +was ready to start for the Villino delle Rose, and invited him to go +part of the way, if he still meant to call upon the archpriest. At the +point where three roads meet and the path from the Montanina joins +the main road, Momi pointed out the campanile of Velo, glittering in +the sunshine, and then betook himself to his own road. Molesin went +slowly forward for a few yards, then, looking behind him to make sure +that Momi was no longer in sight, he turned and retraced his steps. +Had Momi seen this manœuvre he would most certainly have repeated his +last epithet with real feeling this time, and would, moreover, have +congratulated himself that he had anticipated that while he was out of +the way Molesin would try to cross-examine Teresina, and that he had +had the forethought to instruct her accordingly. + +Molesin returned to the Montanina to fetch his scarf, which he had +purposely left in the vestibule. Then he went in search of Teresina, +and having found her, he carefully explained the reason for his +unexpected return, and then asked her to show him the little church, +which he had not yet visited. While they walked through the garden he +inquired, with great affability, what she thought of her new master. +Teresina avoided the question, and Molesin went on to assure her that +he was a "most excellent man--the best of men! But unfortunate, very +unfortunate! Unfortunate in his wife and in business. And how about +this daughter of his?" he rambled on. "How about the daughter? Is she +glad to have her father to live with her again? She must be delighted. +I can imagine how glad she is--is she not?" + +Dr. Molesin's honeyed tones failed to have any effect upon Teresina, +not because she felt bound by any loyalty towards Sior Momi, who had, +however, exerted himself to the utmost to win her confidence, but +because Molesin's face, voice, and blandishments were odious to her. +She answered shortly enough that she knew nothing about it, and could +give him no information. Molesin entered the church, and having dipped +his fingers in the holy water, made the sign of the cross devoutly, +and knelt down for a moment before starting out to make a minute +examination of all that the church contained. He accepted all the +doctrines of the Church blindly, and conformed to all its practices, +but as he did not take people's money directly from their pockets +and strong-boxes, it never occurred to him that there was the least +discrepancy between his religious practices and his worldly dealings. +On the contrary, success in his worldly dealings only made him more +zealous in religious ones. When he had swindled and despoiled his +neighbour, he would seek to swindle the Almighty as well, by means +of various _paters_, _aves_, and _glorias_, or by a few extra Masses. +He was quite unconscious, however, of being a hypocrite, and looked +forward quite confidently to occupying a small corner in Paradise. +He belonged to the Clerical party, but his dubious reputation caused +many of his fellow-members to look upon him askance, though he always +pretended to be unaware of this. He relied greatly on the friendship of +a few priests, who were unacquainted with his true character, and these +friendships he was continually bringing forward in terms of boastful +exaggeration. One of these was with the archpriest of Velo, Molesin's +contemporary and school companion. + +"And the young man?" said he as they were leaving the church--"the +young man from Milan who was staying here? A fine fellow, eh? A very +fine fellow! I should have thought he might have suited the Signorina. +A splendid fellow, I tell you! And so they could not arrange it? What a +pity! Do you mean to say it could really not be arranged?" + +"I wonder what he knows about the young man from Milan," thought +Teresina. This time she answered impatiently. How did he expect her to +know about things that were no business of hers? + +Molesin started forward once more along the Velo road, his head bowed, +meditating upon his next move in the game. He was annoyed at having to +carry the shawl. His journey back to fetch it had been to no purpose, +and it weighed upon his arm and looked out of place at eleven in the +morning and beneath the blazing sun. + +"Damn the woman and the shawl too!" he muttered. + +The archpriest was not at home; he was in church. Molesin inquired for +the sister-in-law. She was in church. And the chaplain? In church also. + +"Your name, if you please," said the servant, seeing he was annoyed. +Upon hearing that revered name--Dr. Molesin--her face brightened. She +knew he was a great friend of the archpriest's, and she had posted many +letters to him from her master. She detained him, saying she would call +the archpriest, and then, assuming an air of mystery, and in strictest +confidence, he being a friend of her master's, she confided to him the +fact that the chaplain had just received a letter from his uncle the +Cardinal, announcing that the archpriest was about to be made a Bishop. +The master had been deeply moved, mainly on account of the prospective +bishopric, but also somewhat because he feared he might be sent to +some place in the neighbourhood of Naples, and he had long entertained +a violent dislike of those parts. On receipt of the news, the master, +Signora Bettina, and the chaplain had immediately, gone to the church, +and were there still. + +"Then, in a way, you will be a sort of female bishop," said the +merry doctor. And he asked himself: "Does she know anything that can +interest me, and will she be as secretive as the other?" He begged +her not to announce his arrival, not to disturb any one. He was quite +willing to wait, he said, and went on to praise the virtues of Don +Tita, who was deserving, most deserving. The servant showed him into +the reception-room, and there, seated on the sofa, he amused her with +anecdotes of the days when he and the archpriest had been at school +together. "It is a wise choice!" he cried at last, "a very wise choice! +Do you know, I believe I will go and join them in the church. But first +I wish you would satisfy my curiosity on one point." + +He proceeded to ask her if she knew Signorina Camin, who had lived +with old Signor Trento? The woman's face became stern. Of course the +gentleman knew what had happened? No, he had not heard! Blessed +Mother! Why, she had tried to run away! + +"To run away?" Molesin cried in amazement. But the servant had heard +voices outside, and with a hurried, "Here they are!" she was off. The +archpriest and his two companions had returned from church. They held +a short confabulation with the servant outside the door, and presently +the archpriest came in alone. + +He saw the astonishment depicted on Molesin's face, and concluded +without hesitation that "that chatterbox has been blabbing!" He was +conscious also that his own expression was rather a tell-tale one, +and that there was no need for him to confirm the woman's news in so +many words. His only greeting was, "My dear friend!" and it was with +tears in his eyes that he embraced the man who he had always refused +to believe was either a hypocrite or a knave. His were honest tears, +arising from various emotions. There was first the comforting sense +of his promotion, by the will of God and of the Vicar of Christ, to a +dignity whose religious importance really appealed to him more than the +external and worldly glory connected with it, and the warm appreciation +of the mark of confidence from his superiors. The tears sprang, too, +from a revival of his religious fervour, a yearning determination to +lead a simple, austerely pious and exemplary life, the life befitting +a shepherd of shepherds, and there came, also, the sad feeling of +breaking with old habits and saying farewell to familiar places. Dr. +Molesin, despite his amazement at the servant's information, saw the +mistake under which the archpriest was labouring, and took advantage +of the embrace, which he protracted as long as possible, that he might +have time to settle his line of action, and, like the archpriest +himself, he produced a yard of coarse, blue handkerchief, with which he +wiped his eyes vigorously. + +"A fine choice!" he exclaimed, folding his handkerchief again. "A very +fine choice!" Meanwhile the archpriest had also regained his composure. +He begged Molesin not to divulge his secret, and when the good doctor +inquired the name of the diocese over which his friend was to preside, +declared that he had no idea, not the slightest idea which it would be. +Thereupon he thought it advisable to change the subject by a decisive +"Well, then?" to which the doctor responded. + +"Well," said Molesin, speaking in Italian, to add weight to his +remarks, "the famous Modernist has had to take himself off, and his +friend the priest has gone too, they tell me." + +The archpriest laughed. + +"Ancient history!" said he. "Ancient history, my dear friend. Let us +come down to modern times." + +Molesin asked for nothing better than to come down to the present, +but what could he say of the present that the archpriest did not know +already? There was old Signor Trento's death, his will, Momi Camin's +presence at the Montanina---- + +"Until the grand sweep-out comes!" + +The archpriest had no idea how unbearable Molesin was finding his +priestly reserve, but the worthy doctor bore it without flinching. He +said that Momi had invited him to come and see the villa, and that +he had accepted mainly that he might have the pleasure of seeing the +archpriest again; but, of course, he had been glad to please Momi also. +At this point he thought fit to speak in high praise of Momi, who +had been so unfortunate both in his family and in business, who had +perhaps gone slightly astray in politics, but who was a good creature +at bottom, and a good Christian--oh, an exemplary Christian--one of the +old sort. + +"Hold on there!" cried Don Tita. "I have been told that at his home in +Padua there are pretty goings-on." + +Molesin frowned, pursed his lips, and uttered a long, low groan, +interrupted at intervals by outbursts of denial--no, no, no! "I really +cannot believe it! It is only what people say!" Then he went on to +extol the excellence of his friend's principles and practices. He was +sure he would prove a good parishioner, a most generous parishioner +towards the church and the poor, whereas, should the Montanina, sooner +or later, fall into the hands of a certain other person, of that Signor +Alberti---- + +"Alas, my friend!" moaned Don Tita, "it has fallen into those hands +already!" + +"You don't say so!" + +For a moment Molesin lost command of himself. + +"It has fallen into them already," Don Tita repeated. And he went on to +tell of Leila's attempted flight. + +"It was all arranged, you see," he declared. "Everything was arranged." + +It was his belief, he said, that the girl had absolutely refused to +live with her father. Donna Fedele had taken her part, but she would +not be able to keep her with her should her father insist upon having +her. In a few months Leila would come of age, and be her own mistress. +What mattered to her abettors was only to get through these few months, +and they had fixed upon a clever plan. The girl was to have run +away--she was a daring creature, one might even say she was shamelessly +bold--and to have hidden herself in Piedmont, where Donna Fedele had +hosts of friends with whom she could have stayed until her minority was +over. Meanwhile her accomplice would have laboured on behalf of Signor +Alberti, who was another of her favourites. She had even had him back +at Seghe since his flight. They had been seen plotting together in a +deserted spot on the banks of the Astico. But Providence was on the +watch. Providence had made use of a rascally heretic to upset their +cunning plans. One night this heretic had been led to take refuge from +the storm in a place where the girl had certainly not expected to find +him, and this accident had brought about the scheme's complete failure. + +Don Tita described the nature of the failure, and then proceeded +to point the moral. The trick would most certainly be tried again, +and Signor Camin or _da_ Camin must find a means of preventing its +accomplishment if he also wished to prevent the "grand sweep-out." + +This cleverly-constructed story was not the fruit of Don Tita's genius, +but of Don Emanuele's, and Don Emanuele had even withheld some of +the facts. The chaplain had told only what he deemed it good for Don +Tita to know, and what might be freely repeated without undesirable +results. As a matter of fact, Don Emanuele knew quite well that the +servants at the Villino had been led to suspect an attempt at suicide +by certain remains of a letter they had found in the Signorina's room. +But it gave the chaplain a pleasant sense of superiority to retain this +information, besides placing him in a position to direct matters. Don +Tita was not deceived, though he appeared to be so. He saw through Don +Emanuele's little game, but he realised that the tale he had just told +Molesin would do as well as any other to sow discord between the new +master of the Montanina and Signora Vayla, and to promote an alliance +with the former that might prove advantageous to the church, which +was sadly in need of funds. Molesin followed the story with great +attention. If matters really stood thus, and should Momi consent to his +daughter's going away with Donna Fedele, they might prepare for the +worst. That woman would help Leila to escape, and there would be no +finding her again. And the "grand sweep-out" would take place in a few +months now. The girl would assign a pension to her father--she would +probably refuse to do more--and that would not amount to anything. She +must be induced to return to the Montanina, and Momi must be persuaded +to make every effort to regain her confidence. This would be the most +difficult point! + +"Poor Momi!" he sighed gloomily, and without mentioning Donna Fedele's +letter, passed on to another subject. He inquired if Momi had had the +funeral service read on the seventh day after Signor Marcello's death. +No, nothing had been said about it. Under ordinary circumstances the +archpriest would have consulted the family, but in this case, Signor +Camin having left without making any arrangements, and his daughter +being away, he himself had taken no steps. The chaplain perhaps knew +something about it, but he was doubtful as to this. + +"We shall see," he said, and ringing the bell, sent to summon the +chaplain. + +Molesin had met Don Emanuele once before in Padua, and had then +fancied that the priest's bearing was hostile. He had felt ill at +ease under the gaze of that cold and watery eye. His suspicions were +correct, for Don Emanuele knew him well, and had purposely kept him at +a distance. Molesin would gladly have avoided meeting him again, but +when the chaplain entered the salon and greeted the visitor, Checco was +secretly pleased to perceive that the watery eye was less cold than +on the previous occasion. The fact was that Don Emanuele now saw in +Molesin only the person who had warned that pious lady Signora Camin +of Massimo's dangerous presence at the Montanina, and, through her, +certain ecclesiastics who were friends and advisers of his own. As he +bowed to Molesin, the priest's face wore a slight smile, which seemed +to say, "Ah, so it is you, is it!" Having ascertained that Don Emanuele +had not spoken to any one concerning the funeral service, and that, +moreover, in consequence of a previous arrangement of services which +the archpriest had forgotten, it would not be possible to celebrate +it on the seventh day, Molesin declared that he would assume the +responsibility of ordering it in his friend's name, and that they +could fix the day later on. In his friend's name also he begged them +to help him to find a priest who would celebrate Mass on Sunday at the +church connected with the Montanina. The archpriest would have answered +cordially had he not been checked by a shadowy hint upon his chaplain's +face. He therefore answered vaguely that he would see about it. Then +Molesin, who had not been blind to Don Emanuele's expression, proceeded +to give them a further glimpse, by means of certain vague allusions, +of the fine things Momi Camin might be capable of doing should he +meet with encouragement and find peace in his own family. He did not +venture, however, to specify the nature of these same fine things, and +the archpriest, who, indeed, was glad he had not done so--had not put +forward any kind of contract--punctuated his confused and involved +discourse with certain ejaculations of approval that were as balm to +the spirit of the speaker. + +But Don Emanuele, evidently uneasy lest his own secret plans should +be frustrated and his superior should be compromised by incautious +language, here reminded Don Tita of certain pressing business they +must attend to together, and thus Molesin found him obliged to take +his departure. The archpriest asked him if he were leaving that same +day. He answered that such had, indeed, been his intention on leaving +home, but that the place was so charming, and his friend Momi so +determined to keep him, that he had decided to remain. Thereupon he +said goodbye, and trotted off towards the Montanina, now meditating +upon the archpriest's story and the mysterious shadow that had darkened +Don Emanuele's face, now wondering what sort of an interview Momi had +had with that Signora Baila, or Balia, or whatever her name was. On +reaching the Montanina he found that Sior Momi had not yet returned, +but he came in presently, and Molesin, who was in the kitchen inquiring +about lunch, heard him calling down the corridors, "Doctor! Sior +Checco!" Having criticised the cook's method of cooking a salt-cod she +was preparing, and instructed her according to his own taste, Molesin +went into the house again, shouting in his turn, "Momi, Momi! Here I +am!" They met in the vestibule. + +"Bad--bad--very bad!" grumbled Momi, blinking rapidly. + +The girl would not see him, and the Signora had given him to understand +that, if he attempted to make use of his legal right to have his +daughter with him, he might be prepared for the worst. Signor Camin had +been obliged to consent to the journey. "We must wait and hope for the +best," he repeated in a nasal voice, his stupid, mask-like face looking +at his friend. "Wait and hope!" + +On learning that Momi had consented to the journey with Signora Vayla, +Molesin's first impulse was to exclaim, "You stupid fool!" But on +second thoughts he changed his mind and said, "Yes, yes! Quite right!" +as if it were not worth while to get excited over such a trifling +matter. "Such a dish of codfish as we are going to have!" he added. +"And you will have me to thank for it!" + + + FOOTNOTES: + +[4] Momi: diminutive of Girolamo. + +[5] Checco: diminutive of Francesco. + +[6] Sior: dialect for Signor. + +[7] Süra: dialect for Signorina. + + + + + CHAPTER IX + THE VILLINO OF THORNS + + + I + +Donna Fedele had Leila carried, still unconscious, to a large, +double-bedded room, and saw that she was undressed and put to bed. +Presently the young girl came to herself, cast an astonished glance +about her, pushed away with a moan the hands of the maid who was +arranging the bedclothes, and raised herself on her elbow. Donna Fedele +ordered the two women to withdraw, and motioned to them to wait in +the dressing-room. She closed the door and, coming back to the bed, +caressed Leila tenderly. "You have been walking in your sleep, dear," +she said. "But now, please, keep quite still, for I am myself feeling +so ill that I really must rest." Gently she laid her back upon the +pillows, then put out the light, and lay down quietly upon the other +bed. She had been suffering greatly of late, so much so that she had at +last almost made up her mind to see a doctor, not that she was nervous +about herself, but she thought it would be advisable. But at the +present moment her greatest anxiety was for the humiliation Leila must +be experiencing over the failure of her attempt. She was determined +to deceive the girl, to make her think that no one even suspected the +truth. + +As yet not a single word had passed Leila's lips, but about a quarter +of an hour afterwards Donna Fedele thought she heard her move. She +called softly to her: + +"Leila!" + +There was no answer. "Leila!" she called again in a louder tone, but +still no answer came. She did not dare persist, but she raised her head +slightly from the pillow, in an effort to catch a glimpse of the girl. +Leila appeared to be lying motionless upon her back, but Donna Fedele +could not tell whether her eyes were open or closed. She continued to +listen carefully for any sound, but she heard only the wind whistling +round the house. Softly creeping out of bed, she went to dismiss the +servants, and by the light that slanted through the door and across the +room she saw Leila turn over quickly upon her side, with her face to +the wall. When she was back in bed once more, Donna Fedele inquired, +in her usual voice, if Leila had been in the habit of walking in her +sleep as a child. But there was again no answer. "You certainly must +have done so in your childhood," Donna Fedele added. During the rest +of the night all was silent, save for Leila's restless movements +and the roaring and howling of the wind. It was a mortally long and +weary night. Towards dawn Leila fell asleep, and her breathing became +laboured. Donna Fedele rose, and placed her hand upon her brow. It +was burning hot. The sleeping girl shuddered at her touch, started up +in bed, and moaned, "This is not my room! This is not my room!" Donna +Fedele told her that she had left the house in her sleep, and had had +a fall. A fall? What did she mean by that? She had not fallen. In her +feverish mind the word "fall" could only refer to the terrible fall +she had premeditated. She fancied she must have somehow carried out +her purpose. Donna Fedele held her in her arms, and felt her embrace +returned, felt the girl's kisses and tears, and her burning fever. She +found it difficult to release herself from this embrace, and to get +Leila to lie quiet again. At last she rang for the maid and ordered her +to send the gate-keeper for the doctor. + +Donna Fedele dressed painfully, and when the doctor arrived she left +the maid with Leila, and went to tell him only so much as it was +absolutely necessary for him to know. Signorina Leila had gone out +in the night, in a moment of great mental agitation, which had been +brought about by recent domestic events. She had fallen just beyond the +gate, and lost consciousness. In order to spare her feelings they had +led her to believe that they attributed her having left the house to an +attack of somnambulism, and Donna Fedele begged the doctor to keep this +in mind in speaking with his patient. + +Leila refused to take either food or medicine of any description. She +was greatly excited by the fever, and kept up an incessant flow of talk +concerning somnambulism and sleep-walkers, but never once betrayed +herself. She seemed morbidly intent upon confirming Donna Fedele's +conclusions. Only once did she vary her topic. Then she mentioned +poor Signor Marcello, and burst out crying. Towards night the fever +diminished, and she became gloomy and silent. Late in the evening +the doctor came again, and finding her temperature almost normal, +tried to cheer her up; but the resentment that quickly overspread the +beautiful pale face made him give up the attempt. Donna Fedele herself +was flushed and burning with fever. The true cause of her sufferings +was unknown to the doctor as to everybody else, and he put her present +condition down to fatigue, and advised her to sleep alone that night +and keep as quiet as possible. She smiled, but said nothing. Peace for +her was not to be gained so easily. That could only come in devoting +herself entirely to the young girl, not so much for the latter's own +sake as for the sake of Marcello and for the sake of the love he had +borne his son. Once more she ordered the bed beside Leila to be +prepared for her. She was suffering, but she was rejoicing in the +thought that her life was at this moment more full of purpose than it +had ever been. + +She was accustomed to read a chapter from the "Imitation of Christ" +every night before going to sleep. She asked Leila if the light +disturbed her, for in that case she would not read, and she repeated +her question twice before receiving an answer. At last an almost +inaudible "No" reached her. She concluded it would be wiser to put out +the light, and presently, hearing a sigh from the next bed, she called: + +"Leila!" + +As before, there was no answer, but she decided to go on with what she +had to say. + +"May I talk to you?" + +Silence. + +"Please answer me. I want to speak about myself. I want to ask you to +do something for me. Will you listen to me?" + +This time she heard a listless "Yes." The voice seemed to say, "I +cannot refuse you, but why will you torment me?" + +"Forgive me, dear!" the sweet voice went on. "Do you wish to go to +sleep at once?" + +As before, Leila moaned, "No." + +Donna Fedele was silent for a time, thinking how to tell a story which +she hoped would result in great good, and which only the dark gave her +courage to utter. + +"Will you give me your word not to repeat to any one what I am going to +tell you?" she began at last. + +The other voice answered sadly, but no longer listlessly: + +"Yes." + +There was another pause. + +"You don't know," Donna Fedele began slowly, "no one knows, and no one +must know, that I cannot live very much longer." + +She waited for a word, a movement of surprise or protest, but none came. + +"I have been ill for more than a year. I have shrunk from examination, +and probably it is now too late for anything. I suffer terribly. But my +pain is not all physical--I suffer mentally as well." + +The slow voice sank lower. + +"There was one terrible time in my life. At eighteen I fell in love +with a man who was not free. You have already guessed who it was. Do +not think my love for him was entirely spiritual. I loved him with my +whole soul, my whole being. Fortunately, he did not reciprocate my +love, and almost begged me to forget him. It was then I thought of +taking my life. I cast about me for a way that should not look like +suicide, for my father's sake, and I finally decided upon a long walk +among the hills, a dangerous path, and a fatal slip. Fortunately, just +at that time my father fell ill. I was all he had, for my mother had +died when I was thirteen. My love for him, which had been numbed by +that other passion, now awoke once more, and my religious feelings +awoke too. I do not know whether my father read my heart, but during +his convalescence he spoke much to me of God, of Christ, of the soul, +of grief, and of love--never reproachfully or warningly, but very +gently and with a tenderness that made me realise how sinful I had +been. The nuns at my convent school had given me but a superficial +religion. It was my father who made me believe from the bottom of my +heart. Poor father!" + +Donna Fedele was silent, overcome by the sad memories that had rushed +in upon her as she talked. Presently she asked: + +"Do I tire you?" + +The "No" that answered her now was neither listless nor sorrowful. It +was almost eager. + +"The saddest part is yet to come," Donna Fedele went on. "I was +seven-and-twenty when my father died, and I was living in Turin with +a companion whom my father had chosen to take me into society. I went +out a great deal at that time. An officer fell in love with me. He +was younger than myself, and poor, but gifted, far finer in character +than I was. I liked him, and thought I might come to love him, but +unfortunately I was foolish enough not to let him know my feelings. At +last he asked me to marry him, and when it was too late I realised that +nothing more than friendship could ever be possible between us. He left +me without a word, and went home...." + +"He killed himself!" Leila whispered. + +Donna Fedele was silent, but becoming conscious of a little hand moving +towards her along the edge of the bed, she reached out for it and took +it in hers. She felt her own hand drawn and touched by two hot lips. It +was her reward for having opened her heart to this woman who was almost +a stranger to her, and whom she had loved only for the sake of another. + +"Dear!" she murmured softly, and for a few moments was unable to go on +with her story. + +"He was an only son," she said at last, "and he left a mother and +sister. They were in straitened circumstances, and they hated me +because they believed I had first encouraged him and then cast him off. +They would never have consented to accept aid from me. The mother is +dead, but the sister lives in Turin, quite alone. I will give you her +address. I help her secretly. Should I leave her something in my will +she would not accept it, and so this is the favour I would ask of you. +What I should leave to her, I will leave to you instead, and I wish +you to continue to help her as I do at present. I beg you also to see +her after my death, and convince her that I did not try to lead her +brother on, that I was only mistaken enough to fancy that I might come +to return his affection, and that the grief of my error was ever with +me, even until the hour of my death. Will you do this?" + +Now it was Donna Fedele who stretched out her hand towards the other +bed. It was quickly seized and pressed, but there was no answer. Once +more she questioned, "Will you do this?" + +Twice she felt the back of her hand pressed to wet eyes, and then heard +the whispered words: + +"You must not die! You must get well!" + +"But should I not get well, will you do this for me?" + +The imprisoned hand was pressed violently. + +"Do not make me answer at once." + +Donna Fedele withdrew her hand, which Leila did not try to prevent, and +said no more. But suddenly the girl cried: + +"I know----!" and paused. + +"What do you know?" + +"Nothing!" + +Both were silent for a time, and then Leila crept slowly out of bed, +put her arms round her friend's neck, and laid her head upon her breast. + +"I know why you confide this mission to me," she said, in a voice that +was hardly audible. "I know why you changed my room. I know----" + +"Hush!" said Donna Fedele, trying to stop what she feared was coming, +and when Leila began again, "I know ..." the elder woman ordered her +almost harshly to be still, and go back to bed. "You can give me your +answer to-morrow," she said. + +Leila got into bed with a sigh, and without having either consented +or refused. Presently, hearing her friend move, she asked if she had +put out the light on her account, and begged her to light it again and +read, as usual. When Donna Fedele had done so and begun to read, Leila +asked what the book was, but without replying her friend turned over a +few pages, and then read aloud the following passage: + +"'But now I oftentimes groan, and bear my happiness with grief. Because +many evils occur in this vale of miseries, which do often trouble, +sadden, and overcloud me, often hinder and distract me, allure and +entangle me, so that I can have no free access unto Thee.'" + +"'Unto Thee'?" said Leila. "To whom does that refer?" + +"To Jesus Christ." + +Leila said no more. Donna Fedele went on reading to herself for a few +minutes, and then put out the light. + + * * * * * + +Towards daybreak Donna Fedele was seized with pain so violent as to +wring a groan from her. Leila, who was still awake, sprang out of bed, +lighted the lamp, and did what she could to relieve the sufferer, who, +seeing her distress, smiled at her even before she was able to speak. +Not until it was broad daylight did she get relief from pain. + +"Well," said she, "are you going to do as I wish? You see what my +condition is." + +"First, you must promise me to undergo an examination, either at Padua +or Turin," said Leila, "and to follow the doctor's advice afterwards." + +"Then will you also promise what I asked?" + +"Yes," was the prompt and decided answer. + +Donna Fedele promised, and, stretching out her arms, embraced Leila +very tenderly. During the day she felt much better, and judging from +past experience, looked forward to an interval of calm, and accordingly +proceeded to make arrangements for carrying out her promise. It was +really necessary for her to go to Turin on business, as her agent lived +there. She determined to consult Carle, and should he consent, she +would go to some cool spot, perhaps in the neighbourhood of Monte Rosa +or into Val d'Aosta. Would Signor Camin allow his daughter to accompany +her? Leila declared, in her usual short and conclusive manner, that she +would go without his consent. Her friend smiled, and called her a silly +child, telling her that her father had the right to send the police +to fetch her home. "He would never dare!" cried Leila, remembering +the many humble letters he had written her, the sums of money she had +so often sent him. Donna Fedele's eyebrows went up somewhat, but she +refrained from comment. Presently, of her own initiative, she wrote a +note to Camin. The gate-keeper took it to the Montanina, and brought +back word that Signor da Camin was expected home on the following +morning. Even before Donna Fedele asked her, Leila declared that, +should her father come to the Villino, she would refuse to see him, and +she was so vehement and resolute in her declaration that her friend +deemed it prudent to refrain from any argument at that moment. She +put the subject aside to be brought up again in the night, when their +talks were more confidential. She had suggested that Leila might like +to return to her own room, but the girl had declined to do so, wishing +to be near the friend who had shown her such motherly devotion, in +case she should need her. Donna Fedele was glad of her refusal, for +she felt she could get nearer to the girl when she had her with her at +night-time. + +That evening, as soon as the room was dark, she began: + +"And so if your father should come----?" + +"If my father comes, I shall send word that I am not well yet, that I +have a headache, and cannot see him." + +Donna Fedele pointed out gently, and in a quiet voice, that this was +impossible. It was contrary to all propriety, contrary to her duty as a +daughter, contrary to her own interest. Leila protested that she cared +nothing either for propriety or interest. But how about duty? Donna +Fedele asked. Duty indeed ... and with such a father! She had given him +money, and would give him more, if she had it, but that was all. After +all, he wanted nothing but money! He certainly did not want affection. + +"But you are religious...." Donna Fedele ventured to suggest. + +"That has nothing to do with it." + +"Yes, indeed it has!" + +Leila was silent. + +"I really don't know whether I am religious or not!" she suddenly burst +out. + +"You don't know?" + +Donna Fedele had introduced this topic not so much to remind Leila +of the religious side of her filial duties as to discover what her +religious opinions were. Leila answered dryly: + +"No, I really don't know." + +"But you pray?" + +"I don't pray any longer--at least, not as the priests teach us to +pray. I hate them!" + +"But why?" + +Leila did not answer. + +"Years ago," said Donna Fedele, "I had a maid who would not drink wine +because she had once mistaken the bottle and drank ink." + +Leila was silent for a time, and then asked: + +"What do you think about religion?" + +"I have always told you I am an old-fashioned Catholic, and, moreover, +I do not confuse bad priests with religion itself." + +"I thought you held the same views as----" + +The girl would not go on even when Donna Fedele demanded, "As whom?" +But the elder woman had guessed her meaning. + +"What do you know of that person's views?" she asked. + +"There you go!" cried Leila hotly. "You will never allow him to be +touched!" + +Donna Fedele burst out, throwing her usual precaution to the winds: + +"As you failed to understand his sentiments, my dear, you have proved +yourself entirely incapable of understanding his views!" + +"His sentiments, indeed!" Leila muttered. "_He_ did not go and kill +himself!" + +The thoughtless and uncalled for words, jarring upon such painful +memories, wounded Donna Fedele to the quick. + +"He certainly did not try to kill himself," she retorted. "You do not +know what true religion is, and Alberti does." + +After this neither spoke again, even to say good-night. + + + II + +Shortly after eleven on the following morning Sior Momi gently and +discreetly pushed open the main gate of the Villino delle Rose. His +honest intention was to put forward in the same gentle and discreet +manner his desire to have his daughter with him, but upon this he was +not going to insist; and, above all, he was determined to ingratiate +himself with Leila's friend and counsellor. It never entered his head +to boast of his paternal authority with her, as he had done to Molesin. +With only a few months of power in front of him, he had settled on his +policy. It was to appropriate during this short time as much movable +property as possible; to show humility and repentance, in order +that Leila, on coming of age, might be moved to make him a handsome +allowance; and to humour that precious Checco sufficiently to obtain +favourable terms with his creditors. He understood perfectly Molesin's +motive in encouraging him to demand Leila's return, but he was not +going to aim at so complete a conquest. He knew that it would never be +possible for his daughter and Carolina to be in the same house. Leila +would immediately refuse to have anything further to do with him. It +was still more out of the question to send Carolina away. Grasping as +was he himself, and even more obstinate, she had a certain hold upon +him, and they were fond of one another in their own way, though at +times they had violent quarrels. + +Sior Momi walked slowly along the avenue of linden-trees, and +walked round the house, for he was not sure which was the visitors' +entrance--the verandah in the front or the low door on the opposite +side. He blinked rapidly, but at last instinct led him to run his head +in at the low door. His "May I come in?" followed by a loud blowing of +his nose, brought the maid hurrying downstairs, and, having ushered +him into the drawing-room, she went to tell her mistress. Unlike +Dr. Molesin, Sior Momi always stiffened visibly in the presence of +people of quality or position. As she observed his rigid attitude, +his pasteboard mask, and red lids, blinking over glassy eyes, Donna +Fedele once more asked herself if he were a knave or simply a fool. +She repeated to him more or less the same information contained in her +note, while he punctuated what she was saying by fragmentary sentences, +aimless expressions of gratitude, and vague exclamations, such as, +"Quite so!... Free, perfectly free!" When, in order to prepare him +for a possible refusal, on her part, to grant him the interview he +must certainly desire, the Signora alluded to his daughter's character +as somewhat eccentric, he uttered his perpetual "Aho, aho!" which on +this occasion was expressive of jocose assent. He then proceeded to +express his entire approval of the journey to Turin. "Delighted--quite +delighted, I assure you, Signora.... An honour--a great honour!" And +finally, as if he had been worked by machinery, he delivered the speech +he had prepared. + +"If it is no trouble ... no trouble at all ... I should like ... if it +is really not inconvenient!" Nothing further being forthcoming, Donna +Fedele concluded that this was his official demand to see Leila. Was +that what he wanted? "Well, yes, Signora ... If I may make so bold...." +She warned him that Leila was not feeling quite well yet, but said she +would let her know of his presence. Donna Fedele had previously so +strongly urged her to see her father, if he should call, that the girl +had given way. + +Leila received him standing, with great dignity, and a stern face. He +hastened towards her, stammering, "Ciao, ciao! How are you? How are +you?" and kissed her on both cheeks. + +She shuddered, but nevertheless allowed herself to be kissed. She +did not ask him to sit down, and although he cast sidelong glances +at a chair, he did not venture to take it. He expressed his approval +of her journey to Turin. "It would be a good thing ... delighted, +quite delighted!" Then, taking out his pocket-book, he said that, +the Signora having written to him of this journey, he had brought +the "wherewithal." He drew a small packet of ten-lire bills from the +pocket-book and handed them to Leila. + +"Things have changed," he said. "Aho, aho!... Ah! but it is all yours, +all yours, of course. Only a few months longer, and I shall have to +render an account!" Another inane laugh followed, and then Sior Momi +cleverly converted his exclamation point into a mark of interrogation. +"Isn't that so? Shan't I have to render an account?" + +"It is quite the same to me!" Leila exclaimed, with a glance of +contempt, and without stopping to consider her words. Sior Momi found +them greatly to his taste, and swallowed them slowly, figuratively +stroking himself the while, and quite forgiving Leila for keeping him +standing there like any servant. + +"You have been indisposed, have you not?" he said presently, with +touching solicitude. "What was the matter? Fever, influenza, +indigestion, or anæmia?" + +He popped out this strange list like so many shots from a revolver. + +"Rheumatism," said Leila shortly. + +"Ah! rheumatism. And will you come to your own home on your return from +Turin?" + +"No." + +"Ben, ben! Well, well!" said this meek and docile parent, slipping into +dialect from the Italian he had always used with his daughter since +her return from boarding-school. He would have liked to kiss her again +at parting, but did not dare to do so. His embarrassed and choppy mode +of speech, his awkward laugh--"Aho, aho!"--his rigid bearing in the +presence of those he looked up to or feared were really the result of +a certain nervous timidity, which was another boon, as precious as his +fool's face, and was like a thick wash of virginal innocence over his +well-laid plans. His daughter's intellectual and moral superiority and +her haughty manner had always filled him with shyness. + +"Will you write?" he mumbled on the threshold. + +Leila's only answer was a short "Goodbye," and Sior Momi proceeded +downstairs. + +He did not forget Donna Fedele, and once more entered her presence in +a state of the utmost rigidity. "My respects! My respects! Very happy +indeed.... I wish you a pleasant journey!" + +And with this he left the house, already thinking how he should break +the news to dear friend Molesin that he had been forced to yield, that +his daughter had been most hostile in her attitude, that there were no +plums to be got from this pie--unless they were stolen ones. + + + + + CHAPTER X + THE GAME BEGINS + + + I + +Friend Molesin did not believe a syllable of the story Momi told +him--that he had not seen his daughter, or anything else. But the +worthy doctor, nevertheless, pretended to grasp and hold fast the two +infinitives--to wait and to hope. There was not the slightest doubt, +he said, but that matters would mend. At lunch he ate little, saying +it was too late and that he had lost his appetite, but he displayed +great good-humour, talked of the surrounding country and of the villa +with increased approval, and having told Momi of his conversation at +the parsonage concerning the funeral service, found no difficulty in +persuading him to write and beg the archpriest to have the service read +at the earliest possible date. He expressed the friendly intention of +attending it, should he not be obliged to leave after the two days, and +if his lengthened visit were agreeable to his friend. He was growing to +like the place, and--poor doctor!--he was sadly in need of rest. Sior +Momi ejaculated, "Of course! Delighted!" but he was blinking rapidly, +nevertheless. After luncheon Molesin proposed a short walk, and he +and his friend started up the path under the pleasant shade of the +chestnut-trees. But he sat down on the first bench they came to, and +motioned solemnly to Momi to do the same. + +"Sit down, man," said he, and after a short silence he felt moved to +recognise the beauty of his surroundings. + +"Belo, belo! Beautiful, beautiful!" he said. + +Then suddenly he turned on Momi and sprang the following proposal upon +him. + +"See here, Momi--let us do a little business." + +Sior Momi assumed his most idiotic expression, and answered: + +"What did you say? Business?" + +He saw at once that Molesin intended to propose a figure for the famous +adjustment with his creditors, and quickly assumed the defensive. + +"Now you, most worthy Sior Momi," the doctor went on, using the Italian +diluted with Venetian that he reserved for solemn occasions, "are the +parent and master, so to speak, of a fine fortune--I may even say of a +large fortune." + +"Aho, aho!" giggled Momi ironically, but his friend went on, unmoved: + +"And now you are in a position to make yourself comfortable for ever, +and set your conscience at peace as well by paying one hundred per +cent." + +"Son of a...!" cried Momi, with another grotesque laugh. + +"What ails you?" Molesin demanded. "Ain't I right? Go along with you! I +am only trying to befriend you, after all, and I will undertake to get +my clients to accept seventy-five per cent." + +Sior Momi could not repress an exclamation. + +"Bravo putèlo! Good lad!" said he, and having offered this tribute to +his friend's childlike simplicity, Sior Momi for the first time became +heated, both in face and language. He was no longer Sior Momi. Two +burning spots appeared upon his yellow cheek-bones, he frowned heavily, +his head wagged upon his neck as he talked, while from his lips, as +from an inverted bottle, there gushed a stream of talk, uninterrupted +by a single "aho," or rather, perhaps, resembling a swift river of +"ahos," which swept the wreckage of many words along with it. They +asked for seventy-five per cent. now, when he was no longer in a +position to pay even the twenty-five he had once offered! He was amazed +that Molesin did not see this! He had made his offer at a time when he +had a right to believe that his daughter, on coming into her fortune, +would be willing to make some sacrifice for her father. Then he could +have found some one to advance the money for the twenty-five per cent. +But now, when the girl had proclaimed her hostility, refusing even to +live with her father--now they had the face to demand seventy-five per +cent! He had made his humble offer precisely because he knew he could +not count, to any great extent, upon the help of an eccentric girl, +who had never shown the slightest affection for him. And now there was +proof of this. To any great extent, indeed! To no extent whatsoever! +And where was he to find the money? Did they expect him to steal it? To +rob his own daughter? He had one comfort left, and that was, that he +could prove himself to be an honest man, in spite of the calumnies that +had been spread by certain persons. He had another comfort also, and he +was willing to admit it was a great one--that he should never want for +bread, for his daughter, willingly or unwillingly, would be obliged by +law to support him. + +"Enough, enough!" cried Molesin. He rose, and intentionally omitting +the _da_ from the other's name, said: + +"Listen to me, Camin! I warn you that at home I have the numbers of all +the Government bonds held by this old gentleman here." + +Momi declared that he did not care a rap if he had, and made an offer +of five per cent. + +"Drop that, I tell you!" the other retorted. + +Molesin started to walk away, but presently stopped, turned half +round, planted his stick firmly, and flung a glance over his shoulder +out of the corner of his eye. + +"We will make it seventy," said he. + +"We will make it seven," said Camin. + +For the time being the conversation ended here. In Momi's mind a hope +was born that Molesin would now alter his plans, and take himself off +that very evening. + + + II + +Towards five o'clock Molesin received a note from Don Tita, begging +him to come to the parsonage. He started at once, and was received by +Don Emanuele, for the archpriest had gone to Seghe, leaving the field +clear for his chaplain, who had been anxious for this interview, but +had not wished to ask for it directly, in order not to place himself +before his superior in a spiritual matter. He regretted that, during +his conversation with Molesin, his superior had not laid sufficient +stress upon the moral necessity of removing Signorina Camin, no matter +at what cost, from under the evil influence of Signora Vayla. The young +priest's soul was full of rancour against Donna Fedele, a rancour +he justified to himself by calling it proper zeal against one whose +unseemly attitude of disregard of ecclesiastical authority in matters +of religion and morals was well known--against one who presumed to +read and explain the Gospels to her dependents, who had formed a warm +friendship with a priest of doubtful orthodoxy like Don Aurelio, and +who shielded a rascally Modernist like young Alberti. Whenever a sharp +point of this suppressed rancour pushed upwards and pierced these +holy wrappings, Don Emanuele made honest efforts to press it under +again, and salved his conscience by praying for the eternal salvation +of the soul of this woman who was both in danger and dangerous, the +more so because, in her life and in the observance of the practices +of religion, she appeared irreproachable. He himself now proposed to +undertake the task of snatching the girl from her, the archpriest being +too good-natured and easy-going. + +When the servant announced Dr. Molesin, Don Emanuele, who was reading +his breviary, had a vision of his meeting with Signora Vayla in the +sacristy, and of the scene upon the Mea road, and he crossed himself +piously in order to rid himself of any spirit of vengeance, and prepare +himself to inflict injury upon her in the cause of righteousness. His +compunction betrayed itself upon his brow, in his melancholy and watery +eyes, and even in his stately tread and the slow movements of his lean +person. + +"What the deuce can this long, lean creature want!" thought Molesin, +and he made him a low bow, to which the long, lean creature responded +by a slight inclination of his head and a sweep of his hand that was +full of prelatical condescension. Immediately and respectfully Molesin +inquired for the archpriest, adding a few words of warm satisfaction +at his prospective advancement. Don Emanuele ignored this subject, and +having apologised for his superior's absence, stated that he had been +charged to represent him. The archpriest, he said, had been deeply +gratified on hearing of Signor da Camin's good intentions towards his +church and the poor of his parish. The needs of both were indeed great. +But what pleased the archpriest most were the pious inclinations his +new parishioner displayed. He would strive to show his gratitude in the +way best befitting a Churchman and a parish-priest, by helping him in +his domestic difficulties, and acting as intermediary between father +and daughter, that they might be brought to a peaceful understanding, +which would be greatly to the advantage both of their temporal and +spiritual interests. + +Thus far worthy Dr. Molesin, seated opposite the chaplain, with legs +apart, hands resting on his knees, and eyes downcast, had confined +himself to raising and lowering his head like a polar-bear--now with a +simple movement of assent, now with waggings to right and left, that +testified to his abundant approbation. But on catching the closing +words of the second part of Don Emanuele's speech, his bowed head +suddenly ceased to saw the air. + +The chaplain felt constrained to touch upon a very delicate subject. +Neither the archpriest nor he himself would be able to do anything to +promote Signor da Camin's domestic peace, unless a certain scandal were +put an end to. Did Signor Molesin understand his meaning? Molesin, who +had ceased his waggings, but still sat gazing downwards between his +knees at the cracks in the brick floor, suddenly straightened himself, +laid the fingers of one hand flat upon his mouth, fixed his eyes on +one corner of the room, puckered his brow, and sat stiffly silent in a +mighty effort at comprehension. He might have been seeking to grasp the +meaning of some Babylonian inscription or trying to recall the name of +some prehistoric ancestor. + +"No," said he, raising troubled eyes to Don Emanuele's. "I fail to +understand." + +Don Emanuele, in his turn, fixed his eyes on his companion's troubled +ones, and Molesin instinctively began to pucker them slowly to avoid +the penetrating gaze. "No, you must excuse me, but I really do not +understand," he repeated. + +"That unfortunate creature," Don Emanuele suggested slowly and almost +in a whisper, "who, I believe, is also at the Montanina----" + +"Ah!... Yes!" Molesin admitted at last. "Yes, I understand. You allude +to the housekeeper. It would be better for her to go away. I see, I +see! Her presence might interfere with the peace that should reign +between parent and child. The daughter might be led to believe ... +that ... so to speak ... and so forth and so on.... You wish Momi +to send her away. Very well, he shall do so. I will answer for him, +although, as a matter of fact, I really do not believe----" + +"She must go, and that at once," Don Emanuele put in. + +Molesin made a silent bow of assent. Then Don Emanuele, with a gesture +that savoured of mature age, as indeed did all his rare and measured +movements, gathered the five fingers of his left hand into a point, and +holding them up before his face, stared intently at them. + +"As soon as that unfortunate creature is out of the house, the daughter +must return." + +Having restored his fingers to their normal position, he gazed at +Molesin with deep melancholy in his watery eyes. + +"The thought of that young girl in the hands of that woman," said he, +"is the archpriest's greatest anxiety. And the archpriest does not know +all I know." + +Neither did Molesin, who, nevertheless, heaved a sigh for the +archpriest's anxiety, in order to be on the right side no matter what +might follow. The sigh was so deep that, for an instant, the watery +eyes were raised; then Don Emanuele dropped them again, and returned to +the subject of his superior's ignorance of facts. The archpriest was +unaware that, influenced by the atmosphere of Signora Vayla's home, the +poor child had gone the length of contemplating the perpetration of a +horrible crime. "Good Lord! Had she proposed to murder Momi?" Molesin +asked himself, terrified at the bare idea of Momi slipping through his +fingers. But Don Emanuele gave no further particulars of the crime, and +contented himself with deploring at length the poisonous atmosphere of +Signora Vayla's home. The girl, who was his penitent, had been both +virtuous and pious. They might still hope for a strong reaction in her, +such a reaction as sometimes brings a heart, wounded by the world, to +devote itself entirely to God. But this reaction must be encouraged, +and that it would be impossible to do in the present surroundings. +Leila's father must interfere, and, if needs be, make use of the +paternal authority given to him by law. It was Don Emanuele's opinion +that the girl's rebellion was due entirely to Donna Fedele's influence. + +Once in her own home--when that other person should have left, of +course--Leila would change completely. The archpriest, Don Emanuele +himself, and Don Tita's sister-in-law, a woman of exemplary piety, +would do all in their power to cultivate the latent piety in the girl's +soul, a soul that already sought to sever itself from the world, and +was above the love of riches. + +"I assure you that child would surrender all she possesses to her +father, without so much as a sigh of regret." + +The chaplain was anxious to impress these words on Molesin's mind, but +that worthy hardly gave him time to finish before he began discussing +the spiritual interest involved, as if the other side of the question +did not exist for him. He referred to a great-aunt of Signor Momi's, +who had been a nun, and raising his eyebrows as if testifying, from +philosophical experience, to the recurrence of great events in history, +and the hidden workings of Providence, he blew a trumpet blast into his +cotton handkerchief as a signal that he was about to make his departure. + + + III + +During dinner, which was very late, Sior Momi announced his intention +of inviting the archpriest to dine with them on the morrow in honour +of his friend. Molesin thanked him, but a certain note of hesitation +and of coolness in his answer revealed the anxious state of his mind. +He had learnt from the cook the very unpleasant cause of the delay in +serving dinner. There had been a scene between Carolina and Teresina, +and all about a glass of Marsala which Teresina had given to the cook +for cooking purposes. Sior Momi's housekeeper, on one of her frequent +incursions into the kitchen, had nearly drained the glass, whereupon +Teresina had "given notice," and all Sior Momi's earnest entreaties had +failed to alter her angry determination. + +Teresina leaving, and Carolina triumphant! A fine moment for inviting +the archpriest, thought Molesin. After dinner Sior Momi led the way +into the drawing-room, and proposed a game of cards. He felt bound +to soothe this adversary, whom he could not get rid of, and who was +capable of diabolical plottings and of inciting the Velo priests to +influence his daughter in a way that would be disastrous to himself. + +Molesin was unacquainted with the game Momi proposed, and could only +play whist and a game called _terziglio_. Presently Giovanni came in +with the steps to light the lamps. + +"Be off with those confounded steps!" cried Sior Checco, in an angry +tone. "A small lamp, any small oil lamp, will do. I like oil lamps." +But there were none in the house, and so Giovanni brought a couple of +candles. With a timid "Aho!" Momi inquired if his friend would like a +game of _terziglio_. + +"What?" snapped Molesin, for _terziglio_ is a three-handed game. + +Momi uttered another timid "Aho!" There was a third person in the house +who could play, he said. + +"Ah, no!" gasped Molesin, taken aback for the moment. "Ah, no! No, +indeed! By the rogue Bacchus, no! The very idea of such a thing! No, +thanks!" He blew out one of the candles angrily. "Catch hold of that +other candle," he commanded in a fierce tone, and, regardless of Sior +Momi's oft-repeated question, "What is up? What is the matter now?" +kept on ordering him to "Catch hold of that other candle," until Momi, +grumbling, "Well, well! Have your own way," finally obeyed. He would +have liked to utter an "aho!" of pacification, but lacked courage to do +so. Besides, he did not understand the turn things had taken. + +"And what now?" said he, gazing at Molesin, and clasping the +candlestick. + +"Now we will go into the study." + + * * * * * + +There was no light nor sound in the drawing-room. A pale moonbeam +illumined the gallery at the head of the double stairway. Teresina, +who was busy collecting her belongings preparatory to her departure +the next day, passed along with a light, and looked down into the +shadows, thinking of the former master and of the present one, and then +hastened away, her eyes big with tears, and feeling that the walls, the +furniture, the very shadows that flickered round her little lamp were +echoing her own sadness. + +One, two, three quarters of an hour passed. An hour crept away, and +still the drawing-room remained silent and empty. Giovanni came in +with a note that had arrived from the archpriest. Finding the room in +darkness, he hesitated, and then went out to the open verandah. There +was no one there. Could they be in the garden? He went forward a few +steps, and then caught sight of the light in the study. Returning to +the house, he entered the billiard-room, and heard Molesin's voice. The +doctor was talking softly, but angrily. Giovanni knocked gently at the +study door. Molesin himself opened it, and said, in an irritable voice: + +"What is the matter now? What do you want? You can't come in. Go away! +Be off!" + +Giovanni handed him the note and stole away, without waiting to ask if +there was an answer, for he had learnt from the messenger that the note +simply contained the information that the funeral service for Signor +Marcello would be held on the following Monday. He returned to the +kitchen to tell of the secret confabulation that was going on between +Molesin and the master. Carolina, who had ere this cast languishing +glances upon him, on hearing this news, caught the young man boldly +by the hand, ordering him to take her where she could hear; and as he +showed honest reluctance to do as she asked, the woman inquired, with a +meaning smile, if he were afraid of the master? But Giovanni stood his +ground, and with a contemptuous shrug, Carolina went off by herself. +That old fright of a Molesin, on whom she had wasted more than one of +her wiles and graces, was simply odious to her now. She ran into a +door, fell over several chairs, but reached her goal at last. + +Before leaving the kitchen she had ordered coffee, but long after it +was ready and waiting she had not returned. Giovanni went to look for +her, but neither he nor Carolina came back. At last, however, the +footman burst into the kitchen, in a state between fear and mirth, and +announced that an awful row was going on in the study. Carolina was +raving like a wild beast, and he thought he had heard blows. The entire +staff--cook, gate-keeper, gate-keeper's wife, and Giovanni--started for +the scene of the quarrel. On tiptoe they entered the billiard-room, +and immediately heard Carolina, shouting her own praises, "I would +have you know that I am" this and that, while Sior Momi brayed, "Hold +your tongue! Be quiet! Have done!" and Molesin groaned, "Yes, yes, my +good creature! I know, I know, my good creature!" Giovanni rushed into +the garden and peered in at the window. There was Sior Momi standing +between the table and the easy-chair, and stretching imploring hands +towards Carolina, who was advancing, with shoulders thrown forward and +clenched fists resting on her hips, towards the unhappy doctor, who, +whiter than his own shirt, was edging backwards in the direction of +poor Signor Marcello's bedroom. Giovanni saw him clutch the door-handle +and escape through the bedroom to the salon. He himself rushed into the +house and gave the alarm to his companions, who fled back, as hard as +they could go, to the kitchen again. Then Giovanni, who had overheard +much and guessed more, gathered them around him, and proceeded to +explain. This is what had evidently happened: When Carolina had applied +her ear to the door the new master and Molesin had been discussing her. +The new master had praised her, and probably, afterwards, Molesin had +abused her. Hereupon she must have rushed into the room and kicked up +a row. Giovanni had come away while the master was still speaking, but +on going back he had heard the woman shouting, "Me? Me? Send me away, +would you?" At this point Giovanni's story was interrupted by Molesin's +voice calling, "Hallo there! Some one bring a light!" The group broke +up and Giovanni, seizing a lighted candle, started to find the doctor. +He came upon him in the drawing-room. He was trembling and appeared +quite upset, and muttering, "What a confoundedly dark house this is!" +he took the candle and started upstairs, calling back to Giovanni to +wake him at five on the following morning. + +Carolina reappeared in the kitchen in dignified gloom, and drank her +coffee in silence. Sior Momi came into the drawing-room, rang the bell, +and inquired for Dr. Molesin. That worthy had hung about the gallery +in the hope of catching a glimpse of the master and his housekeeper, +should they leave the study together, and of overhearing what they +might say. From between two columns he now peered down into the room +below, and flung an angry "I am here!" into Sior Momi's upturned face. + +"She has been persuaded!" Momi answered in an undertone. + +Molesin glared down upon him for some seconds, and then informed him +that, for his part, he was persuaded only of his own intention to leave +on the following morning at six. Hereupon he withdrew his head from +between the columns, but a moment afterwards he reappeared, his lighted +candle in his hand. + +"Good-night," said he. + +Signor Momi hurried upstairs and confronted him. + +"Don't you believe me? She is really persuaded. She will go." + +Wrapped in gloom, Molesin answered: + +"We shall see." + +"You _will_ see!" Momi retorted. Suddenly the doctor remembered another +promise Momi had made just before Carolina's furious entrance into the +study. + +"And the girl?" + +With the same calm assurance with which he had said "She will go," in +speaking of Carolina, he now said, referring to his daughter: + +"She will come." + +"We shall see!" Molesin repeated emphatically. + +Sior Momi assumed a tone of affectionate familiarity, and, placing his +hand on his friend's arm, persuaded him, by dint of many blandishments, +to return to the drawing-room, and then proposed that they should +end the evening in peace at the card-table. They could play a game +resembling _tresette_, that needed only two players. They began their +game, Molesin frowning over the bad cards that fell to his lot, Sior +Momi laughing his foolish laugh over the good ones he held. Neither +alluded to the all-important "affair," although neither thought of +anything else, Molesin often forgetting to play his trumps and turn +up his cards, but not so Sior Momi. Molesin, indeed, was reflecting +that his adversary was certainly trying to get the better of him, +and reading, both in his expression and in his friendly bearing, a +malicious certainty of success, he began to wonder what sort of a trap +his enemy had set, and to cast about in his mind for the best means +of bringing Momi to reasonable terms. His thoughts were struggling +towards this goal much as an ironclad may proceed at night through a +channel beset with danger, cautiously, with all hands at their posts, +throwing its searchlight in all directions athwart the encircling +darkness. Carolina would go--he was sure of that. She would only +pretend to leave, but that mattered little so long as she went. But the +girl! Would she return? And would she really enter a convent, leaving +all to her father, as Don Emanuele had suggested? But the chief thing +was, he admitted, to get her home, and then it would be time enough to +make further plans. After reaching this conclusion, Molesin turned his +attention to the cards and no longer forgot to play his trumps. + +Sior Momi, on his part, found the pleasing aspect of his hand in +keeping with the inward visions he was enjoying. Molesin, with many +distortions of the priest's words, had told him Don Emanuele's idea +concerning a religious life for his daughter, but he did not believe +for a moment that such would be Leila's choice. Her nature was much too +passionate. "We shall see if I am mistaken," he thought. Meanwhile he +would pretend to share the chaplain's conviction, and cautiously second +the priest's actions. He could not avoid insisting upon his daughter's +return. Should she resist--then he would make different arrangements. +To-morrow morning Carolina would take herself off, not to Cantù, as +would be given out, but to Padua, with the house and cellar keys and +a nice little pile of money. She would lead a quiet life there, until +matters were settled in one way or another. This was the compact that +had been sealed by an affectionate embrace, after Molesin's retreat +from the study. "We have a sly knave to deal with!" Momi had said to +his Moma, as he called her at moments of especial tenderness. + +He would write to his daughter saying he had changed his mind, and +wished her to return home. Should she take this quietly, which was not +probable, it would be a step in the right direction, and all to the +good. Should she make a fuss--well, there were other means.... Sior +Momi, reposing upon a soft, thick layer of Government bonds, "payable +to bearer," which had emigrated from the Montanina to Padua, smiled +complacently upon the good cards he held. + +When the game was over he rang for Giovanni, and, his eyes fixed on his +friend, hesitatingly ordered the footman to call Dr. Molesin at five. +Giovanni replied that he had his orders already, but Molesin, calmly +stretching out his hand towards the servant, said: + +"Call me at seven. No, I am tired. Call me at eight." + + + + + CHAPTER XI + AWAY FROM LOVE AND THE WORLD + + + I + +Donna Fedele, who was in pain, was lying on her bed reading. The maid +came in to say that the little girl to whom her mistress taught French +had come for her lesson. Donna Fedele hesitated for a moment, and then +said she did not feel able to give the lesson that day. Presently the +maid returned with a bunch of Alpine roses the child had brought for +her teacher. The Signora was touched, and told the maid to call to the +little girl from the window, for she was already on her way to the gate. + +"I will hear you read," said the teacher, when she had thanked the +child for the flowers with a kiss, "Get your book." + +The book was "La Fontaine." The child read the fable of the locust and +the ant--badly and with an atrocious accent. Donna Fedele was obliged +to correct her at almost every word, and had great difficulty in +making her understand the lesson the fable is meant to teach. She lost +patience both with herself and the child, who, when asked if she had +rather be the locust or the ant, promptly replied "The ant," and there +was no making her see the harshness and unkindness of that provident +insect's answer. + +The little girl had just gone when Leila came in, and found her friend +completely exhausted. + +"How could I possibly leave you," she said, sitting down beside her, +"when you are like this!" + +Donna Fedele stretched out her hand to her, and repeated "La +Fontaine's" lines in a low tone: + + "'La cigale ayant chanté tout l'été, + Se trouva fort dépourvue + Quand la bise fut venue.' + +have telegraphed for a kind 'ant,'" she added. + +Leila hid her tearful face in the bedclothes, as if to stifle the cry +that sprang from her heart: "I will not go! I will not! I will not!" + +That morning she had received two letters, one from her father, the +other from the archpriest of Velo. The letter from her father, which +Molesin had carefully revised, was a withdrawal of his permission to +go away with Donna Fedele. Sior Momi wrote that both the maid Teresina +and his housekeeper had suddenly deserted him. Teresina was bound to +leave immediately, and the housekeeper was already gone. His health was +becoming rapidly impaired, and his daughter's presence was absolutely +necessary. The archpriest's letter, which had been inspired by the +chaplain, contained an appeal to Leila's kindness of heart on behalf +of a poor family at Lago di Velo, who were in need of both spiritual +and material aid. Signor Marcello had helped them, and the archpriest +trusted that Leila would be willing to continue this work of charity, +adding to her kindness a personal visit. Neither Leila nor Donna Fedele +suspected that there was any connection between the two letters, but +under the shock of the first Leila had quivered like some small wild +animal. Donna Fedele had given her time to relieve her feelings, and +then, very gently and softly, had advised her to think over it. The +mere suggestion of the possibility implied by such advice was enough +to make Leila burst into tears. Then her friend had tried to console +her with tender caresses, and, touching as lightly as possible upon the +legal obligation to obey the summons, pointed out the good she might do +her father by purifying his home and surroundings and by her example. +Should anything of a scandalous nature take place in the house, then no +one would be able to oblige her to remain, and she should return to the +Villino. She, Donna Fedele, would find a means of protecting her. In a +few months now she would be of age and her own mistress, and her father +could then remain at the Montanina only with her consent. At this point +Leila, who was greatly overcome, confessed that it was her intention +to relinquish Signor Marcello's heritage as soon as she should come of +age. Donna Fedele shuddered at thought of such an affront to her dead +friend, and reproached the girl bitterly, accusing her of unreasoning +pride. Leila, in her turn, became angry. + +"After all," said she, "what right have you to talk to me in this way?" + +Donna Fedele was too hurt to speak, but presently, with a fresh +outburst of grief, Leila flung her arms about her friend's neck, +sobbing: + +"I will do as you wish!" + + + II + +This had happened on Saturday. It was decided that Leila should return +to the Montanina in the course of a few days, when the elderly cousin +to whom Donna Fedele had telegraphed should have arrived. This cousin +would accompany the invalid to Turin, where Carle was to examine her, +as soon as she should be able to take the journey. For the time being +travelling was out of the question. + +That same evening as Leila was going to sleep in her own room Donna +Fedele called her to her bedside. + +"Listen, dear," she began. "I have received a letter from Alberti. I +have been hesitating whether to show it to you, but I have finally +decided to let you see it. I may not be acting wisely, but I beg you +not to make me regret having done so. I wish you, once for all, to see +him as he really is. Do not read it here," she said, giving Leila the +letter. "Take it to your own room. You can bring it back to me in the +morning." + + + III + +Leila sat on the edge of her bed with the letter in her hand, trying +to fix her thoughts on something that would calm the throbbing of her +heart. She remembered "La Fontaine's" fable, and repeated the lines +Donna Fedele had quoted. At last she determined to read the letter. + +She found it impossible to read it straight through. First she counted +the pages. There were twelve. Then she read the address. Dasio? Where +was Dasio? She glanced at the first lines: "I am writing to you from a +small and lonely village high up among the mountains and the mists...." +She turned to the last words: "Pray that I may find peace. I have more +need of it now than I shall ever have, and I hope I have discovered the +path that leads to it, but I have still a long way to go." + +She shook with emotion, but quickly controlled herself, and +rapidly turned over the twelve pages, seeking her own name. It was +there, it was really there! She glanced at the words--fearfully, +thirstingly--reading, and yet not reading. There was much concerning +her, and the sweet was mingled with the bitter. Leila perceived this, +but running thus through the pages she could form no idea of the +writer's state of mind, of his feelings toward herself. Would it not +be better, she thought, to do no more than glance at the words, to +refrain from reading them carefully, if they were going to increase +her suffering? For she had promised to go on living. Her thirst to +read grew, and her determination to resist stiffened. But suddenly and +rapidly both began to weaken, one annihilating the other. Automatically +she began once more to read, beginning where her name was first +mentioned: + +"_Leila!_ I am both ashamed of my emotion and angry with myself, dear +Mother Fedele, but the truth is that I suddenly felt the blood freeze +in my veins, and laying down my pen, I buried my face in my hands, and +remained thus I know not how long, struggling against the desire to +picture her to myself as being here. Now the spasm has passed, and I am +full of contempt for not being able to be just towards a child who is +not to blame that she judged me wrongly, that she does not possess the +qualities with which I insanely imagined her to be endowed, and for no +other reason than that she is beautiful." + +At this point Leila, quivering from head to foot, gripped the letter so +hard as to crumple its edges, but she controlled herself and read on +eagerly: + +"But one day I shall even be grateful to her for having repulsed me, +for I shall see clearly that I could never have been happy with a +woman so far removed, and in so many ways, from my mode of thought. +To-day my dangerous inclination would be to seek in love, not an +affinity of ideas but only love itself; to-day I would have the woman +of my choice ask me for love alone, and I could wish that there exist +for us no past and no future, but only an eternal present, wherein +only the unreasoning senses should throb in perfect harmony. But I +know that should this mad dream come true, life would quickly bring +disenchantment. The Scriptures say, 'Woe to him who is alone!' 'No, +no! Strength and glory to him who is alone,' say I! + +"The healing of my wounds is not my only preoccupation in this +solitude. Would it not perhaps be better to keep them open? They have +made a man of me. But the peace of this place enables me to meditate +upon that solution of the religious problem for which I once fought, +but about which I no longer feel so certain. Dear friend, dear +Mother Fedele, to no one save to you could I confess this terrible +uncertainty, and perhaps I would not do so even to you did I not feel +the horror of it, and, at the same time, the desire to set it before me +in black and white." + +Leila looked on to discover any further references to herself and +to his love. She saw the names of Don Aurelio and of Benedetto, and +turning back, read the same passage over again, beginning with the +words, "To-day my dangerous inclination..." and ending with "the +unreasoning senses, throbbing in perfect harmony." Here she paused, +trembling, and, still struggling against pride, she raised the words to +her lips, which she pressed half-open upon them, with a gentle touch, +as if vaguely forming a kiss that pride half forbade. Once more she +read the lines, and kept her eyes fixed upon them until the rest of the +page became a misty blur around these magic words. She read no farther, +but undressing herself, placed the letter under her pillow and got into +bed. She dreamed of a great multitude of wind-tossed beings, with whom +she mingled, flying in an agony of fear above a hideous stream, which +flowed darkly in the depths below. Suddenly she felt herself falling +through space; and awoke. She felt for the letter, suddenly overtaken +by the fear that it showed in parts too clearly that Alberti's love for +her was dying. She lit a candle, and sitting up in bed, read the letter +carefully, studying the most painful passages. It ran as follows: + + +"_Dasio_.... + +"DEAR FRIEND,--I am writing to you from a small, lonely village, high +up among the mountains and the mists. For the time being I have broken +with Milan and with the world. I will tell you all, for I love you +as a son, and if this pretence motherhood be not displeasing to you, +I should like to call you 'Mother Fedele.' May I? And so I am going +to tell you everything. I have long felt ill at ease in my uncle's +house. My uncle is a good man who has solved the problem of combining +religious intolerance with charity. If all intolerant people were like +my uncle they would compel the whole world to respect their doctrines. +But he has not kept in touch with religious questions, and, accepting +the opinions of certain persons who do not know my true feelings, he +sets me down as a lost sheep. Neither in intellectual matters have we +anything in common, and I feel, too, that he disapproves of my not +having followed some regular and profitable occupation. + +"Annoyances of a serious nature, of which Don Aurelio has surely told +you, drove me to seek peace and quietude at Velo d'Astico. You know +what peace I found there! On my return to Milan I discovered urgent +reasons why I should not continue to live on my uncle's bounty, and +it was immediately after our sad visit to the cemetery of Velo that I +read in the _Corriere_ the announcement of a vacancy for the post of +parish-doctor at Valsolda in the province of Como. The announcement +attracted me, for I should soon be obliged to go to that place to +perform a sacred duty towards the person and memory of the man I have +loved best in this world. I started for Valsolda at once, telling my +uncle that I was going to apply for the post, and that I wished to see +the country, with which I was quite unacquainted. + +"I did not tell him of my determination to leave Milan for good, if at +Valsolda or elsewhere, whether or not I secured the post, I could find +a quiet place of retreat. + +"One of the Lake of Lugano boats brought me to a village which, they +told me, was the centre of Valsolda. As soon as I had set foot there +I saw that it was no place for me, that I should not find there the +solitude I desired. I heard of a decent inn in the highest and most +remote village in the valley, and here I am in this hermitage called +Dasio, resting amidst the cool, dark verdure, beneath mighty crags +that tower above it on the north and east. Here I am, apparently +at a distance of four or five hours from Milan, but, in reality, +immeasurably remote from it. My inn, at which I am the only visitor, is +called 'Pension Restaurant du Jardin.' I am writing in a comfortable +square room, and I have carried paper and ink to the broad sill of a +window that looks out upon a vast sweep of verdure, rolling downwards +to the lake's deep mirror, amidst an all-pervading silence. Were my +soul at peace, and all the ties that still bind me to the world severed +for ever, I should be better able to feel this peace in all things, +this harmony between the mighty hills and the tiny churches in the +valley, calling humanity back to God. Near my inn stands the village +church. From my window I can read the words '_Divo Bernardino_' upon +its front. Is it he of Siena? I hope so. Indeed, I do not know any +other. On the right, lower down, and in the distance, a campanile +stands out above the lake. Had I peace within me I could feel more +intensely the peace of these venerable churches, of these stones, that +are ignorant of our struggles, and are the guardians of the Catholic +spirit of our fathers. Alas! dear Mother Fedele, I can hold no converse +either with the hills, the valleys, or the churches. I cannot feel the +quiet of all things because there is no peace within my soul, but only +a weary round of impulses continuously coming and going. Even when +they cease I am not at rest, but rather faint with a mortal exhaustion. +From mortal exhaustion I pass to a state of bitter irritation, and from +bitterness to paralysing terrors. I do not give way unresistingly to +these feelings, but the very struggle excludes peace. The first effect +of the silence of Dasio is to make me even more painfully alive to the +voices of the world from which I have fled. + +"I feel at times as if some evil spirit had undertaken to keep me +mindful of them. My window looks out on the church-place of San +Bernardino. Some children are playing there, and a merry voice has just +cried out: 'Leila!'" + +Long before reaching this point the young girl had begun to tremble. +She trembled lest her pride should forsake her, lest the writer's +harshest words concerning her should seem too mild, lest also she +should discover some sign that his love for her was disappearing. She +passed over the part of the letter she had already read and went on: + +"My present state of mind regarding the Catholic faith is not +altogether new, but it is only recently that I have realised this. + +"As a lad I was often beset by doubts. During my student days in Rome +I was like a piece of seaweed that has been torn up by the roots, and +floats at the mercy of the tide. But then I met the man whose body will +soon be brought hither and laid to rest. I worshipped him, and as long +as he lived no shadow of doubt ever again assailed me. I would gladly +have given my life for my faith and the Church. I may have wished, +at times, that ecclesiastical authority had taken another course in +this matter or that, but the possibility of rebellion against it +never occurred to me either then or for some time after my Master's +death. Then the unjust accusations of wilful dissent from Catholic +doctrine brought against him, the hostility which I, as his disciple, +met with from a Pharisaical rabble, and, on the other hand, the +corrosive effect of hypercriticism and contact with certain aimless +doctrinaires--all these influences prepared the gradual dissolution, +which is steadily advancing, of the body of my beliefs. Do not think, +dear friend, that I am losing my faith as some do, who, less clever +and cultured than they think, despise Catholicism on account of +certain ritualistic practices, or of some obscurities in its dogmas, +that appear to them simply absurd and even laughable. This is but the +pettiness of presumptuous minds that know little of Catholicism, and +have the audacity to criticise the religion of St. Augustine, of Dante, +and of Rosmini. No, it is for other reasons that my faith is weakening. +The doubt that is shaping in my mind is that this Divine religion is +about to share the fate of Judaism, that the divine element is about +to issue from it as Christianity issued from Judaism, leaving behind +what was worn out and surpassed. As Catholicism completed Judaism, so +a more ideal religion may perhaps complete Catholicism. Are there to +be forerunners who must endure sacrifice? Must I sacrifice myself, and +preach this Word, in opposition to the Word I have preached heretofore? +My Roman friends wish me to speak at the cemetery in Oria, when the +body of my Master, Benedetto, is laid in its final resting-place. I +fear I could not do so without hypocrisy, because Benedetto believed +steadfastly in the immortality of the Catholic Church, and in the duty +of obedience. If, presently, I come to think, as I now fear I shall, +that he was mistaken, I should be dishonouring his beloved memory by +speaking at his grave. A more faithful disciple than I must be found. + +"Don Aurelio, who is still in Milan, waiting for pupils, does not know +these views of mine. I had not the courage to confide in him, and I +shall certainly not be brave enough to write. Besides, why should I +cause him such sorrow as he would surely experience? I cannot look to +him for help, for I am already aware what his answer would be. He, in +himself, is an argument in favour of the Catholic Church, a stronger +argument than any he could bring forward either in words or writing, +but insufficient nevertheless; for pure and noble souls, souls full of +honest conviction, may be found in every Church, and even outside of +any Church. + +"There you have the painful truth concerning the state of my mind. The +suffering this causes me arises from the conviction that, if I break +with Catholicism, I shall lose all positive religious faith, and then +how shall I go on living? + +"As I am writing to you as a son I will add a few words about my new +financial position. Heretofore I have relied largely upon my uncle's +great generosity. But to-day I am happy in the thought that my uncle, +who is as niggardly towards himself as he is generous to others, will +now be able to benefit some charity with the money he once lavished +upon his nephew, who was always more or less reprehensible in his eyes. +I shall live upon the income of the small capital to which my parents' +fortune has been reduced. It represents something like four or five +lire a day, a sum which, here, or in some other place like this, will +suffice for my material wants, which, fortunately, are not great. From +what I hear, I conclude that it will be useless for me to apply for +the position of physician here, as the doctor who has been holding it +temporarily is sure to be appointed. This is the chief difficulty. +I cannot live without books and papers, and I must therefore earn +something by my profession, but any practice I might acquire here would +bring me very little. As I said before, this is the difficulty, but +I assure you that this new sense of poverty--a poverty that is only +relative, and far removed from penury--is very sweet to me. It is not +that I exult in my independence of a benefactor; I exult only, in that +I am now almost completely independent of _things_, and also that I +am come down among the humble, come down out of a world dominated by +conventionalities and hypocrisies to a world of greater simplicity. +This would be a true joy to me, if my soul were capable of joy. + +"Write to me, dear friend. Direct to Dasio, near San Mamette, Province +of Como. You had perhaps better not tell me of the little person I must +learn to forget. + +"And now goodbye. One of the guards has just come in to beg me to +prescribe for his child, who has been eating too much fruit. You see it +will not be difficult for me to acquit myself with honour with my first +patient! + + "I kiss your hand. + "Your devoted son, "MASSIMO. + + +"PS.--Fancy! I have only just noticed the sacred picture upon the +wall above my bed. It represents Jesus walking on the Sea of Galilee, +stretching out His hand to Peter, who is afraid that he may sink. Peter +doubted Christ, and Christ stretched out a loving hand to him. Will +He not stretch it out also to one who doubts Peter, if Peter withhold +his hand? At any rate, it is a strange coincidence that at this period +of my inner life, here in Dasio, hanging upon the wall of an inn, and +above a bed upon which, but last night, I passed long, sleepless hours +thinking of Christ and Peter, I should meet with this reproof: _Modicæ +fidei, quare dubitasti?_ + +"But I am not superstitious." + + * * * * * + +Leila read the pages that dealt with religion without understanding +much beyond their groundwork of grief, but she was conscious of a dull +pain at her own incapacity. She felt also that Donna Fedele had done +wrong in not respecting another's confidences, and she felt remorse at +having taken advantage of this breach of faith. Nevertheless, she could +not resist reading the letter. The expressions concerning the joy of +poverty from one whom she had accused of sordid purposes cut her to the +heart. She told herself that she was unworthy of him, and that it would +be best for him to go on thinking that she despised him. + +At the words "the little person I must learn to forget" her heart +throbbed, not in anger but in assent. She crept under the bedclothes. +From time to time she was still shaken with trembling, and her breast +heaved, but not a single tear did she shed. + + * * * * * + +The next morning when she entered her friend's room she placed the +letter on the bedside table, with an air of indifference. Donna Fedele +was sitting up in bed writing. She did not answer when Leila asked how +she had passed the night. From the young girl's face her friend judged +how her questioner had passed it. Donna Fedele asked for a kiss and +whispered: + +"Did I do wrong?" + +"Of course not," said Leila coldly. "I knew." + +"You knew?" Donna Fedele cried in astonishment. "Surely there were many +things in that letter you did not know!" + +"Please do not let us discuss it," the girl pleaded. + +Donna Fedele on embracing Leila had felt the throbbing of her proud +little heart too distinctly to believe her cold words. + +"I have answered his letter," she said. "Please read the answer." + +Leila's first impulse was to refuse, in order to avoid useless pain, +but fearing to be led into uttering imprudent words, she took the +letter and read it. + +"MY DEAR SON,--I gladly accept you as a son and immediately write +to you as such. Yet I am so far from my usual self that, had I not +four pieces of news that I wish you to know at once, I should put +off writing to you until to-morrow. The first, I have told you +already--that I gladly look upon you as my son. The second is, that you +are greatly mistaken concerning Leila and her feelings." + +Here the girl looked up, and, seizing the pen, drew it, with lightning +rapidity, through the last two lines. + +"Leila! What are you doing?" cried Donna Fedele in amazement, +stretching out her hand to take the letter. The young girl moved back a +few steps, and went on reading without answering, still holding the pen +in her trembling fingers. + +"Do you think you have any right to retaliate in that way?" Donna +Fedele continued indignantly. + +She was labouring under the misapprehension that Leila's act had been +an angry protest against the harsh words contained in Alberti's letter. +Leila made no answer, but read on in silence. + +"The third is, that Peter did indeed doubt, but on feeling the waters +yielding beneath his feet, he called out, '_Lord, save me!_' The fourth +is, that your new mother needs you far more than the guard's child +does, for to-morrow the Villino delle Rose will be more lonely than +Dasio, because Leila is going back to the Montanina. Her father insists +upon it. Write to Don Aurelio. I am not satisfied with the reasons you +give for not doing so. I see you with one foot outside the path in +which I myself walk humbly, and without feeling the stones, the thorns, +and the dust that torment you, with all your science and philosophy. +But I am not capable of arguing with you, who are so clever and so +wise. Write to Don Aurelio. Goodbye. + + "MOTHER FEDELE." + + +When she had finished Leila silently handed the letter to Donna Fedele, +who was gazing at her with anxious eyes, and waiting in vain for a +single word. + +"How do you suppose I can send it now?" said she. + +"Forgive me," the girl answered coldly, "but I did right." + +And she left the room. + + + + + CHAPTER XII + CONCERNING A SOUL + + + I + +The service for the repose of the soul of Signor Marcello was to begin +at ten o'clock. Donna Fedele was not well enough to attend. She had +written to Camin, begging that Leila might be allowed to stay with +her until the morrow, for the cousin to whom she had written was not +expected until the following day, and Leila would not hear of leaving +the Villino until her arrival. However, no answer had come from the +Montanina. About half-past nine o'clock Leila and the maid started to +walk to Velo. + + * * * * * + +Leila refused her father's invitation to sit beside him on the bench +that had been covered with black drapery, and sat down near the door, +that she might be able to go out as soon as the service was over. +But before it began the archpriest's sister-in-law, all smiles and +blushes, came to her side, and begged her to look in at the parsonage +after the service, as Don Emanuele wished to speak to her. Leila, who +was absorbed in one thought, and perfectly indifferent to anything +Don Emanuele might have to say to her, was not even astonished at +the request. She would have preferred not to go, both because she +had come to detest the two Velo priests and because she longed to be +alone. But foreseeing further demands and annoyances, she concluded +it would be best to comply at once for the sake of future peace. She +slipped quickly out of church on catching sight of her father coming +towards her with Molesin, who was already preparing himself for +the introduction. Siora Bettina joined her outside the church, and +conducted her to the parsonage with a show of politeness and amiability +that cost her many sharp pangs, which nevertheless she endured for the +sake of Don Emanuele. She discussed the impressive way in which the +service had been conducted, spoke of Don Emanuele's solemn dignity and +edifying devotion while officiating, praising him even above her own +brother-in-law, whom she described as "a saint, but easy-going." Then +she went on to speak of his skill as a spiritual adviser, remarkable +in one so young, and she declared that any conscience would be safe in +his charge. Leila paid no attention to any of her remarks, but kept her +eyes fixed on the door, longing for this tiresome priest to come and +get the interview over quickly. + +She had been to confession to him two or three times, but he had at +last requested her to go to the archpriest in the future, putting +forward as an excuse that his superior might feel hurt that she had +not preferred him. Ever since her boarding-school days confession had +been a mere formality for her, and she cared little whether it were +addressed to one priest or to another. + +Poor Siora Bettina herself, having exhausted her conversation, had +begun to glance anxiously at the door, when it was opened at last, +revealing the chaplain's lank figure. Bettina bestowed a parting smile +on Leila, and murmuring a farewell, rose to go. + +Don Emanuele was approaching this interview with the firm intention +of working for the greater glory of God and the good of a soul. His +grave face and dignified bearing revealed so strong a consciousness +of authority that an unfriendly observer might have mistaken it for +pride. Pride is so subtle an intruder, and its presence is so difficult +to trace, that Don Emanuele may indeed have been honestly deceived +in his belief that he was free from it and a humble instrument of +the Lord. He was unconscious of his own complacence and pride in the +immense power exercised by the priesthood to which he belonged; and +while the recognition of this power renders other and better ministers +of the Church humble, not only before God but before men, and fearful +of exercising it too rigorously, the chaplain's complacency inclined +him to wield it without moderation. As the arrogant menial often usurps +the master's authority, so did Don Emanuele persuade himself that in +all things he was interpreting the Divine Will. His spirit waged fierce +war against his flesh, and gained the mastery none too easily, yet so +far from being thereby inclined to leniency in dealing with sinners he +was the more relentless towards them. + +His reason for acting no longer as Leila's confessor lay in the fact +that his senses were troubled by the faint suggestion of essence of +rose that she brought to the confessional. To the peasant nature of Don +Tita the perfume would have suggested nothing; but to Don Emanuele it +spoke of crafty wiles for the beguiling and stirring of the senses, and +herein arose the desire, prompted still further by the subsequent news +of Leila's desperate attempt at suicide, to win her for the cloister. +To snatch her from Signora Vayla's pernicious influence, to use her +as a means of getting rid of that scandalous housekeeper, to take +advantage of her isolation at the Montanina, and of her aversion to +her father, to inspire her with the longing for a religious life--such +was the undertaking in which his interview with Molesin had been the +first step, and which had already borne fruit in the departure of +Carolina. He had not taken the archpriest into his confidence for +several reasons; one may have been that he knew of Don Tita's hope of +bringing about a marriage between the Signorina and a certain young +Vicentine. Signora Bettina was certainly aware of it. The latter, with +many groans, was now bravely seeking to overcome her aversion to any +contact with Signorina da Camin, and all out of pure devotion to Don +Emanuele, who wished her to try to become Leila's friend in place of +Signora Vayla, and to exert a wholesome religious influence over her. + +On catching sight of the chaplain Siora Bettina hoped that, at any +rate for the time being, she was going to be released, and she rose, +intending to withdraw. Without so much as a glance in her direction +the priest detained her by a gesture of his hand, and having saluted +Leila, calmly seated himself on the sofa, while Signora Fantuzzo +wriggled uneasily in her chair, eyeing the chaplain meanwhile with an +air of humble entreaty, until a frown from him reduced her to a state +of subjection. On hearing that Don Emanuele had a favour to ask of +Signorina da Camin and herself, she stared wildly. The bare idea of +doing anything in collaboration with the young girl sent the blood +flaming to her cheeks. She hastened to declare that she was good for +nothing, that she was quite incapable in every way. + +"Pardon me," said Don Emanuele in the serenely authoritative manner +of a superior imposing silence oh his inferior, "pardon me." The +frightened woman turned her scarlet face towards Leila and murmured, +nervously rubbing her hands together in her lap, as if seeking to wring +from them her reasons for resisting, "It is true--really, it is quite +true!" + +Don Emanuele took no further notice of her, and addressed to Leila +the long speech he had prepared. The pith of it was this: The local +Board of Charity had the administering of a legacy for the benefit of +mothers of families who were incapacitated for work by illness or by +childbirth. As there were many complaints in the parish concerning +this legacy, the chaplain had persuaded the Board to consent to the +nomination of two lady visitors, and had proposed the names of Signora +Fantuzzo and Signorina da Camin. At every second word the chaplain +uttered Signora Fantuzzo groaned Gèsummaria! She was willing enough +to help the poor from a distance, but coming into personal contact +with them was not to her taste. Don Emanuele, with perfect unconcern, +begged the ladies to make some arrangements at once for their future +co-operation. + +"If you cannot stop now, this afternoon or to-morrow Signora Fantuzzo +can go to Villa da Camin, and you will then be able to talk the matter +over. Meanwhile I will prepare a list of the mothers to be visited at +once." + +Leila shook off her indifference, and observed that she was not sure +of being at the villa on the morrow. She had, indeed, determined in +her own mind not to leave the Villino until after the arrival of the +cousin from Santhià. Don Emanuele, who was somewhat perplexed, remained +silent, but at that moment there was a knock at the door, and Don Tita +appeared. He greeted Leila heartily, as if the encounter at the Posina +Bridge had never taken place, called the chaplain aside and told him +something in an undertone, and then mentioned to his sister-in-law to +withdraw. She left the room, followed by Don Emanuele. The archpriest +came over to Leila, who had risen. + +"One moment, Siora Leila," said he. "One moment! Papa is here." + +The door opened slowly and revealed Sior Momi's red-and-yellow +countenance, his twitching eyelids, and parti-coloured beard. + +"Come in, Signor da Camin," said the archpriest. "Is everything in +readiness?" + +"I should say it was, sir," Momi answered, employing the conditional as +a mood expressive of much deferential hesitation, and, turning to his +daughter, he greeted her with a timid "Ciao! How are you?" that might +have been one of his familiar "ahos." Leila was in the dark as to what +was on foot, and from Sior Momi's gaping mouth there issued no further +word of explanation. The good-natured archpriest quickly intervened, +however, declaring that her father really did not know his duties, but +that he, the archpriest, had undertaken to instruct him. Thus Sior Momi +would have allowed Leila to go home on foot, in all the heat, but he, +the archpriest, had advised him to send to Arsiero for a comfortable +carriage and pair. Leila at once scented a conspiracy between her +father and the archpriest to get her back to the Montanina. She could +not guess that it had been Molesin who had advised a little stratagem +of this sort, or that her father, who had pretended to fall in with the +plan, in Molesin's absence, had begged the archpriest to intervene, +and to preach her a little sermon on the duty of filial obedience and +of returning to her own home without delay. But the little sermon +never passed Don Tita's lips, for the girl promptly checked it by +declaring imperiously that she intended to walk. Sior Momi immediately +acquiesced. "Well, well, well!" said he, and Leila took her departure, +with the very slightest of bows, while her meek parent sought to +convince his astonished accomplice that the obstinate girl would have +flung herself out of the carriage rather than submit to the deceit. + + + II + +A few hours before the time fixed for Leila's departure from the +Villino--she was leaving in obedience to Donna Fedele's wishes rather +than to Sior Momi's--the cousin arrived from Santhià. Eufemia Magis was +a little, old woman, so bowed and shrivelled that she seemed more in +need of care herself than able to bestow it. Although Donna Fedele was +very ill, the sight of Cousin Eufemia sufficed to open the wellsprings +both of affection and of fun. Whenever Eufemia was her guest she +was anxious that no want or desire of hers should be neglected; but +nevertheless she could not refrain from teasing her most unmercifully, +rallying her concerning the old-fashioned cut of her clothes, her +enormous black cap, trimmed with violet ribbons, the supposed love +affairs of her youth, the imaginary matter of her frequent confessions, +and her quaint ejaculations whenever she dropped her spectacles or a +knitting-pin. Eufemia was present when Leila said goodbye to her friend. + +"I hope your father will often let you come to see me," said Donna +Fedele. + +Leila's eyes flashed. + +"I should like to see him try to prevent me!" she cried. + +Donna Fedele took her hands, and patting them tenderly, whispered, "Be +a good girl! Be good! Be good!" + +Leila glanced at Cousin Eufemia, who slipped meekly and silently from +the room. The young girl flung her arms around her friend, and laid her +head on the pillow beside her. The invalid placed her hand upon Leila's +hair, and said gently: + +"Did the letter wound you?" + +No word, no sign answered her question. + +"Do you really not wish me to tell him anything about you?" + +Donna Fedele said this very softly and hesitatingly. She had noted +the look Leila had bestowed upon Cousin Eufemia, and believed she had +something to tell her in confidence. Leila's shoulders heaved, and she +shook her head violently. + +"Is there anything else you wish me to do?" + +Although she spoke caressingly, the invalid's sweet, youthful voice +held a faint note of impatience that seemed to say, "Do speak out!" +And there was the same impatience in the large brown eyes. Leila could +not see them, but she knew what they were saying. She raised her +tear-stained face from the pillow, kissed her friend, and then left the +house. + + + III + +On the following afternoon she returned. Donna Fedele was sitting up +reading in her bedroom. Leila flung herself on her knees before her +friend and protested vehemently that it was impossible for her to +stay at the Montanina any longer. The invalid patted her head softly, +murmuring words of gentle reproof. + +"What has happened?" she said at last. "Get up and tell me about it." + +It was some time before she could persuade Leila to raise her head, +which she had buried in her friend's lap, and tell her story. As a +matter of fact nothing had happened, save that she had been brought +face to face with a reality of which she had never really been +ignorant. On perceiving how upset she was Donna Fedele's mind had +immediately flown to Signor Camin's housekeeper. She did not know how +to question Leila concerning her, and so inquired for Teresina instead, +and was informed that Teresina had consented to remain because "that +other creature" had taken herself off. But not even Teresina could +stand the house, the master, and "those other people" any longer. +"Those other people" stood for Dr. Molesin alone, who was about to +leave, thank Heaven! Leila detested that slimy individual, who had +sought to ingratiate himself by discoursing of the Camin ancestry, of +an old priest who used to say Mass at the Carmelite Church, and of a +venerable nun who had been famous as a pastry-cook. And her father? +Was he unkind to her? No, no! Leila only wished he were! But, on the +contrary, he was nauseatingly humble and obsequious. He would not move +so much as a chair in the house without asking her permission, and had +even asked her leave to have the grass cut. He was equally obsequious +with Teresina, and Leila was convinced he had even been confidential +with the maid at times. She said this with such utter contempt that +Donna Fedele cried out, "Oh, Leila!" + +"What do I care?" said the girl. + +But she refrained from describing how Signor Momi, after a futile +attempt at familiarity with his daughter, would beat a sudden retreat, +uttering his silly "Aho! aho!" as if he had been in jest. With his +timid advances and his hasty retreats, he was like one who stretches +out his hand to a hedge of roses in the dark, hoping to grasp a flower, +and encounters the thorns instead. + +The very walls of the Montanina were no longer the same. Formerly they +had been full of life and affection. Now Leila felt that they were +dead and indifferent to her. Her father's spirit had contaminated +everything. Had she not feared to shock Donna Fedele she would have +confessed her monstrous suspicion that she was not the daughter of this +man. Could she possibly remain at the Montanina under such conditions? +She paused for an answer to this question. + +"Bring me a glass of water," said her friend, "and the bottle with the +drop-stopper, from the bedside table." + +Leila obeyed in silence. Donna Fedele, who was past-mistress in the art +of not hearing when she did not wish to, swallowed her medicine, and +then went on calmly: + +"I know what you wanted to tell me yesterday." + +Leila had never become accustomed to her friend's voluntary deafness. +It always irritated her. + +"Answer me!" she said impatiently. "Am I not justified in not wishing +to return? Are you afraid I shall plant myself upon you, here?" + +The thoughtless words lighted a flame in Donna Fedele's eyes, but she +controlled herself. + +"I know what you wanted to tell me yesterday," she repeated coldly, +accentuating every syllable. "You were going to confess that you love +him." + +The moment was ill-chosen. Leila started, and knit her brows as if an +insolent hand had touched her cheek. + +"No!" she cried. "Never!" + +She sprang angrily to her feet, knocking over her chair against the +door at the very moment when Cousin Eufemia was pushing it carefully +open with one hand, while in the other she bore a cup of broth on +a tray. The broth splashed over her gown. "Mercy on us!" cried the +little old woman. Donna Fedele forced a short laugh. If she did not +laugh heartily, she was, nevertheless, glad to show her indifference +to Leila's dramatic violence, and to avail herself of her cousin's +presence in order to cut short an unpleasant conversation. She stopped +Eufemia, who was already starting to fetch more broth, and sent her to +the writing-desk for a letter, which she requested her to give to Leila. + +"Now you can go," said she to the little old woman. When Eufemia had +left the room, Leila laid the letter down. + +"Read it!" said Donna Fedele. + +"Why should I?" the girl retorted. "It will do no good." + +"How do you know?" Donna Fedele insisted. "It is not from Alberti." + +The letter was from Don Aurelio. He had found a good many pupils and +was quite happy on this point. But he complained greatly of Alberti, +who had left Milan without even an attempt to see him, and without +sending him a line. He had heard of his departure through Engineer +Alberti, Massimo's uncle and benefactor. To Don Aurelio the young man's +act appeared in the light of a mere caprice. He could only explain it +as a result of the bitter disappointment of Signorina Leila's repulse, +and he added the following words: + +"His having left me thus makes me fear he is undergoing a crisis so +severe as to affect even his religious conscience. I have reasons for +fearing this. Ah! what a blessing it would have been had a certain +person but understood him better!" + +Leila laid the letter down in silence. + +"Do you see?" said Donna Fedele. + +"Why do you make me read these letters?" the girl cried angrily. "I +refuse to admit that they touch me in any way." + +"So the evil you may cause does not touch you in any way?" + +"What evil? This religious crisis? I have passed through mine, and I am +glad of it," Leila retorted bitterly. "I leave Catholicism to my father +and Dr. Molesin, who went to Mass together this morning; I leave it to +the chaplain who officiated, to the archpriest----" + +"And to me also, I suppose?" said Donna Fedele freezingly. + +Leila was silent. She had not intended to wound her friend, but +nevertheless, she was glad she had spoken as she had. Presently Donna +Fedele added: + +"Thank you!" + +She took up the book she had been reading when Leila arrived, the +verses of a great Catholic poet, Adam Mickiewitz, a Catholic, not of +Don Emanuele's stamp, but a follower of Dante. Leila felt that she was +dismissed. She thought she saw tears in Donna Fedele's eyes, and was on +the point of flinging her arms about her neck, but she choked the good +impulse in its birth, and turned to go instead. + +She had already opened the door when her friend called her back. + +"We have both been disagreeable," said she. "Come and be friends +again!" And she held out her hand. + +Leila seized it in hers, kissed it, and then rushed away. + + + IV + +On reaching the Posina Bridge she paused to gaze into the silent, +rapid stream. She had never passed the spot since that momentous +night without being assailed by regret for the promise she had made +Donna Fedele, without a shiver of desire and repulsion. She had never +since stopped to look down, but to-day she did so almost against her +will, as if compelled by some unknown force, and to acknowledge, also +unwillingly, that she no longer had any desire to die. Only then, +as she peered into the depths, was this new, unfathomable state of +her own mind made clear to her. Her bewildered soul slowly opened, +revealing, in its depths, the instinctive hope of love and happiness, +triumphing over all previsions of reason, all generous resolutions +of renunciation. Her heart was beating fast as she withdrew from the +parapet and started again on her way. She seemed to feel the life +imprisoned in all things straining towards love and joy, and their dumb +eagerness entered into her. All nature seemed to speak in the roaring +of the whirlpool at Perale and to call to her, "For you also! For you +also!" And her heart throbbed back, "For me also! For me also!" The +very air of the woods seemed alive. She would have liked to follow the +path that led upwards on the left of the bridge, and there among the +trees to have abandoned herself entirely to dreams and fancies. But the +mouth of the path had been closed with logs and brambles, and the main +road seemed the only way. She passed some carts and several people, +and her excitement cooled somewhat; but she trembled at herself, at the +violent outburst of desire that had blazed within her, and had then +shrunk back, like some startled wild animal, into the deep recesses of +her soul. She thought of Donna Fedele, who had evidently doubted the +strength of her "no" and of her "never," and she resolved to write to +her in unmistakable language, thus binding herself irrevocably. + + * * * * * + +At the chestnut-tree she met her father, who inquired timidly if she +was on her way from the Villino. He might have been inquiring, half +boldly, half shrinkingly, if she had been keeping some shameful tryst. +Her sharp and challenging answer, made him blink rapidly. + +"The priests ... on account of the priests, you see ..." he stammered +with a smile. + +This concise utterance meant a great many things. It meant that the +priests disapproved of her friendship for Donna Fedele, and that he +would advise her to comply with their wishes, but that he would not +presume beyond simple advice. + +The priests had been to the Montanina with Signora Fantuzzo during +Leila's absence. The chaplain's expression had been absolutely +funereal, but Siora Bettina had looked as if a great weight had been +lifted from her shoulders. Sior Momi, steering warily between clerical +rocks and filial shoals, had gone the length of promising the lady +a visit from Leila. "She will come herself--come herself!" He had +listened attentively to the archpriest's conversation, who seemed more +interested in Leila's parent than in Leila herself, seeing in him a +new elector, a future town-councillor, a strong and mighty cat's-paw, +working for the parsonage in the Council, and a precious ally of his +successor. + +That meek and smiling utterance of her father's, "The priests ..." +irritated Leila even more than a rebuke or a protest would have +done. Her overwrought nerves were deprived of the relief of violent +rebellion. She shut herself up in her room and refused to leave it even +at dinner-time, in order to avoid meeting her father. She tried to +write to Donna Fedele as she had determined, but found it impossible to +do so. The knowledge of her father's presence in the house, the thought +that at any moment she might hear his voice or step, made concentration +of thought impossible. As soon as Teresina had assured her, shortly +after ten o'clock, that he had retired, she showed such eagerness +to be left alone, that the maid, remembering what had happened that +night at the Villino, became alarmed. When Leila told her to go, she +could not help exclaiming, "What are you going to do now, Signorina?" +Leila replied that she wanted to be alone to write some letters. Poor +Teresina spent the night in the corridor, seated on a trunk. She heard +the key turn in the lock, and then Leila moving about the room at +intervals. From time to time she caught the sound of sobbing, and the +noise of paper being torn in pieces. Once she heard a window opened, +and was on the point of flinging herself against the door. But after +a long silence steps sounded again, the dressing-room door creaked, +and she heard water being poured into the basin. Teresina became less +anxious, but did not dare to leave her post. She closed her eyes, +however, and after a brief struggle, sleep overcame her. + +A sharp voice roused her: "What are you doing here?" + +She started to her feet. "Gèsu!" she exclaimed, and that was all she +could say. + +"You foolish creature!" said Leila. "Go down and open the door of the +covered passage for me. My head aches, and I want some air," she added +more gently. + +It was dawn. The Torraro was sweeping joyously through the Posina +valley, through the birches and poplars of the Montanina. Leila went up +to the chestnuts, and flung herself on the ground like a tired child +beneath their great branches, in the grass still heavy with dew. She +had written, but had not yet fastened up her letter, undecided whether +to send it or not. As she lay in the damp grass, the words she had +written stood out in front of her, and her mind was torn by indecision. + +"Please never mention that _great_ person to me again." She had arrived +at this after many attempts and after tearing up seven or eight sheets +of paper. The expression had pleased her, conveying, as she meant it +to convey, a retort to a certain reference to herself in Massimo's +letter. But now she doubted whether it would not be better not to show +herself influenced by resentment, that her answer might appear the more +decisive. She thought she would read the letter through again, and so +returned to the house. On the way she met Teresina, who was coming to +say she had made some strong coffee. + +"Mother of Mercy!" she cried, as she walked along behind Leila. "You +look as if you had been----" She stopped, and did not add "in the +water," for the very word reminded her of what had been uppermost in +her mind all the night, namely, that a man had but lately drowned +himself in the Posina close by. + + * * * * * + +No, "great person" would not do at all! Nor would it do to strike out +the word "great." She must give another tone to the whole letter, and +remove every trace of resentment and contempt. She tore the sheet in +two, and wrote as follows: + + +"DEAR FRIEND,--Please never speak to me again of a person I may indeed +respect, but who inspires me with an antipathy it is impossible to +overcome. My unkindness to you yesterday was caused by the same feeling +that now urges me to write in this way. Forgive me. + + "LEILA." + + +She read the lines again and decided that she had expressed herself +clearly and to the purpose. There was no need of further corrections +or regrets. When that letter had gone all would be over for ever. She +flung herself upon her bed completely exhausted both in mind and body, +and slept for an hour, and on awaking, sprang up in bed, troubled +because she had slept she knew not how long, and bewildered as to what +had previously taken place. At sight of the note lying open on the +writing-table, consciousness began slowly to return, making her heart +throb with a dull pain. She bathed her face and did her hair. The +heartache grew, and waves of tears rose, but she did not weep. She took +the note up to examine it again, but her hands trembled so violently +and her sight was so troubled that she was unable to do so. She went +out to read it in the open air, in the garden, where her nerves would +not dare to rebel in this manner. She was so weary, there was such +peace in the fresh breeze, in the waving of the ripe grasses, in the +ceaseless murmuring of the Riderella, that for a long time she sat +there beneath the walnut-trees, dazed and motionless, the note slipping +from her lap to the grass. Something else slipped from her mind at +the same time, and she paid no heed to either. At last she stooped +and picked up the note, and began slowly tearing it into strips, her +eyes fixed dreamily on the grass. As she tore the thought came to her +that she was performing a solemn rite, to which it seemed strange that +surrounding nature should remain so indifferent, that the wind should +sway the grasses as before, that the water should be still murmuring. +When she had completely destroyed the note, her heart began throbbing +violently, as if her lover's arms were about her shoulders and his +lips on hers. She sprang from her seat, frightened and aflame with +excitement, gathered together the scraps of paper and flung them into +the Riderella, watching until every tell-tale scrap had disappeared, +and the very act itself seemed to have been annulled. + + + V + +In the afternoon Signora Fantuzzo reappeared at the Montanina, but +this time she came alone and was received by Teresina. Leila had a +headache, and even had this not been the case she would have invented +one as an excuse. Official works of charity were not to her liking, +especially when they were to be carried out in such company. Sior Momi +had scented the coming storm on the preceding day, and had determined +to avoid it by a little trip to Padua. Siora Bettina was fairly well +disposed towards Sior Momi, in spite of her brother-in-law's somewhat +ambiguous description of him. The chaplain, however, to whom she looked +up as to an oracle, had spoken otherwise of him. Don Emanuele knew him +as well as the archpriest did, and even better, but until Leila should +be fairly started on her way to the convent, he saw in Momi a valuable +ally. He therefore declared to Siora Bettina, with an expression of +deepest compunction and many twistings of words and phrases, that +perhaps the archpriest, in his saintly simplicity and inborn honesty, +had attached overmuch importance to slanderous rumours and unduly harsh +judgments. Signor da Camin had been unfortunate in business, and was, +perhaps, not exempt from certain human frailties, but he was a man of +pure faith, free from all taint of modern error, a man who practised +his religion, and an excellent Catholic. He was, in short, a man to +make the clergy and the people of Velo thank God that the Montanina had +fallen into his hands instead of into those of the young man from Milan. + +As neither Leila nor Sior Momi were visible, Bettina seized the +welcome opportunity of a few moments' conversation with Teresina. She +was fond of the maid's company, not only because she was at her ease +with her, but because Teresina was a woman of good sense and piety. +Moreover, she was always so willing to tell all she knew, and she told +it in a characteristic way. Teresina, for her part, liked being with +Siora Bettina, who was so devout, and who treated her with so much +consideration. They met but seldom, but when they did meet their faces +always brightened, and they would twitter their bits of gossip like a +couple of canary-birds, mingling comments in a wise and God-fearing +spirit, and to their mutual satisfaction. Signora Fantuzzo had never +seen any part of the Montanina save the drawing-room, and Teresina now +volunteered to show her the rest of the house, all save Leila's room +and Sior Momi's, the door of which he had locked himself. + +"He is a good Christian, is he not?" said the visitor. Teresina gazed +at her in amazement, but seeing she was quite in earnest, answered +quickly: + +"Of course! Of course!" + +"And the young mistress also?" Signora Fantuzzo went on, her face +assuming an ambiguous expression. + +"Of course--she also!" said Teresina. + +"I mean as concerns religion." + +Once more Teresina, somewhat troubled this time, replied: + +"Of course, of course!" + +They had passed from the billiard-room to the open verandah, and here +Siora Bettina sat herself down. With much embarrassment and a very red +face, she asked whether Teresina did not think that the influence of +the lady at Arsiero, who had so little reverence for the clergy, and +had been the friend of that bad priest at Lago, had shaken the girl's +faith. + +"Oh, no, I don't think so at all!" Teresina cried with conviction. + +"Because you know ... don't you?" + +At the moment Teresina did not understand what it was she was expected +to know, and the two women stood staring at each other, one filled with +amazement, the other with compunction. Bettina hesitated an instant, +and then hinted at the attempt to commit suicide. Teresina understood +at once, her face quickly betraying the fact, and she dropped her eyes +in silence. Siora Bettina also looked down, that she might collect her +thoughts, and recall the chaplain's instructions should she happen to +have any conversation with the maid. She inquired with great sweetness +if the young girl were in the habit of saying her morning and evening +prayers. Teresina, annoyed at such a personal question, flushed +angrily, and answered shortly enough that she did not know. And had +the Signorina any religious books? She had a beautiful New Testament, +that had been a present from poor Signor Marcello. Nothing else? And +Siora Bettina heaved a sigh of relief on learning that Leila possessed +a prayer-book and a volume entitled "The Road to Paradise"; both were +books she had had at the convent. But did she read them? Teresina might +have answered that she had never seen any one of the three books in +Leila's hands, but her only reply was a vague "Who can say?" Siora +Bettina then braced herself to say, sweetly, that up at the parsonage +they had anxiously hoped that, after what had happened on that eventful +night, the young girl would soon come to confession. Don Emanuele, who +knew more about the events of that awful night than did the archpriest, +was especially distressed. In making this speech Siora Bettina had +been in no wise conscious of setting a trap, but a trap it proved for +Teresina, who promptly walked into it. As a good Catholic she also +longed that Leila should go to confession, and now her feelings got the +better of her. + +"Of course she should go!" she said fervently. + +Once more Siora Bettina communed with herself. + +"How much better it would have been had the Trentos never taken the +girl into their house!" she said. "In her grief at her lover's death +she would probably have decided to withdraw from the world, but not in +the way she meant on that fatal night. She would have dedicated herself +to the Lord!" + +"Oh, no! I don't believe she would!" cried Teresina, irritated at any +blame being cast upon her old master and mistress. But why not? Ma! Who +knows! That "ma" was as a casket full of golden reasons, but carefully +locked. Teresina did not see fit to open the casket, and Signora +Fantuzzo therefore concluded it was empty. + +"It would have been a great blessing!" said she, and was about to add +that it might still come to pass, but remembered in time that Don +Emanuele had warned her not to go too far. The maid expressed her +regret that her work would not allow her to enjoy Siora Bettina's +society any longer, and hereupon the visitor rose. + +"If only the confession could be managed!" said she. + +"I wish it could," Teresina replied. + +She went with Signora Fantuzzo as far as the small gate. At the last +moment the lady hinted that Leila might get some one to accompany her +to Vicenza, and make her confession at Monte Berico. Perhaps she would +be more willing to do it there. + +"Perhaps she would," Teresina acquiesced, and Signora Fantuzzo observed +that her father would be the proper person to propose the Monte Berico +excursion to Leila. + +"Dio!" thought the maid. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII + "AVEU" + + + I + +On the following morning Leila received a letter from Donna Fedele +complaining that she had not seen Leila since their little quarrel. She +was going to Turin almost immediately, the Arsiero doctor having urged +her to go. Leila gathered from this that the physician had examined +her, though Donna Fedele did not say so. The letter concluded with an +earnest request that Leila would go to see her soon, and that a reply +might be sent by the bearer. Leila answered in haste: + + +"I am so glad you are going to Turin. I will not come to you because it +would be too painful for me to be obliged, as I should be, to refuse +to comply with any wish of yours on the eve of such a journey. I am +unworthy that you should trouble about me any more. Perhaps it would be +better to forget me, and leave me to my fate." + + + II + +That day Donna Fedele's physical condition was such as to make her +extremely irritable. She had been in pain all night long, and it was +only towards daybreak that she had been able to get half an hour's +sleep. Poor old Eufemia, who slept in the next room, had heard her +groan several times, and was in despair. Her very despair and anxiety, +which prompted her to ask many anxious questions, earned for her only +impatient answers. The effect of Leila's letter was disastrous. Donna +Fedele read the note over and over again in her cousin's presence, and +finally tore it to bits. She was annoyed at the refusal to come to +her, and by the closing sentences, which struck her as a sentimental +repetition of stock phrases: "Forget me--I am unworthy--Leave me to my +fate!" + +Hardly had she destroyed the note, however, than her mood softened at +the thought of Marcello. She thought for a while and presently ordered +Eufemia to send to Arsiero for a carriage to take them to the Montanina +at four that afternoon. Her cousin protested that this was madness. +After an examination, to which she had submitted at last, the Arsiero +doctor had ordered complete rest, that she might gain sufficient +strength to undertake the journey to Turin. He had recommended Padua +instead, as being nearer, but Donna Fedele would hear of no place but +Turin and the Mauriziano hospital. The operation might be postponed +for a few days, but for no longer. Her cousin's protests were in vain, +however, and the order for the carriage was sent, together with a note +for the archpriest of Arsiero, begging him to be at the little chapel +in the cemetery at four o'clock. This chapel is only a short distance +beyond the road to the Montanina. During the night Donna Fedele had +really believed she was dying, and now wished to go to confession, but +it would be impossible for her to climb the steps of the Arsiero church. + +Ordinarily the carriage that came to fetch her waited at the gate of +the Villino road, and she walked down to it, but to-day it was ordered +to come up to the door. There had been rain, but now the sun was +shining. Cousin Eufemia, terrified by the invalid's pallor, once more +implored her to stay at home, but a smiling order to get into the +carriage was the only answer she received. Donna Fedele's pallor was +due, indeed, as much to mental suffering as to physical pain. She, as +well as Leila, had pride, and it cost her a painful effort to humble +her pride before Leila's. + +She came out of the little chapel another creature, and told her cousin +that the drive and the air had done so much for her that she felt +almost fit to climb one of those "great, ugly mountains," as the little +old spinster had called them. The carriage drew up at the candelabrum +chestnut, and Cousin Eufemia was sent to the Montanina to summon Leila. + +Donna Fedele sat in the carriage and waited. Usually she chatted with +the driver, amusing herself by asking him questions about different +people and things, and enjoying his picturesque language. Often the man +had been drinking, and at such times she would first reproach him and +then encourage him to talk, for the pleasure of hearing him. For his +part, the driver was only too happy to chat with the "Rose Countess," +who, he declared, could talk better than any one else in the world. And +so to-day Cousin Eufemia was hardly out of earshot when he inquired if +what they were saying at Arsiero were really true, that Sior Momi's +housekeeper had given him a trouncing before she left. Donna Fedele +ordered him to be silent. She really felt eased by her confession, and +the moment was precious to her. Ever since her girlhood she had hoped +that death would come painlessly, and that to the last she should keep +her senses, and, above all, her joy in life. She did not think she +should recover from the operation; the thought did not grieve her, but +as she sat here to-day, on this lonely road, along which as a girl she +had so often walked, she was moved by a great feeling of tenderness +towards the familiar scene. Nature had never whispered its secrets +to her. She was one of those to whom the language and aspect of men +appealed much more than did the language and aspect of Nature. But at +that moment she wondered at the tenderness she felt for the lonely +road, for the quiet beauty of the landscape, for the faint voice of +the falling water, for the eternal hills. It was the tenderness of a +farewell. She would not return to this spot before going to Turin. And +afterwards.... + +Afterwards, would she meet Marcello? She did not count on this. Who +knows what feelings may awaken in that future life! Still, the thought +troubled her that she had not been able to shape Leila's future as her +dead friend had desired, that she must leave her work unfinished. + +The time passed and Cousin Eufemia's prolonged absence made her +anxious. She heard steps behind her and looked round. It was Don +Emanuele with Siora Bettina. Don Emanuele suddenly turned to his +companion, said something to her, and then tore away at a great pace. +Signora Fantuzzo kept on her way, and passed the carriage with a +flaming face, but without looking up. Donna Fedele, who had met her +once or twice, made her a charming bow, which she acknowledged with a +slight inclination of her head as she hurried along. The Signora saw +her go up the steps of the church, and disappear beyond the gate. "What +will happen now?" she thought. "Perhaps Leila will not come." A moment +later Leila and Cousin Eufemia appeared together at the gate. Donna +Fedele drew a long breath of relief. + +Cousin Eufemia, who knew that her presence was not required during the +interview, sat down on the steps of the church. Leila came towards the +carriage, slowly at first, and then in haste, as she saw Donna Fedele +attempting to get out, with the driver's help. She was glad that a +little incident of ceremony should relieve the embarrassment of their +meeting, and if Donna Fedele could be prevailed upon to stay in the +carriage, the interview, in the presence of the driver, would be less +painful. But Donna Fedele insisted upon getting out. She had seen that +the gate leading to the narrow strip of field and to the woods beyond +was open. + +"We will go in there and have a little talk," said she, with her +familiar smile--"where we went once before. Do you remember?" + +Leila, to whom Eufemia had spoken anxiously concerning her cousin's +condition, pointed out that she would overtire herself. Donna Fedele +replied that she would sit down on the grass. Leila foresaw a trying +interview, and her face showed it. For a moment she hesitated, but +meanwhile the attentive driver, who had overheard Donna Fedele's +remark, and who knew that the grass was still soaking after the rain, +took a rug from beneath his seat, and pushing open the gate, cried: + +"Where will you have it, Signora Contessa?" + +Then, leaning on Leila's arm, Donna Fedele walked slowly towards the +low bank between the chestnuts and the stream, where every blade of +grass seemed already aware of what each woman was going to say. + +Donna Fedele sat down, but Leila remained standing: + +"You have been very naughty," said the elder woman, when the driver had +left them. + +"I am still naughty," the young girl made answer, gazing into the +stream. + +Donna Fedele was silent a moment, and she also gazed into the water. +Presently she said softly, without looking up: + +"You should consider that you may not see me again." + +"When do you leave?" Leila inquired, in the same low tone. + +Her friend's voice became a shade less gentle. + +"I am starting for Turin in a day or two, but I fancy I shall shortly +be leaving Turin on a longer journey." + +"Don't think of such things!" Leila cried, struggling with her emotion. + +"When you hear of my death," Donna Fedele went on, "will you remember +your promise to me?" + +In a voice that could scarcely be heard Leila answered, "Yes." Donna +Fedele drew two letters from her bag, and handed one to the young girl. + +"That contains everything," said she, "names, addresses, and +instructions. My will simply contains the legacy to you." + +Leila took the letter in silence. + +Donna Fedele felt that she was moved, and asked her if she were still +glad she had written as she had. The girl dropped her eyes, and +murmured: + +"No." + +"Well, here is your note," said Donna Fedele, offering her the second +envelope. + +"You destroy it," said Leila, with a lingering touch of pride. + +Donna Fedele opened the envelope and showed her the ashes it contained. +Leila's face flushed hotly. With a proud gesture she seized the +envelope, and flung it into the stream. + +"Another thing," said her wise friend. "You told me that you leave +Catholicism to me. Yes, yes--to me. I know you named others as well, +but you meant to wound me. Never mind if you succeeded or not! It is +only the loss of faith that matters. Do you wish to inflict this last +grief upon me, when I am about to die?" + +"Can I believe or not, at my pleasure?" Leila cried passionately. "It +has not been your fault that I have lost my faith. I was irritated when +I spoke in that way. But don't say you are going to die! Why will you +torment me? Is not that Turin surgeon a famous operator? He will save +you!" + +"My dear," Donna Fedele replied, "I am not even sure of getting there +in time for the operation. Even if I am in time, I feel that inwardly I +am such a wreck that the shock will be too much for me. But never mind +that. You will not forbid me to pray for you both in this life and the +next. That is all I ask. You see, I am as proud as you are. I have just +been to confess these sins of pride, with deep repentance. You must +also try to rid yourself of them. Soon you will be of age, and your own +mistress. I beg of you not to listen to pride then. For it is all pride +with you. You know what I mean." + +Leila smiled bitterly to herself. Donna Fedele, with all her +cleverness, had failed to understand. + +"Remember," Donna Fedele went on, "a man is losing himself through your +fault." + +"Losing himself!" Leila murmured sarcastically. + +"Yes, losing himself." + +"Because he no longer believes what the priests say?" + +The sarcasm was more strongly marked now, and Donna Fedele thought for +an instant. + +"My bag is a very letter-box to-day," said she, and drew forth another +envelope. "This is a letter I received this morning," she went on. +"I don't want you to read it now. You can do so later. I leave it +with you. Don't return it. I give it to you to keep. Read the closing +paragraph over and over again. That is all I have to say about it. And +now help me to get up. We have kept the archpriest's sister-in-law +waiting far too long already." + +Moved by an irresistible impulse, Leila took the letter, thinking at +the same moment that she was acting unwisely in so doing. As soon as +she had taken it she wished to give it back again, but Donna Fedele +was already making painful efforts to rise. She must, of course, help +her, and it proved a difficult task. When the first moment was past +she could no longer return the letter with an impetuosity sufficient +to enforce its acceptance, and Donna Fedele's condition forbade any +contest. She told herself that after all she need not read it. Donna +Fedele, who was exhausted, paused every few steps to rest, leaning +heavily on Leila's arm, and glancing frequently into her face, with a +whimsical little smile at her own weakness. + +"No further leave-taking, please, dear," said she. "I don't ask you to +come to the Villino again. I need perfect rest before undertaking this +journey. Send me a few lines when I get to Turin--Ospitale Mauriziano." + +Leila remained silent. The letter was burning her hand and her heart. +On reaching the carriage it was found that the rug had been forgotten. +The driver hastened to fetch it, and Cousin Eufemia, who had been +having a friendly chat with him, reported that the lady from Velo had +passed on her way home, and had left her apologies for not waiting for +Leila, adding that she would return on the following afternoon. Leila +seemed not to notice that she was being spoken to. + +When she was about to get into the carriage, Donna Fedele murmured +lovingly, and with a tender smile: + +"Goodbye, my dear." + +Then, at the last moment, the girl begged her to take back the letter, +speaking in an undertone and with the hesitancy of one who foresees +that her request will not be granted. + +"Nonsense, nonsense!" said Donna Fedele. + +When they were gone Leila was seized with violent palpitation. Her +heart throbbed even in her temples. She hid the letter in her dress, +and sank upon the steps of the little church. + +To calm herself she reflected that the letter probably spoke only of +religion, and of faith lost or regained, and that these were matters +of perfect indifference to her. Nevertheless, its mere contact filled +her with a vague eagerness, with a dizzy sense that her own will had +been reduced to impotence in the whirlpool of fate. She heard steps +descending on her left, and rose. A couple of peasants from Lago passed +her, and raised their hats. She determined to go into the house, but +when she had gone a few steps, she changed her mind. In the house, in +the seclusion of her own room, she would no longer be able to resist +the temptation to read the letter at once, and she did not wish to do +so immediately. She paused, hesitating. At last she went mechanically +down the steps, and started to walk along the Lago road. + +On reaching the hollow in which Lago lay Leila took the path that +led to the pond in the park, but hearing women's voices at the +washing-place, she retraced her steps and passed between the rows of +cottages that made up the village of Lago. Now she had a fixed goal +in her mind. She would go along the military road across Priaforà, +overhanging the gorges of the Posina, where she had often been to +gather rhododendrons. She reached the wild stretches, swept bare by +landslips, as the sun, that had already touched the upper peaks, was +rapidly leaving them. A cold wind was blowing in the gorges of Posina, +over the heaps of dead stone, and the enormous boulders which have +rolled downwards from the naked, forbidding heights into the ravine, so +full of shadow and ceaseless roarings. Leaving the road, Leila climbed +upwards on her left among the blossoming rhododendrons. She seated +herself there, the only living figure in this great windy desert, and +began mechanically to pick the flowers on each side of her. She heaped +them in her lap and held them in her hands, and for a long time let her +eyes and thoughts rest quietly upon them. Then, with as much composure +as she could muster, she brought out the letter, restrained her desire +to glance through it in search of her own name, and proceeded to read +it slowly from beginning to end. + + +"DEAR MOTHER FEDELE,--I would have you know that I am on the high-road +to fame and fortune. The day before yesterday the family of a young man +whom I had attended for a sprained ankle sent a regular greengrocer's +shop to the hotel for me. There was goat's cheese, and there were +sausages and mushrooms. Yesterday a very neat, timid, and humble young +priest made me a present of a small phial of Modena vinegar,[8] because +I had refused to accept a fee for a visit I paid to his old mother, +who is suffering with varicose veins. The Lord only knows how he came +by the vinegar! This morning the sacristan's wife sent for me, and the +child who came with the message brought me a basket of walnuts at the +same time, that I might not be able to avoid going. The innkeeper's +wife says I have a great future before me, and that if I go on like +this, I shall soon be sent for even from remote Puria, which is a small +cluster of houses, some twenty minutes' walk from here. + +"Can one on whom fortune thus smiles wish to die? Alas, yes! From +time to time I myself am that foolish person! At such moments I feel +that I should be happy to sleep beneath the stunted cypresses of the +little Dasio cemetery, which are as melancholy as my own sad destiny. +And, as I am not wanting in poetic sentiment, I dream that the stunted +cypresses, feeding on my heart, would grow into two great dark +columns, marking the triumph of death. When I rouse myself and accuse +myself of cowardice, I am forced to confess that, although cowardice +may be contemptible, I have, after all, very little to live for. + +"I do not allude to the friends to whom my death would bring sorrow; as +a matter of fact, they are but two in number--yourself and Don Aurelio; +and I believe that could Don Aurelio know I had died a natural death, +in my bed, after having received all the consolations of the Catholic +religion, he would think me fortunate, and be comforted. You, dear +friend, would take things less philosophically, and would mourn for me +a little longer; but, if I mistake not, you yourself do not greatly +value this life, and would therefore not mourn too much for a good +friend who had set out on his journey towards the next world, having +made his exit with every mark of respect for Holy Mother Church. You +may wonder that I now talk of marks of respect, after what I wrote in +my last letter, and you will quickly infer that, feeling myself about +to sink, I have cried out, 'Lord, save me!' as you advised me to do, +and that He has answered my appeal. Dear friend, it is true enough +that I have cried out, and it may also be true that the Lord is even +now accomplishing my salvation, but not in the way you think. Truth +rests, perhaps, at the bottom of the sea, rather than on its surface. +But if I were about to die, I should send for a priest, in order to +avoid scandalising these good people here. And this would be no act of +hypocrisy. A supreme desire to meet death truthfully and humbly would +move me to confess my sins, and I should receive the Communion in +memory of Him whom I could have wished to follow into the high places +and across the waves of Galilee, instead of following the endless +procession of mitres, skullcaps, tricorns, and hoods, and of black, +white, and purple robes that to-day walks before us. But this is not +yet the root of the matter. I feel I am still floundering in troubled +waters, but I know that I still cling instinctively to my old faith, +and that I shall find rest and freedom from doubt in that untroubled +haven where all must come at last. If I compared what I believed a year +ago with what I believe to-day, I ask myself--and the very question +fills me with horror--if to-morrow I shall still believe in God. This +light of my spirit, that until yesterday burned steadily enough, is +already beginning to waver. + +"Well, I should be uttering falsehood if I told you that I wished to +die for this reason. No, were it only for this I should long more +intensely still to live. I should forbid myself to think of religious +matters, I should forbid myself both denial and belief, I should become +the father, brother, and friend of these poor people, seeking to bestow +upon them all I have that is worth giving, living poorly myself; I +should seek a companion whom I could love both with my spirit and my +senses, and fall asleep at last, unaffrighted by an unsolved mystery. +But I am cruelly shut out from this Paradise. If I wish to die it is +because the fever that I sought to overcome, that, for a moment, I +believed I could conquer, the fever that is called Leila, now rages +more fiercely than before, burning me, and consuming my being, while I +am powerless to resist." + + +At this point the blood coursed hot through Leila's veins, a cloud came +in front of her eyes, and she felt herself as a helpless atom in the +presence of a compelling fate. She spread the letter on the heap of +rhododendrons in her lap, raised them in her trembling hands, and held +them to her face, as if to inhale their perfume, wishing to hide, even +from the spirits of the air, the yearning kiss she pressed upon those +wonderful words. She was conquered, she was his, she was the woman of +his desire, who would live in poverty with him, who would shut herself +up with him in that nest among the mountains, far away from the world, +who would comfort him for all the past bitterness, who would help him +to do good and with him face the inscrutable mystery of life, aye, and +if need be, of death too. Tears rose in her throat, and letting the +flowers fall to her lap again, she tried not to think and to forget +herself in looking at a wild pink that trembled in the wind as her own +hands were trembling. When she felt that she was once more mistress of +herself, she went on reading. + +"It may be that here I am easily governed by fancy, or that the sad and +tender poetry of the place appeals to me. I cannot say. I only know +that I am torn with longing, that I spend hours in looking, not at her +picture, for that I do not possess, but at a scrap of paper on which +she one day wrote the name of a piece of music for me. I bend over it +and breathe in the faint perfume that still clings to it, and wrings my +soul as did the divine music of Schumann's 'Aveu' which she once played +to me. You see, dear Mother Fedele, I am indeed telling you everything, +as a son would. This morning I could bear it no longer and walked out +beyond the village, whence I could see, rising above the tops of the +mountains, a solitary peak that reminds me, oh so much, of the peak +I stood gazing upon through the window in the upper gallery at the +Montanina, as I listened to the music of 'Aveu.' I cannot bring myself +to turn away from it--its associations are so vivid. + +"And there is one other thing I must tell you, the most important thing +of all. There is no contempt in my love now. I no longer feel that I +have the right to despise one who misjudged me only because she did +not know me. My only right, a right and a duty at the same time, is to +preserve my dignity, should we two ever meet again." + +At this point Leila smiled, and then quickly pressed a kiss upon the +words, as if craving pardon for her smile. She read on. + +"To-morrow I am going down to Albogasio to make the final arrangements +with the mayor for the interment of Benedetto's remains in the cemetery +there, in a few days' time. I have written to his friends in Rome that +I gladly undertake all the arrangements, out of respect for his dear +memory, but that I do not feel I can speak at his grave, as my friends +wish me to do. My faith in an immortal Catholicism will rest in that +grave with him. Should I speak I could only say that I mourn for him +who inspired it, and for the faith itself. + +"And now, goodbye. Write to me about yourself. If you really believe I +could do better for you than your own doctors, I will come to you. But +I myself do not think so. They are men of experience, while I am but a +novice, and must now set out to attend the sacristan's wife. Once more, +goodbye. + + "Your "PRODIGAL SON + + "(who must be satisfied with the husks!)" + + +Beneath the signature were the words: + + +"Make no mistake. The ruining of this soul is your work--yours--yours +alone! Yet I feel that God will restore him. May He, in His wisdom and +mercy, make you the restorer. Then think of your poor friend, and pray +for her. + + "FEDELE." + + +Leila did not linger over this postcript, but turned once again to +those other passionate words, reading and kissing them again and again. +At last she put away the letter with a long sigh of contentment. A +tremendous sense of physical wellbeing seized her; and she stood up and +stretched out her arms as if to embrace a wonderful new world that had +been given her. Then she looked around, afraid lest she might have been +seen, but no one was near. She stooped to gather up the flowers that +had slipped from her lap, and started homewards, eager to reach her +own room, and eager also to experience this joyful new feeling in the +presence of others. She walked rapidly, with the elastic, buoyant tread +of a happy being. + +Just outside the villa she met Teresina, who was full of admiration for +the flowers--at least, so she said; but in reality the maid was amazed +by the new light in the Signora's eyes. She reported that Siora Bettina +had seemed annoyed at being neglected for Donna Fedele. "Was she?" +said Leila. "I am sorry. What did she want?" And she went to her room +without waiting for an answer and again lost herself in the letter. +She hung the bunch of rhododendrons upon the head-board of the bed, +with the blossoms downwards, that they might touch her hair and that, +by raising her face, she might kiss them. Drawing one flower from the +bunch, Leila went down to the dining-room, and placed it on the table +in a tall glass, that she might look at it while dining alone, later +on. Then she passed into the drawing-room, and, seating herself at the +piano, began playing "Aveu" as she had never played it before, and +it seemed to her that the piano understood and was inspired too. The +thought came to her that _his_ being might perhaps vibrate in response, +there in his far-away retreat. She played the melody through several +times, then wandered about the room in search of the spot whence she +could see the dolomitic peak. Once more she returned to the piano, and +wrung from it the broken accents of an overwhelming passion. + +"Gèsu!" thought Teresina, who was setting the table, "whatever ails her +now?" + + + FOOTNOTES: + +[8] Modena vinegar is prepared in small barrels from the best of wine, +to which certain aromatic herbs are added. It is allowed to become very +old and, when thoroughly mellowed, a few drops added to a bottle of +ordinary vinegar impart a most delicious flavour.--TRANSLATOR'S NOTE. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV + A DROP OF THE PATERNAL BLOOD + + + I + +Leila requested Teresina to wait upon her at dinner instead of +Giovanni, and talked to her very pleasantly on several unimportant +matters. The maid, finding her in such good-humour, ventured upon a +delicate subject, and mentioned Siora Bettina, who intended making a +short excursion to Monte Berico. Ah, how Teresina would have liked to +accompany her! Signora Fantuzzo had told her of one of the Fathers +there who was a wonderful confessor. Would not the Signorina herself +like to make this little excursion? Monte Berico was such a beautiful +spot, and Siora Bettina would be a delightful companion. Such a good +creature, poor Siora Bettina! They could start in the morning at six +o'clock, reaching Vicenza at eight, and go directly up to Monte Berico. +If they wished to, they could catch the eleven o'clock train home. But +there was no hurry, for there were plenty of trains back. As Leila made +no remark, Teresina volunteered to suggest this arrangement to Signora +Fantuzzo. + +Leila sat with a far-away look on her face that told Teresina nothing. +Still, it was encouraging not to meet with a definite refusal. Giovanni +came in with a telegram, but not even when he had left the room did the +maid venture to press Leila for an immediate answer. The telegram was +from Sior Momi, who had been expected to arrive by the last train, and +now announced that he would not come until the following day. Towards +nine o'clock the archpriest and his chaplain appeared, expecting to +find Sior Momi at home. They entered the drawing-room unannounced, the +archpriest leading the way, with his familiar, drawling greeting, "Con +permesso!" + +Leila was playing. It was no longer "Aveu," but some other music she +remembered to have played when Massimo had been there. Greatly annoyed, +she rose from the piano. Over and above her own particular grounds +for disliking the two priests, she loathed the archpriest's tone of +familiarity, his coarse wit, and his want of personal cleanliness. +Neither could she bear the chaplain's mannerisms. Her reception was +glacial. She gave no order for the lamps to be lighted nor for coffee +to be served as usual, and when the archpriest mentioned that his +sister-in-law had been disappointed at not having seen her, she offered +no word of excuse. The chaplain spoke of a poor mother at Lago, whom +he wished the two ladies to visit, and Leila's only response was +to inquire where the woman lived, without saying whether or no she +intended to visit her. Hereupon the archpriest advised her not to +delay their visit, as his sister-in-law was going away very soon, to +be gone a day or perhaps two. Leila showed astonishment. To be gone +two days? Yes, very probably. Don Tita remarked that the chaplain was +going to say Mass at the church of Santa Maria on the morrow, and he +would ask Siora Bettina to be there, that the ladies might then arrange +for their visit. Having brought his little speech to a close he sealed +it with a "Sipo, sipo! Just so, just so!" The archpriest's "just so!" +always meant leave-taking. If he said it in his own house, his visitor +was intended to understand that it was time for him to go. If he said +it in the house of another, gently rubbing his thighs the while, he +intended it as meaning that he himself was about to depart. He had +indeed half risen from his chair when an unexpected question from Leila +made him sit down again. She inquired where his sister-in-law was +going. The archpriest's expression, which had been frosty enough up to +this moment, now thawed into genial warmth, and the chaplain's watery +eyes, which had been roaming aimlessly among the books on a table +near at hand, were quickly raised to Leila's face, and rested there +while the archpriest explained wordily that his sister-in-law had long +wished to perform her devotions at the sanctuary on Monte Berico, that +she furthermore intended going on to Castelletto del Garda to visit +the nuns of the Order of the Holy Family, but that she would have to +give up this part of the excursion unless she could find a travelling +companion. + +"I asked," said Leila, "because I think I myself might like to go with +her, at least to Monte Berico." + +"Oh!" cried the archpriest in great glee, "nothing could be better! +Nothing could be better!" + +Leila hastened to add that she could not promise at present, that +she would think it over, and that, at any rate, she must consult her +father. Having said good-night, the archpriest departed with the +chaplain, voicing his satisfaction in an undertone: "Good! Good! +Splendid!" He had hardly left the room, however, when he came back +again that he might see Leila alone, and confidently assure her that +the inspiration to go to Monte Berico had really been sent by Our Lady +herself, and that, if she went, she must see Father ..., naming the +monk whose praises Signora Fantuzzo had sung to Teresina. + +On rejoining his companion, who was waiting for him halfway to the +gate, the archpriest walked rapidly away beside him, with the step of +one who is gratified and full of hope. He asked no more than that the +girl should approach the Sacraments of her own free will. It would +perhaps have been better had the archpriest served God and the Church +more intelligently, with greater wisdom, and with more of the warmth of +the true evangelical spirit, but it could not be denied that he was an +honest and faithful servant. Like many of his fellow-priests, he had +very little true charity for such as erred in matters of faith, and +he would have pitched them cheerfully from the crags of Mea into the +rushing Astico beneath, calling them "poor, unhappy creatures" as he +did so. But for sins of any other description he had a rough tolerance +and a forgiving heart, for to do him justice he took a broader view of +the world and conduct than from the standpoint of the rigid dogmatist. +His conviction was that Leila was a wayward girl, ignorant in matters +of religion, and quite capable of committing blunders both in conduct +and practice; but that, after all, if she would but set herself right +with the Church, one might safely rely on the indulgence of Him who +had seen fit to give her the nature of an unbroken colt. In his secret +soul he laughed at Don Emanuele for hoping to make a nun of her. To +Don Emanuele, the pilgrimage to Monte Berico was but a first step, and +he dared not rejoice overmuch, when he considered the influence Donna +Fedele was continuously wielding over the girl. He was, moreover, in +possession of a piece of alarming information, which, should it reach +Leila's ears, would certainly cause her to turn ever more eagerly +to the Villino delle Rose. Carolina Gorlago was not at Cantù, but +at Padua, hiding in Camin's house. This intrigue which had not been +dropped, which was reprehensible in itself, and doubly so because +it was boldly incautious, might throw discredit upon the culprit's +ecclesiastical friends. And who would profit by this if not Donna +Fedele? She was undoubtedly working to bring about the Camin-Alberti +marriage. Fortunately, however, Leila shrank from this union, as her +attempted suicide proved clearly enough, and, fortunately also, Donna +Fedele would be compelled to be away for some time. This fact was also +known at the parsonage. Don Emanuele would not allow himself to hope +for anything worse than an operation and a long convalescence. He +was even willing to assume that she would recover, although this was +more than she deserved, for the probability justified him in adopting +decisive measures during her absence in Turin. The first step to be +taken was to turn the girl's thoughts towards God, and to discover a +means of once more arousing within her that rebellious contempt for +the world that had moved her to attempt to take her life. Then the +prospect of peace and safety in a religious life must be skilfully +held out to her, but it must be a religious life carefully suited to +her. Castelletto del Garda would not do at all. That was foolish Siora +Bettina's idea. Leila was not fitted by Nature to teach or to nurse +the sick. She must enter a contemplative order. Thus did Don Emanuele, +trotting towards Velo beside the archpriest, ruminate upon all these +considerations, but he carefully kept them to himself. + + * * * * * + +As Leila returned to the piano she thought: "After all, perhaps I have +a drop of my father's blood in my veins!" + +She would not allow the lamps to be lighted, and going to her room +presently, stationed herself at the window. The east was bright with +countless stars, and above the great crest of black, majestic forest +the sharp mountain edge fretted the clear sky. Leila saw neither the +sky, the crest of forest, nor the peaks of Summano. Her mind was +centred upon a fixed purpose, and her unseeing glance rested upon the +encompassing shadows, while her slender frame trembled and quivered +with the wild beating of her heart. + + + II + +On the following morning Don Emanuele came to say Mass at Santa Maria +at half-past seven, half an hour earlier than was his wont. Siora +Bettina, who had arrived before him, informed him that Leila was out. +The maid Teresina believed she had gone to Villino delle Rose, but, +in reality, she had climbed up to the rhododendron patch once more. +Don Emanuele, putting on his look of extreme godliness, considered for +a moment, and then begged Siora Bettina to wait for him after Mass. +He said Mass with profound devotion, and then, bending low over his +kneeling-stool in the sacristy, with his head in his hands, he prayed +at great length, that the Lord would grant him strength and guidance +in his struggle against the demon who was seeking to frustrate the +plans for Leila's salvation, by raising up two of his own handmaidens +against them, one a creature of pride, Donna Fedele, the other a +creature of lust, Carolina Gorlago. He prayed on and on with all the +confidence of the inferior who is on terms of comparative familiarity +with his superior, terms established in part through long intercourse, +in part by services rendered by the suppliant. While a rivulet of pious +Latin still flowed from his lips, he passed unconsciously from mental +prayer to thoughts that clustered about a further anxiety concerning +possibilities that were troubling him most seriously, and that were +incessantly appearing, disappearing, and flashing forth again before +his mental vision. One consideration would become entangled in another, +and Don Emanuele could neither see the end of the tangle nor did he +know where to look for it. At such moments of anxiety the rivulet of +Latin would cease to flow from his tight lips. At last, however, he +discovered the right end to pull in order to loosen the very heart +of the tangle. He pulled and pulled, and the cord ran out straight +and easily as if Providence had planned this snare for Don Emanuele's +especial benefit, that this fisher of souls might have the merit +of finding the right way, and go on unwinding until he should have +demonstrated that all this tangle of knots, loops, and twists could be +straightened out into one divine length of cord, for the manufacturing +of his own net. Such, at least, was the fisher's honest conviction. + +Meanwhile Siora Bettina was asking herself if she had not better peep +in at the door of the sacristy, for she had been waiting a long time +seated in front of the altar, and her devotions were exhausted. She had +found it difficult to keep her mind from wandering off to the splashing +of the fountain in the vestibule, in preventing herself from wondering +where the water came from, where it went to, and whether it were cold +and pure. Then there was a spot on the green carpet that covered the +steps leading to the altar, to which, all too often, her eyes would +revert, and which excited her curiosity as to whether it were a grease +spot of long standing or the result of a recent wetting. No, it would +not do to look into the sacristy, so she sought to cast off the +temptations of fountain and spot, by meditating for her own edification +on Don Emanuele's sanctity and on the state of mystic abstraction that +was detaining him so long. + +He rose from his knees at last, but his expression was no brighter than +when he had first knelt down. Requesting the altar-boy to go and see if +Leila had returned, he followed him out of the sacristy, and signed to +Siora Bettina to join him in the little porch. The boy soon returned +and reported that the Signorina was still absent. + +Don Emanuele now addressed himself to Signora Fantuzzo, and related +the conversation that had taken place between Leila and the +archpriest on the preceding evening. Siora Bettina, who had not seen +her brother-in-law since the conversation in question, received +the impression from the chaplain's recital that Don Tita's and Don +Emanuele's prayers had been graciously answered, her own humble +petitions having perhaps helped somewhat. She asked what she was to do +next. First of all she must wait for Leila and tell her that she had +been informed by the archpriest that Leila was thinking of accompanying +her to the sanctuary at Monte Berico, and perhaps also to Castelletto +del Garda. Siora Bettina hastened to correct what she took to be a slip +of the tongue. She had not had her information from the archpriest, but +from Don Emanuele himself. The chaplain, however, requested her to keep +back his name, and to mention the archpriest only. "To tell the truth," +Siora Bettina ventured timidly, "my brother-in-law has not.... Never +mind!" Don Emanuele broke in. "The Lord wishes you to speak as I shall +instruct you," and Siora Bettina in all humility and good faith bowed +to his superior knowledge of the Divine intentions. + +But his edifying instructions did not end here. Probably the Signorina +would tell her, as she had told the archpriest, that she must first +obtain her father's permission. Now, this permission must be made to +extend to Castelletto del Garda also. Siora Bettina brightened visibly. +She was longing to go to Castelletto, but would never dare to go so far +alone. A different companion, Teresina for instance, would have been +more acceptable to her, but out of devotion to her spiritual guide, she +gladly accepted the slight drawback of Leila's company. She was also +pleased on her brother-in-law's account. He had already formed a scheme +for placing these sisters of the Order of the Holy Family in charge +of some charitable institution in his future diocese, and was anxious +to obtain some necessary information direct from them. Observing her +satisfaction, Don Emanuele reflected for a moment, and then proposed +that they should continue their conversation while they walked along +the Lago road. Bettina became vaguely aware that he had something still +more important to impart, and that he wished to make his disclosure +in a spot less exposed to interruptions. In fact, as soon as they +had reached the shade of the great chestnuts on the Lago road, Don +Emanuele, his eyes now fixed upon the ground, now glancing around to +see that no one was in sight, began with a preamble on the absolute +necessity that Siora Bettina should keep silent concerning what he had +decided to communicate to her. Without mentioning him directly, he +made her understand that the archpriest was to be kept in ignorance. +The very thought of hiding anything from the archpriest sent the blood +coursing painfully through her veins, but as Don Emanuele, in a tone of +honest conviction and lofty authority, was now speaking of a path that +Providence Itself had pointed out to him for the saving of two souls, +she concluded that the path was too narrow for three to walk abreast, +and waited for the Word, in the pleased consciousness of having been +chosen as an instrument. The Word was to the following effect. As +Signorina Leila had alluded to the necessity of obtaining the paternal +consent, Siora Bettina could now dispense with consulting the girl +herself. She must interview Sior Momi instead, who would return from +Padua at one o'clock, and ask his permission (in the archpriest's name +as well) to propose the pilgrimage to Monte Berico and Castelletto del +Garda to his daughter. Then she must proceed to make this proposal and +to fix the day. "To-morrow is too soon," said Don Emanuele. "Arrange +for the day after." Had he himself been an all-powerful Providence, he +could not have mapped out the future with greater assurance and more +calmly settled the affairs of other people. + +"At Monte Berico," he went on, "you will closely observe the +Signorina's bearing on approaching the Sacraments. After Mass, go +directly to the station. When you get there, tell your companion that +you are not feeling well, and have decided not to go on to Castelletto, +but to hear a Mass at the church of the _Santo_ instead. You will then +take the eleven o'clock train to Padua. After Mass suggest to the +Signorina that, out of respect to her father, it would be fitting for +her to pay a visit to his apartment, where there might be letters, +papers, or cards for him. Now that apartment harbours a person who has +no right to be there, for it was publicly given out here that she was +going into Lombardy, and was separating definitely from Signor Camin. +Signorina Leila must meet this person. It is necessary that she should +meet her. I believe I have nothing further to add." + +Poor Siora Bettina was so horrified that she stopped short. + +"Good Lord! Good Lord, Don Emanuele!" she cried. She could put up with +the disappointment of not going to Castelletto, she could put up with +the many falsehoods, but the scene that would be sure to follow this +meeting! She had a vague idea of the nature of the relations existing +between Sior Momi and Carolina, but her scrupulous conscience had +never allowed her to dwell on the subject, and now that Don Emanuele +had opened her eyes, the prospect of meeting the woman filled her +with horror. She asked anxiously whether she must indeed do this. The +priest gave her a silent answer, bending his head and joining his hands +piously, as if in humble submission to the Higher Will, which they were +both bound to obey. + +"You may say I am ignorant, Don Emanuele! You may say I am stupid, +but----" Poor Siora Bettina did not dare to go beyond this pathetic +admission, and confess that she failed to grasp the reason for all +these tactics. Don Emanuele understood well enough, but did not +enlighten her. His plan was based on certain fragile chances, too +slight for definition, and he was not going to imperil his scheme by +an explanation. He relied upon the impression which contact with what +was degrading should make upon Leila. Should it induce her to take +refuge in a religious life, an important result would follow ... the +Trento fortune would not be swallowed up by her father's depravities. +Thus was poor Sior Momi secretly cast overboard by his ally the +chaplain, who, however, continued piously to hope that the scandal in +Padua might result in much good to Momi's soul. + +Instead of satisfying Siora Bettina's anxiety, he inquired blandly if +she proposed to turn back or to walk on by way of Lago and Sant'Ubaldo. + +"I myself am going to read my office," he announced, bringing out his +breviary. + +Siora Bettina knew that Don Emanuele always avoided showing himself in +public in the company of women. She chose the Lago--Sant' Ubaldo route, +fearing to meet Leila on her way home from the Villino, for, as she +had been instructed to see Sior Momi first, such a meeting would have +proved embarrassing. The chaplain had believed she would choose the +other and shorter way, and as he himself had no desire to meet Leila +there was nothing left for him save to stop where he was, open his +breviary, and say: + +"Well, then----" + +And although Siora Bettina longed to implore him to relieve her of the +obligation he had forced upon her, she could only murmur a melancholy +farewell and start on her way to Lago. + +Don Emanuele did not move until she was out of sight; then he went +slowly onward. On reaching the first legitimate break in his devotions +he closed the book and pocketed it again. He had just passed through +the rows of Lago cottages and was walking along the road that skirts +the base of the hill upon which stands the little church of Sant' +Ubaldo. He was thinking of Don Aurelio and of the power that he, Don +Emanuele, had exercised in that priest's affairs. It was he who had +sent almost daily information to Rome concerning the doings, sayings, +and omissions of the suspected priest, colouring all things in +accordance with what he suspected and not what he saw. The archpriest's +future bishopric was of his promoting also. It was he who had spoken +to his uncle the Cardinal concerning Don Tita, who had set forth his +fearless ecclesiasticism, his veneration for tradition, his merry +good-nature and affability, which could not fail to render him popular. + +The idea of now winning a precious and imperilled soul for the convent +sent the blood coursing joyously through his veins. Instead of raising +his face to the breeze, and delighting in his own valour, he bowed +his head before God, like a faithful servant upon whom his astonished +master heaps praise for some great service rendered. Then, forgetting +to be humble, he allowed himself to triumph gently over Donna Fedele, +identifying himself, as it were, with the Providence who had decreed +this illness in order that it might become more difficult for her to +hinder his pious plans, and that, through suffering, she might be +brought to recognise her evildoing. The road he was following as he +thus mused had been Don Aurelio's daily walk, and at such times Nature +had spoken in her myriad voices to that pure and humble soul, who with +St. Francis welcomed all things as his brothers. But poor Don Emanuele, +never doubting the worth of his appreciation of St. Francis, passed +along with no strange, mystical sense of a life in natural things, +without even a glance at flower or leaf. The only God he knew spoke in +those false imaginings of his own mind--he saw no other light but that +narrow one within his own soul. + + + III + +When Giovanni announced Siora Bettina, Sior Momi was busy writing to +Carolina, from whom he had parted during a quarrel that had arisen +between them on account of the woman's jealousy of Teresina. He was +now informing her that this same Teresina had not only left his room +in disorder, but had as yet failed to show her face, and he added +that he really feared he should die in this stupid hole without his +precious Moma. Siora Bettina followed Giovanni into the room before +he had finished announcing her, thus giving Sior Momi barely time to +turn over the sheet and display the whiteness of an immaculate page. He +started to his feet, much embarrassed by the disordered state of his +garments, and overwhelmed his visitor with excuses and his servant with +reproaches. "For mercy's sake! Oh, Giovanni, Giovanni! In this state, +my dear madam!" As he was minus both waistcoat and cravat, he hastily +buttoned his frock-coat and turned up the collar. At sight of his bare +neck and voluminous expanse of shirtfront, Siora Bettina had felt most +uncomfortable, but the upturned collar and snugly-buttoned coat having +transformed him into a sort of symbolic statue of up-to-date modesty, +the good lady regained her composure somewhat, confessed that it had +been all her fault, and that she had followed at the footman's heels +so closely because, as she must speak to Sior Momi in private, she had +wished him to receive her in the study. + +Signora Fantuzzo began by saying timidly that she had come to ask +a great favour. Sior Momi blinked rapidly, wondering what tiresome +subject she was going to broach. + +"Anything I can do for you ..." he said, without enthusiasm. + +Siora Bettina smiled, forcing herself to be friendly, and stated that +for many reasons she had long desired to undertake a certain short +journey, for which the right moment appeared to have arrived, for it +would accommodate her brother-in-law the archpriest to have her go now; +but that there was an obstacle in the way of her carrying out her plan. +Here she paused, fixed her eyes on Sior Momi, and smiled with a meaning +that she believed was rapidly being made clear to him. + +"Money?" Momi wondered. "Can it be money?" and he grew very red. + +"I am all alone," Siora Bettina went on. "And, you see ... it is so +unpleasant to travel alone!" + +"Upon my soul!" the amazed Momi exclaimed to himself, as it suddenly +struck him that she was going to ask him to accompany her. + +"I am very sorry," he began, "but----" Here he stopped, his mouth open, +and his face wearing an expression so eloquent that Siora Bettina could +not help understanding. Her outraged modesty made her shrink into +herself, and she sought vainly to hide her scandalised face behind +the handle of her parasol. The fear betrayed on that red-and-yellow +countenance was so monstrous that she was as incapable of protesting +against it as she would have been of pronouncing an improper word. + +"My only hope is in Signorina Leila!" she hastened to say. "I have come +to ask your permission to take her with me if she would like to go." + +Sior Momi, who was greatly relieved, again repeated, "I am sorry," +adapting his tone as well as he could to the altered circumstances. + +"I am sorry, but I have no idea whether she would care to go." He +then inquired where Signora Fantuzzo was going, and by what route. +He was glad that Monte Berico was on the programme, and remarked +that he himself had made a pilgrimage there years ago, as a member +of a religious association. Of Castelletto he had never even heard, +but on learning of the monastery, and noticing Siora Bettina's +embarrassment--for as a matter of fact she was not in the habit of +deceiving, and took no pleasure in so doing--he interpreted her very +obvious nervousness as a sign that this little journey was part of the +pious scheme friend Molesin had communicated to him. Assuming his most +idiotic expression, he gurgled, with a short laugh: + +"A very good opportunity--aho, aho!" happily conscious that the giggle +and the words might mean anything--approval, irony, or laughing +scepticism. + +Presently he inquired if Leila had been consulted. No, not yet, but +if Sior Momi felt inclined to allow.... Here Momi acquiesced with a +bow. Perhaps, then, it would be well to see the Signorina at once. +The archpriest himself was anxious that she should avail herself of +this opportunity of going to the sanctuary on Monte Berico, and he +would like her to decide immediately, without first consulting certain +dangerous persons. + +"Quite right!" said Sior Momi. "Quite right, I am sure!" + +Having thus elliptically expressed his agreement with Siora Bettina's +and the archpriest's opinion of "certain dangerous persons," he +rang the bell and ordered Giovanni to show the visitor into the +drawing-room, and to call the Signorina. + +"Arrange everything yourself," he said, on taking leave of Signora +Fantuzzo. "It will be all quite right, quite right, I am sure." + +As soon as he was alone once more he rang for Teresina. He had long +since become aware of her devotion to Leila, and now he talked to her +of his daughter as if he had been talking into a gramophone. + +He began by telling her of Siora Bettina's plans, adding that he +had refrained from raising any difficulties because it was not his +intention to force his authority upon his daughter in any way, but +that he greatly feared they were trying to push her in a direction +of which he distinctly disapproved. His one wish was to find a good +husband for Leila. Having accomplished this, he would turn the property +over to him, and return to his old life in Padua. But he must know the +girl's inclinations. This Signora Fantuzzo seemed a good creature, and +the archpriest was a holy man. If Leila were really destined to lead +a life of devotion, why, of course, he must bow to the will of the +Lord, but if, on the other hand, she were destined to remain in the +world, his duty as a father made it imperative for him to safeguard her +against these pilgrimages and these visits to nunneries. + +"Do you catch my meaning?" Sior Momi concluded. He had been blinking +fast while delivering his cunning speech, but had never dropped the +idiotic expression he was wont to assume when conversing with his +equals. + +"Mark my words!" said Teresina. "You can safely let Signorina Leila +visit a hundred nunneries. There is not the slightest danger. And if +she performs her religious duties at Monte Berico to-morrow, it will be +a very good thing!" + + * * * * * + +"Well done!" she exclaimed later, on learning that Leila had promised +to start with Siora Bettina on the day after the morrow for Monte +Berico and Castelletto. Sior Momi, who also seemed astonished, sent +to invite the archpriest, the chaplain, and Siora Bettina to dinner +on the next day. That same evening, before going to bed, he begged +Leila to allow him a few moments' conversation. He addressed her in +an undertone, in a half-serious, half-joking manner, and gave her to +understand that he had an idea the Velo priests and Siora Bettina +had some designs upon her, and that he felt it his duty to put her +on her guard. With a great show of gravity he added that he himself +disapproved of those designs, and that it would give him great pain +should she allow them to be carried out. Leila listened in icy silence. + +"Is there anything more?" she inquired, when he had finished speaking. +"Thank you," she said, and left him. + + + IV + +The archpriest had been summoned to Vicenza by the Bishop to receive +the official communication of his appointment, and so could not attend +Sior Momi's dinner-party, but the chaplain and Siora Bettina came. +Bettina, who was some hundred yards in front of the priest, suddenly +came to a standstill by the steps of the little church. Thereupon the +chaplain stopped too. Siora Bettina, looking behind her to see if he +were coming, made a sign that conveyed nothing to him, and then, to his +utter amazement and great indignation, actually started to meet him. It +had just struck the poor woman that, after all, she had not made the +precise purpose of their pilgrimage to Monte Berico clear to Leila. She +had indeed mentioned one of the monks who was an admirable confessor, +but the girl had said nothing from which they might conclude that she +intended to avail herself of his ministrations. It would be too late to +discuss this to-morrow on the journey. What should she do? There was +nothing for it but to consult the oracle. + +"Go, go all the same," was the oracle's reply. "Don't worry, don't be +anxious." + +She went on ahead again, somewhat downcast and mortified, and in the +little porch she met Teresina, who found an excuse for detaining her +until the chaplain had passed, walking very stiffly and soberly. When +he was some distance away the maid, who had a weight upon her mind, +proceeded to relieve her feelings. Where was this Castelletto? How far +away? How many days did Siora Bettina intend to remain there? Signora +Fantuzzo grew very red, and stammered somewhat as she assured Teresina +that she intended to pay the nuns only a short visit. As she answered +she saw herself on her knees in the confessional at the sanctuary of +Monte Berico. Should she or should she not confess the lie she had been +ordered to tell? Absorbed in this consideration, she paid little heed +to the beginning of Teresina's speech. The maid was extremely uneasy, +and declared she could make nothing of what was going on, because, +although the Signorina talked of a speedy return, she had made her +put a good deal of linen into the portmanteau, together with several +religious books and some holy pictures that had always been in the +house, but to which Leila had hitherto been perfectly indifferent. Her +very expression seemed changed since this journey had been decided +upon. She had got hold of a railway time-table, and did nothing but +study it. That very morning, while Teresina was brushing her hair, she +had looked up from the time-table to inquire abruptly, "Teresina, would +you be sorry if my hair were cut off?" The woman had answered that of +course she would, and added, "But why should you talk about cutting +it off?" "Oh, you know, it sometimes happens that hair is cut off by +thieves." And presently she had asked, "Teresina, did you ever want to +become a nun?" + +"Just think of that!" the maid concluded. "This is either madness or +fever. For the love of Heaven don't make any mistake, don't imagine she +has a vocation! She has not, I tell you--not in the slightest degree!" + +"Gèsummaria!" thought Signora Fantuzzo, paying but little heed to +Teresina's scepticism. And they were not really going to Castelletto +after all! And Don Emanuele was in ignorance of all this! She could not +suppress a groan, and, her legs almost giving way beneath her, she sank +upon a beam that had been left there to serve as a bench. "Oh, oh, oh!" +she moaned, but Teresina did not understand the true meaning of these +lamentations. + +"Never mind," she said. "Only you must insist on bringing her home with +you." + +"Yes, indeed!" poor Bettina assured her, but she could not keep back +another pitiful groan. She rose at last, however, and started up the +path. Leila came out to meet her, and inquired with eager interest if +she had thought to let the nuns at Castelletto know they were coming. +Poor Bettina had so completely lost her head, and the infection of +the first lie had spread so rapidly, that she now told an unnecessary +falsehood, and declared she had announced their arrival. She had not +finished speaking, however, before she longed to recall her words, but +she lacked the courage, and was altogether so dazed and bewildered that +she hardly knew where she was. + +During dinner she never opened her lips either to speak or to eat, +notwithstanding Sior Momi's respectful encouragement and the noisy +attentions of the new curate of Lago, a fat and florid young man, +overflowing with good-humour and banter, which, by reason of its +flippancy and frequent impropriety, was most distasteful to Don +Emanuele. The merits of his Excellency Don Tita formed the first +subject of conversation, and were discussed at length. His promotion +was now a matter of public knowledge, and Don Emanuele--who made sure +of being appointed secretary to his Excellency, but who was destined +to be unceremoniously cut adrift by that same cunning prelate, who had +flattered him even while longing for the opportunity of ridding himself +of him--Don Emanuele, with unctuous solemnity, took upon himself to +deliver a very, panegyric of the new bishop, whom, in his secret soul, +he looked upon as a poor creature, and a superior whom it would be easy +to lead by the nose. As it happened, however, it was often really the +chaplain's nose that was held firmly between the episcopal thumb and +finger. Don Emanuele did not praise Don Tita for the virtues he really +possessed--for the purity of his life, the firmness of his faith, the +number of his charities--but precisely for those attributes which he +lacked, such as learning and eloquence. Siora Bettina sat watching him +with sad and anxious eyes that said plainly enough, "I _must_ tell you +something!" Don Emanuele, believing she wished to reopen the discussion +he had warded off on their way to the house, paid no attention to her +mute appeal. + +Dinner over, Sior Momi, having consulted Leila by a humble glance, +invited his guests to repair to the terrace in front of the villa for +coffee. Siora Bettina continued to look appealingly at Don Emanuele, +and at last, feeling sure of the cause of her insistence, and having +completely lost his patience, he asked Leila's permission to give her +a message from his Excellency. He made it clear that he wished to +speak to her apart, but was careful not to withdraw quite out of Siora +Bettina's hearing, as he handed to Leila a rosary that had been duly +blessed, and recommended, in becoming language, that she should hold +it in her hand on approaching the Sacraments on the following morning. +Leila thanked him, and took the rosary. + +Sior Momi himself led the conversation towards the nuns of Castelletto. +Steering his bark cautiously between the filial Scylla and the +ecclesiastical Charybdis, he declared his satisfaction that his Leila +should have the opportunity of visiting them. The facetious priest, who +had but slight regard for nuns in general, and was unacquainted with +this particular order, mumbled: "They are probably just like all the +rest! They are all alike!" Don Emanuele cut him short; Sior Momi gave +his modest support to this reproof, and then, turning to his daughter, +trotted out the pious relative whom Molesin had so highly praised. "My +aunt, you know! My aunt the nun," said he, speaking in his idiotically +jerky style. The facetious priest, who knew something about the real +Sior Momi, could not help exclaiming to himself: "Fiol de na pipa!--Oh, +you son of a pipe!" but aloud he declared that he had simply meant +to say that all nuns were good and holy women. Don Emanuele, who had +also heard Molesin's praises of the pious aunt, congratulated Momi +on the loving remembrance in which he still held her. "You see," he +proclaimed, "what a blessing the memory of such a relative is to a +family. It is like the protecting wing of an angel, spread above all +its members." + +Beneath this imaginary wing, Sior Momi assumed a fitting expression of +humility. + + * * * * * + +Don Emanuele did not walk back to Velo with Siora Bettina, but went +round by Lago with the new curate. She was waiting for him, however, +at the door of the parsonage, and wearing an air of stern resolution, +for her heart was full of what Teresina had told her. Breathlessly the +poor woman poured it all out upon the impassive chaplain, on whom it +appeared to make no more impression than water poured upon marble. + +"It is all the more necessary that you should go to Padua," said he. +"After that, you can make further plans. If you see that the girl is +really anxious to visit Castelletto, go there from Padua." + +The dialogue was here interrupted and definitely brought to a close by +the clanging of the bells that announced his Excellency's return, and +summoned the people to the Seghe station to welcome him home. + + + V + +On reaching her room Leila wrote a short note to Donna Fedele and +placed it in her silver chain-bag. Then she opened the portmanteau that +Teresina had helped her to pack earlier in the day, removed the books +of devotion and the sacred pictures, locked them in a drawer in her +writing-desk, and packed some of the rhododendrons and the precious +volume of Schumann in the portmanteau in their place. Having drawn an +easy-chair before the long mirror in the wardrobe, she sank into it and +fell to contemplating her own face in the glass, which was but half lit +by the electric lamp, suspended at some distance. + +There came a gentle knock at the door. It was her father who desired +admittance, and who, having opened the door half way, now poked his +head in, stretching his neck to the utmost. + +"Money? Do you need money? You are sure you don't? You still have those +five hundred lire?" + +She was on the point of declaring that she had spent or lost part of +the money, that she might ask for more, but suddenly a shudder of +loathing seized her. Her veins might contain one drop of her father's +blood, but they certainly did not hold two. She answered that she +needed nothing. Momi withdrew his head, but presently poked it in +again, and said softly: + +"You do not intend to take so much money with you, I suppose? Shall I +keep it for you? Well, well, no, no!" and seeing the expression of his +daughter's face, he vanished into the outer darkness of the corridor, +and closed the door. Presently she heard his voice saying humbly: + +"We shall see each other in the morning, any way." + +Then silence once more encompassed her. She began to undress very +slowly, trembling, and with a beating heart. Suddenly, when she was but +half undressed, she felt her strength deserting her, and, sinking upon +the edge of the bed, she half gave up for an instant the plans she had +secretly made. It was a moment of weakness that she quickly recognised, +and the mere recognition made her start like the cut of a whip. Oh, +no! There should be no cowardice. She would go to him as a slave, as +something that was his by right, without thought of the morrow, without +thought of anything save of her voluntary submission to his will. +Rapidly undressing, she crept into bed and turned out the light. + +Feverish visions of the flight she had planned excited and tormented +her. She put up both hands and drew down the rhododendrons that hung +above her pillow, seeking in them visions of love that should banish +all her fears. + + + + + CHAPTER XV + OH! POOR ME! + + + I + +The next morning at half-past five, half an hour before the train +started, Leila was on the platform at the Arsiero station with Teresina +and Giovanni, who had brought her portmanteau. She felt that Teresina +was watching her closely, and, taking her aside, told her to keep her +eye on Giovanni and the cook, who were, she believed, on terms of +greater intimacy than was desirable. She then gave minute instructions +concerning the preparations to be made for her return, saying she would +telegraph, that she desired to find the bath ready heated, and plenty +of flowers in her room. Teresina felt comforted. + +Presently Signora Fantuzzo came hurrying up with her servant, in +a great state of anxiety lest she were late. When the ladies had +taken their places a couple of officers entered their compartment, +one belonging to the Engineer corps, the other to the regiment of +Chasseurs. Siora Bettina took the seat opposite Leila, and placed her +own handbag beside the girl, that neither of those terrible beings +might attempt to take that place. As soon as the train had started +she began saying the rosary, while Leila lowered the window and sat +watching for a glimpse of Villino delle Rose. She caught sight of it +at last. All the blinds were drawn save those of Donna Fedele's room. +When the house was passed, Leila ceased looking out of the window +and pretended to sleep. Just beyond the Seghe station Siora Bettina +gently touched her knee, and she opened her eyes. They were passing San +Giorgio with its cemetery, where Signor Marcello lay. Leila immediately +became so absorbed in looking at it that she heard nothing of what her +companion was saying. Bettina was begging her not to sleep, but to hold +herself in readiness to change cars at a station to which they were +fast coming. These changes were a perfect nightmare to the poor woman. +Leila smiled, assured her that they would not change for some time +yet, and once more closed her eyes. Two minutes later she was roused +again. Her companion was greatly upset because she could not find her +ticket. Presently Bettina tried in vain to lower the blind, and to her +intense vexation was obliged to accept the aid of one of the officers. +Then, when they had changed cars, she had another moment of dismay, +thinking she had forgotten a certain parasol, which, however, Leila had +taken care of. At Dueville two vulgar individuals got in, and promptly +began talking of the doings of priests and their Perpetua[9] in a most +disgusting way. Once more the beads of Siora Bettina's rosary began +to run through her fingers, and her lips to open and shut agitatedly. +At last the train rolled into the Vicenza station, and she alighted, +exhausted by her numerous anxieties, and as thankful as if she had +reached dry land again after a long voyage on a stormy sea. + +Having left their luggage in the cloak-room, the two ladies took a +carriage and drove up to the sanctuary. It was not yet eight o'clock, +and their plan was to start for Verona and Desenzano towards eleven. +At the sanctuary Signora Fantuzzo asked for the Father whom she +knew. "If you do not mind waiting," she said to Leila, "I will go to +confession first." The young girl made no answer, but when the Father +had appeared, and entered the confessional, she went towards another +confessional nearer the sacristy, and in the darkest part of the +church, where her companion could not easily see her. This confessional +was occupied also, but presently the peasant woman who had been +kneeling there rose. The Father came out, looked about him, and glanced +at Leila, who was the only person near, but as she gave no sign that +she desired his ministrations, he withdrew to the sacristy. In due +course Siora Bettina rose also and glanced around anxiously. Hereupon +Leila came towards her out of the shadow, and informed her that she +had been to confession already. A Mass was about to begin at the high +altar. At the _Domine non sum dignus_ Siora Bettina rose from her chair +to approach the altar-rail, and stood waiting an instant for Leila +to do the same. Seeing that the girl did not move, and not daring to +address her at that moment, she went forward to receive Communion alone. + +On rousing herself from her devotions, she reflected that, in all +probability Leila had carelessly broken her fast before leaving the +Montanina, or it might be that she had not felt in the proper mood at +that moment, and had determined to wait for another Mass. The clock +in the campanile was just striking nine. There was plenty of time. A +priest in surplice and stole approached the high-altar, and several +worshippers went to kneel at the altar-rail. Leila did not move. When +the priest had withdrawn to the sacristy, Siora Bettina mustered up all +the courage she could--which was only just enough to enable her to put +half a question--and addressed Leila. + +"Excuse me, my dear girl, but don't you intend...?" + +Leila had no difficulty in guessing the other half of the question. + +"I shall wait and go to Communion at Castelletto to-morrow morning," +said she. + +Signora Fantuzzo returned to her prayers, and remained absorbed for +another quarter of an hour. She would gladly have prolonged her +devotions, good, pious creature that she was, had not Leila risen to +her feet without waiting for a sign from her, and showed plainly enough +that she had had enough of the sanctuary. + +They walked down the hill on foot. Siora Bettina was silent for a long +time. She was finding it difficult to bring out the necessary untruth. +But at last she began nervously: + +"Signorina, I am not feeling very well. Let us alter our plans +a little. Might we not go to Padua, for the present, instead of +Castelletto? We could visit the church of the Santo there, and if I +feel better later on, we can still reach Castelletto before evening." + +Leila was astonished and did not answer at once, seeking to gain time +for reflection. She would consult the time-table, she said at last. +At the station café she did this with silent attention, and her eyes +sparkled with satisfaction as she discovered that, by leaving Padua +at 2.52 they could be at Castelletto at 7.55. It was then half-past +ten o'clock, and the train for Padua would leave at 11.8. The waiter +brought the coffee they had ordered. Leila drank hers, waited five +minutes longer, and then announced that she was going to post a letter +and buy some picture-postcards. She furthermore offered to get the +tickets for Padua. Siora Bettina accepted gratefully, and began getting +out her purse. + +"We can settle later," said Leila, rising. As she was about to turn +away, she inquired easily: + +"Second class?" + +"Yes, second class," said Siora Bettina, with a bland and humble +smile. Leila walked away. Ten minutes passed and she did not return. A +voice cried out: + +"Verona, Brescia, Milan!" + +Siora Bettina began to display so much uneasiness that the waiter, who +was polishing the table after removing the tray, inquired if she were +leaving. + +"Yes, indeed." + +"Where for, Signora?" + +"For Padua." + +"Oh, then you have plenty of time. The train for Padua does not start +for another twenty minutes." + +The minutes passed and still Leila did not come back. Bettina could sit +still no longer, and went to look for her. She was not in the vestibule +beyond the café. She thought she espied her among the crowd round the +booking-office. No, it was not she. She caught sight of the porter who +had carried their luggage on their arrival, and inquired if he had +seen her companion. He replied that he himself had just carried her +portmanteau to the train and found a good seat for her. + +"No, no!" cried Signora Fantuzzo impatiently. "My companion has not +left, she is still here." + +But the porter insisted. + +"No, signora! I tell you she is gone! She left by the Milan express not +five minutes ago." + +As Signora Fantuzzo continued to protest that he must be mistaken, he +asked somewhat impatiently if her friend had not been wearing a grey +dust-cloak with large blue buttons, a blue hat with grey veil, and grey +gloves, and whether she had not carried a dark blue parasol with a gold +handle. Yes, this was all correct. Well, then, that lady had come out +of the café, had posted a letter, and then gone with him to get her +luggage from the cloak-room. She had taken a ticket, and ordered him +to carry her portmanteau to the third-class waiting-room, although she +held a first-class ticket. Hardly had the express from Padua come to a +standstill in the station, than she had rushed across the platform and +climbed into a carriage with the agility of a squirrel. The porter had +inquired before they left the waiting-room if her friend was going with +her, and she had replied that the other lady was going to Padua. + +Poor Siora Bettina felt her legs giving way, and her sight becoming +dim, and she would surely have fallen had not the porter supported her. +Four or five people soon gathered round her, and carried rather than +helped her back into the café, where they tried to make her drink some +Marsala. This she waved aside with all the energy she still possessed, +while one zealous soul sprinkled water over her. "Don't, don't! My +bonnet! My bonnet!" moaned the unhappy woman, fearing they would deluge +her headgear, which would, indeed, have been a calamity. Perceiving +that, after all, there was nothing much the matter with her, the +onlookers presently withdrew, leaving her with the waiter and the woman +from the bookstall. + +"It is nothing, nothing!" this kind soul vaguely assured her. "You will +see it will be all right, Signora." + +"Oh, Dio!" groaned Siora Bettina, beginning to feel better. "She has +gone to the convent, and left me here all alone!" + +It struck the bookstall woman that the Signora was more troubled at +having been left "all alone" than at the thought of her companion's +flight. She inquired if the girl were her daughter. + +"Gèsummaria, no!" cried poor, forsaken Bettina, and she rose with +difficulty, declaring her intention of returning to Arsiero at once. +The waiter went outside, and quickly returned with the news that the +train for Arsiero had been gone about five minutes. In the meantime +a police officer had entered the café to question Signora Fantuzzo +concerning the flight, about which the whole station was talking. +Siora Bettina could not have been more confused had the Minister of the +Interior himself been interviewing her. The officer inquired kindly if +she had any idea where her companion had gone, and whether she wished +the matter to be investigated. Siora Bettina declared the young girl +must have gone to Desenzano, and the officer went to make inquiries, +but returned presently to say that no ticket for Desenzano had been +issued. + + + II + +The letter that Leila had posted at Vicenza reached Donna Fedele +towards seven that same evening. Anxious to husband her strength for +the journey to Turin, she had remained all day in her easy-chair. +She suffered, but she was at peace. She felt that she was dying. She +foresaw that the operation, which Carle himself was to perform, would +be successful, but that after that the end would come very quickly. She +felt herself too complete a wreck to live much longer. She was glad to +suffer and thus expiate the many sins of which she had been guilty in +her youth--sins of affection, sins of pride, that had been born, had +lived and died deep down in her mind, of which she had whispered in +the gloom of the confessional, and which the afflicted soul had never +succeeded in casting out entirely. She was glad to suffer and also to +know that soon she would suffer no more. That morning she had received +a cheerful letter from Don Aurelio. He wrote that he intended going +to Valsolda when poor Piero Maironi's body was brought from Rome to +Oria. He hoped to spend a few days with Massimo, and to cure him, with +God's help, of a depression that had begun to cloud his intellect. +She had immediately written to the friend she respected so highly, +telling him of Alberti's last letter, and speaking of Leila also, +who loved him (of this Donna Fedele was convinced) and who, swayed by +her unconquerable pride, was now struggling against love, but would +probably one day yield. It was unfortunately only too true that Leila's +love would not prove a spiritual support to Alberti, for indeed she had +no faith nor religious feeling. But Donna Fedele was sure that God had +chosen Don Aurelio to bring this wandering soul one day back to Him. + +She had then told him of her departure for Turin, and had hinted +vaguely at the purpose of her journey. She promised to telegraph at +what hour she would be passing through Milan, so that perhaps he +might meet her at the station. She ended her letter with a whimsical +description of a certain ancient and oft-dyed shawl that poor old +Cousin Eufemia, in spite of the heat, insisted upon wearing on the +journey, and of the bewildered state they would both be in--like a +couple of owls in the sunshine--remarking that these particulars would +make it easy for him to recognise them amongst the gay throng in the +buffet. + +Now as she gazed upon the great crags of Barco, still glowing in the +setting sun, she went over in her mind the list of objects that were +precious to her, which recalled dear memories and associations, and +which she wished to have with her in Turin, should she die there. +Cousin Eufemia was attending to the packing of everything else, and it +was she who now interrupted Donna Fedele's musings. She brought in the +post and a plate upon which lay six small trout from the Astico, which +the consumptive at Seghe had sent as a present. Donna Fedele envied +this man, who would die in his own home and native place. Presently +Cousin Eufemia bore the "poor beasts" away, and Donna Fedele began +opening her letters. The first was from the hospital in Turin. It +announced that her room was ready, and that the professor would see her +on the morning after her arrival. The second letter was from her Turin +agent, repeating the same information, and begging her to telegraph on +leaving Arsiero. The third and last was from Leila. On glancing at it +Donna Fedele did not recognise the handwriting on the envelope. She +tore the letter open, and turned immediately to the signature. "By +post?" she wondered. + +The very first lines made her open her eyes wide, and as she read on an +astonished exclamation burst from her lips. She sat up very straight in +her chair, and immediately read the note through a second time. + +"Oh, my God, my God!" she cried, and dropped the sheet upon her lap. +The note ran as follows: + + +"MY DEAR FRIEND,--I am just taking the train that will carry me from +Vicenza towards Dasio. I am going to tell him that I have been mad and +guilty and that, if he will have me, I am his for ever. + +"My father knows nothing, and all this must be kept from him as long as +possible. In order to accomplish my purpose I have pretended and lied +so cleverly as to prove myself a true child of his! + +"Forgive me! What I am doing is an act of love, humility, and justice. +I owe the strength and resolution necessary to carry it out to you +alone. Do not reproach me. I throw myself into your arms, and implore +your blessing. + + "LEILA." + + * * * * * + +The day was fast dying, and Cousin Eufemia looked in again to see if +the invalid needed a light, or desired to go to bed. Donna Fedele +replied with her usual gentleness that she desired to remain alone +until she should ring her bell. Hereupon the little old woman withdrew, +but an hour later she returned, uneasy because she had not been +summoned. Pushing the door open very softly, she peered into the room, +and saw her cousin's tall figure at the window, standing out against +the clear, starry sky. It seemed to Eufemia that her face was bowed +upon her clasped hands, as if she were praying. The old woman drew +back softly without being seen. A few minutes later the bell rang, +and Cousin Eufemia hastened to the room with a light. Seated in her +easy-chair, Donna Fedele dictated a couple of telegrams to her which +were to be sent off early in the morning. The first, addressed to +Massimo Alberti, ran, "May some one show himself to be a Christian and +a gentleman." The second, for the Turin agent, contained the words, +"Inform Mauriziano that unforeseen circumstances oblige me to postpone +arrival." + +"Oh, poor me!" cried Cousin Eufemia, instead of writing the word +"postpone." She shrank from doing so as she might have shrunk from +signing a death sentence. What had happened? The news of the unforeseen +circumstances must certainly have been contained in one of those +letters. For what written foolishness was Donna Fedele going to +postpone such an important matter? At last the invalid nearly lost her +temper. + +"Write!" she commanded. Eufemia groaned "Oh, poor me!" once more, and +then penned the hateful words. Presently she helped Donna Fedele to +undress. When she was in bed she called for the railway time-table +and turned it over, studying it in silence for some time. At last she +dictated a third telegram, addressed to Don Aurelio: + +"I shall be in Milan----" + +"Good, good!" cried Cousin Eufemia, glad to know that at least they +were going to start, and that in the direction of Santhià. + +"Day after to-morrow?" she suggested. + +"No, to-morrow." + +"To-morrow?" + +She was staring in open-mouthed astonishment now. To-morrow was Friday. +But Donna Fedele went on dictating: + +"... at eleven p.m. Please engage two rooms Hotel Terminus. Regards and +thanks." + +"But we cannot possibly start to-morrow!" cried Eufemia. "We should +have to pack all night!" + +"We do not leave until the afternoon, and besides, we are not taking +any luggage to speak of," said Donna Fedele. + +"No luggage?" + +Donna Fedele thought for a moment. Yes, her cousin had better take her +box, but she herself would need only a portmanteau and a dressing-bag. +Cousin Eufemia was forced to admit that under these circumstances it +would be possible to start on the following afternoon. Her own box, +which was small, was half-packed already. Donna Fedele reminded her not +to forget to send the telegrams and to order the carriage from Arsiero +for two o'clock. Then she asked to be left alone. + +When she was alone once more she gave way freely to the sweetest tears +she had ever shed--tears she had not wished her cousin to see. During +her silent meditation she had determined to sacrifice her own life, and +while standing at the window she had solemnly offered it to God, in +the presence of the stars. She was giving her own life that two souls, +who had wandered from God, might return to Him; that the girl whom +Marcello had loved for the sake of his dead son might pass through a +perilous ordeal unsullied. She would not go to Turin. She would forego +the operation, which would not have been much good in any case, and she +would go instead to this mad girl in Valsolda, claiming her obedience +in memory of Marcello, claiming Alberti's for the sake of his dead +mother. At first she had thought of taking Cousin Eufemia to Valsolda +with her, but now she made up her mind to send her home to Santhià and +go alone. "It will make much more impression on them if they see me +arriving alone, from such a distance, and as ill as I am," she thought. + +And now she looked back over her life. It seemed very empty to her, +very poor in good deeds, and she esteemed it a sweet privilege to end +it in this way. Lying stretched on her back, with her hands clasped +over her poor, aching body, she thanked God for the blessing of such +an end. A wave of relief swept over her; she smiled at herself in the +dark, smiled at the thought of her father, mother, and grandparents, +who had loved her so fondly in her childhood, looking down upon her +now, surely with approval and rejoicing that she would soon be with +them. She lighted the lamp and drew from a drawer in the bedside table +a precious little volume, the diary of her mother, who had died when +only two-and-twenty years of age, in giving her birth. She read the +closing words: + +"Oh, my God! Bless the little angel that is coming to me, that it may +remain for ever Thine!" + +Closing the book, she murmured ecstatically, "For ever--for ever!" Yes, +her mother in heaven must be glad now. And her dear old grandmother, +who had taught her to pray, and told her so many delightful stories! +The little volume contained a loose sheet of faded pink paper, on which +her beloved grandmother's tired hand had traced a prayer for Fedele's +special use: + +"Most humble Jesus, destroy my pride and my self-esteem. Glory be to +the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost! Jesus, pattern of gentleness, +grant that I may become entirely gentle and infinitely charitable +toward my neighbour. Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy +Ghost! + +"Virtue to be practised: + +"To remain silent under vexation." + +Yes, dear grandmother, silence under vexation, and silence in happiness +also. Fedele laid the little volume down, put out the light, and a hush +fell upon her sweet spirit. + + + III + +The maid brought Donna Fedele's coffee at seven, and told her of +Leila's flight. She had heard of it from the gate-keeper, who had +received his information from a railway employé at the station tavern +the night before. The woman who had just brought the milk knew +of it also. At nine, when Cousin Eufemia was in the midst of her +preparations for the journey, Teresina appeared, weeping bitterly. +She hoped Donna Fedele might know something about Leila. Eufemia, +convinced that her cousin was as much in the dark as every one else, +and, moreover, anxious that she should not be disturbed, told Teresina +so and dismissed her, having first inquired what Sior Momi's opinion +was. Teresina could not say. He had gone to Vicenza, intending, so it +would seem, to place the matter in the hands of the police. Signora +Fantuzzo was of opinion that the Signorina had fled to a convent, and +certain circumstances had led Teresina to think the same at first, but +she had now come to the conclusion that the young girl had purposely +misled them all and that she had really gone away to "do away with +herself." She had been on the brink of the precipice once before. After +Teresina's departure, Cousin Eufemia told Donna Fedele of the maid's +fears. The invalid said nothing, but wrote to Teresina as follows: + + +"DEAR TERESINA,--I am so sorry not to have seen you. You need not be +afraid of what you think happening. Leila gave me a solemn promise in +regard to this. + + "Yours affectionately, + "F. V. DI B." + + +She wrote another note to the sick man at Seghe, which was to be sent +to him with some amusing books and the photograph that she had promised +him some time before. A third note was addressed to her little French +pupil, to say that the lessons must be interrupted, and setting her a +task. She was to write a composition on the theme of _La Mort de la +Cigale_. + +Donna Fedele was feeling comparatively well. She was sure the relief +was due to her state of moral exaltation, and she feared lest she were +taking too much pride in her own sacrifice. She told herself that, +in offering her life, she was really offering a thing without value, +a thing that hardly belonged to her any more, a light that was about +to flicker out. Just before leaving the Villino she had a moment of +weakness. Seated on the verandah, she was pointing out, one by one, +to the gate-keeper, who was armed with scissors, the few last roses +remaining in the garden. She was going to take the roses with her, and +each flower that fell into the little basket filled her with sadness +and seemed to speak of her own ending day and of the last, sad parting +with this dear home. The gate-keeper placed the laden basket before +her. "Are there enough?" he asked. "Yes," the golden voice answered +softly, "there are enough." The man retired in silence, grieving deeply +over the necessity for the operation and over the dangers of which he +was aware; for to him, as to his wife also, the Signora was little +less than the Madonna herself. The man's presence had, in a measure, +held Donna Fedele's rising emotion in check. Alone once more, and +fanned by the silent breath of the noonday breeze stirring among the +rose-bushes and on the small open green in front of her, she yielded +to the on-rolling wave of feeling, and she became conscious of the +silent leave-taking between surrounding objects and her own mortal +heart. Down below the great verdure-clad valley was smiling, heedless +of the parting, and thence came no farewell. But Barco, Summano, and +Priaforà knew and understood, and the three hills stood looking down +upon Donna Fedele as silent figures stand around a bed upon which a +man lies dying, his parting glance resting upon them. She felt that +she was on the point of breaking down, and sought to control herself. +At that moment Cousin Eufemia appeared equipped for the journey, and +wrapped in the famous shawl that had survived so many dyeings. It had +been dipped the last time in Turin, and its snuffy, nondescript hue was +a never-failing stimulant to Donna Fedele's love of teasing. Even at +this moment she could not refrain from rallying her cousin concerning +the ludicrous garment, laughing nervously the while. In her delight +at seeing the invalid in good spirits, Cousin Eufemia herself laughed +merrily at her own poor old shawl, and her own poor old faded self. + +On approaching the carriage the travellers found the driver and the +cook discussing Leila. The cook, remembering the other attempt at +flight, declared that the Signorina had gone away, goodness only knew +where, to commit suicide. The driver, who was more of a philosopher, +laid it down as Gospel truth that when a young girl runs away, she +always runs to a lover and not to death. During the drive from the +Villino to the station the subject of the snuff-coloured shawl would +not have sufficed to keep Donna Fedele in good spirits, but she +discovered presently that Cousin Eufemia was smuggling a fried trout +away with her, and immediately began teasing the poor old lady again. +Having reflected that it was Friday, that she might perhaps be unable +to get a fish supper at the hotel in Milan, and also that the trout +from the Astico are especially succulent, Cousin Eufemia had got +the cook quietly to fry one of the "poor beasts" for her, and the +incautious cook had allowed Donna Fedele to overhear her whispered +information to Eufemia that the "parcel" was in a certain umbrella-case. + +Donna Fedele caught the word on the wing, and began tormenting poor +Eufemia with extravagant questions. What did the parcel contain? +Rouge and face powder? An improper book? Love letters? Her cousin +laughed and wriggled, and kept declaring that it was "nothing--nothing +worth mentioning!" until at last, horrified by Donna Fedele's absurd +suggestions, she blurted out: + +"It is only a trout, I tell you!" + +Hereupon the invalid became more pitiless than ever, but the jesting +voice was hushed as they passed the little church in the cemetery +at Arsiero, where she had received Communion two days before, and +presently, on going downhill towards the station, she caught sight +of the Montanina, resting as white as a cube of snow upon the tender +green, against its dusky background of chestnuts. + +At the station Cousin Eufemia asked where she was to send her box. "To +Santhià," said Donna Fedele. Were they going to Santhià, then? No, +only as far as Milan to-day, but to-morrow Cousin Eufemia would go +home, and Donna Fedele would decide what to do with herself. Her cousin +protested hotly, but the Signora carried her point, and the luggage was +registered to Santhià. + +The travellers took their places in the train. Don Emanuele's long, +lank figure passed beneath the window of their compartment. He went +to get his ticket, and returning, made straight for Donna Fedele's +carriage, but catching sight of Cousin Eufemia in time, he turned away +quickly. Eufemia was telling her cousin of this as the train started. + +Donna Fedele closed her eyes as if to sleep, but only in order that +she might not see the dear country she was leaving without hope of +returning. In her mind's eye she saw the chaplain's lank figure, his +pale face and watery eyes. She had confessed all the ill she had +thought and said of him, and she now felt her heart free from any +shadow of rancour against the poor man, who honestly believed he might +serve God by crooked means and with bitter malice in his soul. For him, +among the rest, Christ had died; and this thought brought her peace, +but almost immediately that tiny mocking imp within her, whispered: +"Peace, peace indeed! But if he were seated here beside you, you would +be greatly annoyed, all the same!" + +At the café of the Vicenza station, where the travellers had to wait +two long hours, Donna Fedele passed through some moments of anguish. +In the first place, the uncomfortable carriage and the frequent +changes had tried her greatly. Suddenly she shivered with cold, and +her sight grew dim. She drank a few drops of brandy, and gradually +revived, but she felt aghast at the thought that she might die before +she reached the end of her journey. She had not considered this danger +before starting, but now a fearful dread overtook her, and all the +way to Milan her thoughts would keep recurring to that one appalling +possibility. She was especially anxious about the journey she must +take on the morrow, and was undecided whether to push on immediately +from Milan, thus making sure of reaching her destination, or to rest, +that she might arrive in a less sorry plight. When they had passed +Treviglio, the thought of soon seeing Don Aurelio comforted her +greatly. It would be Paradise could she have his company on her further +pilgrimage, and feel him near and ever ready to afford her spiritual +aid. But there would be one great disadvantage to this arrangement; in +order to gain the greatest influence over those two young people, they +ought to see her arriving alone, and almost in a dying condition. + + + IV + +Don Aurelio was waiting for her at the station, and she gave him her +usual, sweet smile. That smile only increased his sorrow at seeing +how pale and how changed she was. Having told her that her rooms +were ready for her, he would gladly have left her, for, if possible, +he always avoided being out late. But she insisted upon his coming +to the Terminus, and kept him talking for some time in the public +reception-room, which, at this hour, was deserted and half dark. She +told him everything except the alarming condition of her own health, +and of the sentence the doctor had passed upon her. Don Aurelio was +therefore justified in supposing her fit to continue her journey on the +morrow, and he advised her to go by way of Porto Ceresio. He expressed +regret for Leila's foolish act, but was in no way uneasy concerning +the line of conduct Massimo would pursue. This surprised Donna Fedele +somewhat. Passion, solitude, the weakening of the restraining influence +of religion, all these conditions she believed must favour the sway +of instinct. Her own inner experience had taught her the power of +passion far better than Don Aurelio could ever learn it through the +confessional. He took leave of her at last, despite her reluctance to +let him go, promising to be with her again at ten the next morning. She +had settled to start for Porto Ceresio at eleven. + +She passed a sleepless night, but one almost free from pain. In the +morning she felt greatly exhausted, however, and fearing she would be +unfit to start at eleven o'clock, she told her cousin and Don Aurelio +that she had decided that it would be more convenient to lunch at +Milan, and leave three hours later. Don Aurelio brought the welcome +news that he himself would soon be going to Valsolda. He was hourly +expecting a telegram announcing that Benedetto's remains had left Rome. +A priest was to accompany them as far as Milan, and he had been asked +to perform the same solemn duty from Milan to Oria. He had accepted +partly that he might prevent the marring of the solemn ceremony by +any demonstration or speeches which he in whose memory they had met +together would have condemned, and also partly that he might have +the opportunity of seeing Massimo. The friends in Rome had entrusted +Massimo with all arrangements at Albogasio, and had also wished him to +speak at the grave, but Don Aurelio had received a sad letter from him +a few hours before Donna Fedele's arrival, saying that he had made all +necessary arrangements, but that he did not wish to speak at the grave, +for only a Catholic should do that, and he no longer felt himself such. +This Don Aurelio told with deep sorrow. + +At lunch Donna Fedele could eat nothing. Her fellow-guests in the +dining-room glanced at her frequently, struck by her snowy hair, her +great dark eyes, her air of suffering, and her aristocratic features +and bearing. She preferred to drag herself to the station on foot, +rather than get in and out of the omnibus for so short a distance. She +begged her cousin to enter the compartment with her, that she might +take leave of her more quietly, and teasingly implored her not to get +lost in the great station, and let herself be carried to Venice or +Bologna instead of Santhià. As the moment of parting drew nearer Cousin +Eufemia regretted more acutely that she had not insisted upon going to +Valsolda with the invalid. She returned to the subject once more, and +begged and implored to be allowed to go. Donna Fedele made light of +this. "To Santhià you go--to Santhià!" she said. "What good could you +do by coming all the way to Valsolda?" + +"It isn't at the other end of the world, after all," Eufemia retorted. + +"Who knows?" said Donna Fedele. "It may be the end of the world for me." + +The little old woman was silenced, but as several travellers bustled +in, in search of seats, she became ever more anxious. The hour of +departure was drawing near, and she must get down. Her place was +immediately taken by a pleasant-faced, insignificant little woman, with +a small dog. "Oh, dear!" sighed Eufemia. "A dog also!" The new-comer +overheard her words, and began to explain timidly that her dog could +not bear to be separated from her, that he was so very affectionate and +perfectly well-behaved. + +"I won't be separated either!" thought Cousin Eufemia to herself. +"Surely I have as much heart as a dog!" and she said goodbye, having +fully determined in her own mind to enter another compartment in the +same train, unbeknown to Donna Fedele, whose last words were: + +"Take good care of the roses!" + +She smiled at the little old woman's bewilderment, who was far from +imagining that the roses alluded to were those of the Villino, which +would one day belong to her sisters and herself. The invalid calmly +fell to picturing the arrival at the Villino of the new owners, of +the three old ghosts clad in black, and to imagining what each would +do first. Eufemia, the youngest, would immediately hasten to inspect +a certain kneeling-stool that she had long coveted; the second +sister would examine the kitchen, while the eldest would repair to +the wine-cellar. But her pleasant-faced neighbour did not allow her +to follow up these half-painful, half-amusing fancies. She saw that +the Signora was ill, and began putting a series of questions for the +purpose of discovering particulars. Then she entered upon a history of +the complaints with which various members of her family and several of +her friends had been afflicted, and finally said that she was on her +way to Varese to visit her sister, who was the mother of four children, +and that she had brought Friend along with her because her little +nephews and nieces simply adored him. Donna Fedele could not close +her ears to all this chatter, but as she closed her eyes from time to +time, the little woman concluded she was suffering from headache, and +placing the dog on the invalid's lap, with a profusion of apologies, +she dived into her handbag for some phenacetin tabloids. From Rho +onwards poor Donna Fedele could do nothing but long for Varese, where +the insignificant little person got out at last, congratulating herself +on having performed an act of kindness by amusing the invalid with her +conversation, and congratulating her little dog on having contributed +towards the Signora's comfort by his decorous behaviour and silence. +Most of the travellers got out at Varese, and Donna Fedele was left +alone with a young doctor, who was on his way from Padua to his summer +home at Cuasso, which information had transpired from his conversation +with two other young men who had left the train at Varese. He now +began studying his travelling companion with respectful interest, and +becoming aware of this, and fearing he might guess the nature of her +malady and be induced to speak to her, Donna Fedele turned towards the +window, and did not look round again until the train drew up at Porto +Ceresio. + +Here the first glimpse of the lake moved her profoundly. She was +nearing her destination at last--she was sure of arriving there, of +seeing them both. She was at once delighted, terrified, and uneasy. The +porter who carried her luggage was obliged to support her as far as the +café, for she was hardly able to stand. "It is madness, Signora, to go +about alone and in such a state!" he said, as she begged him to come +for her when it should be time to go aboard the steamer. + +Cousin Eufemia was careful not to show herself, for she feared a +round scolding, and, what was far worse, being sent back to Milan. +She had determined to keep out of the way until it should have become +impossible to send her back. She was rather anxious, indeed, concerning +the box that had gone to Santhià, but that could not be helped now. + +The boat for Lugano which would come from Ponte Tresa was not yet in +sight. Seated outside the café, on the terrace that overlooked the +water, Donna Fedele hardly touched the milk she had ordered, simply for +the sake of ordering something. Her heart had never before throbbed so +violently. The terrace, strewn with little tables, was deserted. The +mirror of green water was deserted also, lying there motionless beneath +the burning sun. White Marcote over opposite was quietly watching the +silent waters. Peace and rest breathed from the mighty hills piled high +beyond and above the winding course of the lake towards distant Lugano. +Donna Fedele felt very sad that she could enjoy none of this peace +and rest. The Ponte Tresa boat appeared at last, rounding the wooden +promontory on the west. She would have to rise presently and drag +herself to the landing-stage. It was but a few steps to go, but what if +the porter should fail to come?... Ah, here he was! It was still very +early, he said, but later he would have the luggage to attend to, and +might not be able to come for her. + +The invalid rose with difficulty. She wondered how Cousin Eufemia would +act in her place, and, saying to herself, "Oh, poor me!" she took the +porter's arm. + + + FOOTNOTES: + +[9] _Perpetua_: the name of Don Abbondio's maid-servant, in Manzoni's +famous "Promessi Sposi," now often applied generically to the female +servants of priests.--TRANSLATOR'S NOTE. + + + + + CHAPTER XVI + NIGHT AND FLAMES + + + I + +Having made her hurried entrance into a first-class compartment, Leila +detained the porter on one pretext and another, so that there was no +danger of his running up against Signora Fantuzzo before the train was +clear of the station, should she have come out of the café in search of +her companion. There were four other persons in Leila's compartment--an +old lady with a daughter of about thirty, a young commercial traveller, +and a music-hall _chanteuse_ in shabby finery. Leila was conscious +that her face and neck were crimson, and did not doubt but that her +excitement had been noticed, though in reality no one had as yet paid +the slightest attention to her. The young man went on talking with the +daughter, and the _chanteuse_ went on sucking lemon-drops and sniffing +at a bottle of scent. The train sped along, hastening away from +Vicenza, away from the Montanina, bearing Leila ever nearer to _him_. +Her heart was beating in time with the quick and rhythmic clinking of +the wheels, and she felt as if her thoughts as well as her sight were +muffled in a thick veil. Involuntarily she glanced at her travelling +companions from time to time, observing, as through a hot mist, the +vulgar rivalry that was going on between the two young women for the +attentions of the commercial traveller. + +The music-hall singer got out at Verona, and the other two ladies, who +were going to Bergamo, changed at Rovato. As no one else had entered +the carriage Leila was left alone with the commercial traveller. +She did not even notice this circumstance. Since Verona her state +of mind had been undergoing a change, and now doubts and anxieties +forced themselves where before had been nothing but exhilaration +and confidence. During the first hour of her flight Leila had seen +clearly before her in the distant country the main features of the +coming event, meeting of two souls, a delirium of delight, and then +mist and whatever fate might decree. The nearer she drew to the event, +however, the less distinct did her anticipation of it become, while +a host of embarrassing and hitherto unconsidered details loomed ever +more clearly. She feared she would lack courage to show herself at the +right moment, feared lest she had undertaken a task her pride would not +allow her to accomplish, feared he might look upon her as shameless or +cowardly. Meanwhile the train was travelling onward, and its onward +rush seemed to her symbolical of blind forces obeying her will, that +had no longer any restraining power. + +It was raining when the train reached Porto Ceresio and there was a +mist over the mountains, so that only their lower slopes showed darkly, +encircling the grey and wrinkled sheet of water. Leila was glad of the +mist. It gave her a feeling of approaching him unseen. She was also +glad that no steamer lay at the pier, that no steamer was yet in sight. +All this made the moment of meeting seem more distant and less real. +When at last a black spot appeared off the promontory on the left, her +heart began to throb as it had done in the train at Vicenza. As she +stepped on board the boat, her breath almost left her, and she stood +for a moment half dazed on the gangway. + +There were very few passengers on deck. Leila took a seat astern, +and seemed as if she were intent upon gazing into the water, but she +saw nothing. The dull, mechanical thudding of the pistons and of her +heart was all she was conscious of. The ticket-collector was obliged +to ask twice where she was going. She longed to say "Lugano," but +she stammered "San Mamette" instead, as if compelled to do so by +destiny. She inquired how far it was to San Mamette, and was relieved +to hear that they would not be there for an hour yet, and would touch +at Lugano first. Her gaze wandered off across the water, resting +sometimes upon the quivering network of innumerable circlets that the +rain was stamping upon it, sometimes upon the dark base of the hills. +When the steamer slackened speed near Melide, she thought they had +reached Lugano, but sank back into her state of torpor once more on +learning that Lugano was the next stopping-place, and even failed to +notice when they passed beneath the bridge. Presently the good-natured +ticket-collector came up to point out the direction in which San +Mamette lay--over yonder towards the east, where the lake, blending +with the mist, stretched away like an ocean. Over yonder lay mystery. + +Soon the great hotels of Lugano passed before her gaze, followed +by the dripping houses and dusky gardens, sloping upwards into the +mist. One, two, three stopping-places. Passengers coming and going. A +cry of "Gandria, Santa Margherita, Oria, San Mamette, Osteno, Cima, +Porlezza!" Slowly the steamer is pushed off, and the throbbing of the +pistons begins again. They are under way; the boat swings slowly about, +bringing her prow towards the mists of the upper lake; the dripping +houses, the hotels, the gardens of Lugano are left behind, and are soon +lost to sight. + +Then suddenly a fresh breeze seemed to sweep through Leila's soul. All +her reasons for taking this step asserted themselves imperiously. Alone +and motionless, beneath the fine rain, she looked about her, feeling +happy and secure. It had stopped raining when they reached Gandria. +The lake in front of the steamer showed black beneath the ruffling of +a strong wind, and the mist had begun to climb the hills' wet flanks. +Galbiga, Bisgnago, and the Valsolda dolomites loomed majestically +against the sky, and in the far distance Legnone stood out, a grey +giant among smoke-like clouds. + +Soon the boat met the wind. Leila's clothes and veil flew back like +streamers from a flag, but still she did not move. The wind, the dark +lake, the wild black hills, filled her soul with exultation. The wind +was shouting to her: "Are you indeed here?" The silent hills on her +right and left were thinking: "She is here, indeed!" In front of her +the dolomites were revealing all their tragic history, as if to a +watcher who understood. + +"Signora," said the ticket-collector, "the next station is San Mamette." + +She felt suddenly strong and resolute, and when the steamer drew up at +the landing-stage she stepped ashore with a firm tread. A few peasants +got off also, but owing to the weather, there were no loiterers either +in the _piazza_ or at the wharf. The guard on duty there pointed out +the Valsolda Hotel, near at hand. She entered the narrow vestibule. +It was dark and deserted, and neither hearing nor seeing any one, she +stood waiting, undecided whether to go upstairs or not. At last some +one came down, and catching sight of her, hurried away again, evidently +to summon the proprietor, who soon appeared. + +"You wish for----?" the man began. + +"A room," said Leila unsteadily. + +During the few seconds she had waited the silence of this unfamiliar +place struck her as hostile. It was the first freezing contact with +those harsh realities with which she had failed to reckon while +planning her flight, but which she had vaguely foreseen on the +journey. She did not know how she managed to say "A room." Fortunately, +the proprietor, a kind-hearted little man, saw at once that she was +a lady and evidently embarrassed, and treated her with the utmost +consideration. He told her that the housemaid would show her such rooms +as were vacant--there were, indeed, but few people in the house--and +Leila started upstairs somewhat reassured. Following the maid into a +large corner-room on the second floor, she declared that she would take +that, without looking farther. She asked the girl where she slept, +hoping to have her near, but not liking to say so because she was +ashamed of her timidity. The girl, who slept at some distance, was far +from imagining that the young lady was timid, and inquired if she could +do anything more for her. No, no, nothing more. Did the Signorina wish +to dine? Leila felt that she would be unable to eat, but she ordered a +light supper to be brought to her room, that the girl might be obliged +to return, and thus give her an opportunity to inquire about Dasio. On +finding herself alone for the night she called herself a coward and +a fool, and to hearten herself, allowed her thoughts to dwell on her +father, on the Velo priests, and the schemes and intrigues from which +she had escaped. And at the same time a vision of Donna Fedele came +into her mind. She saw her great dark eyes beneath the lofty brow with +its delicate arch of white hair: she heard the golden voice saying, +"Dear girl! What have you done?" But after all, thought Leila, what was +done was done. + +Would it not be well to send him a line before the meeting? She rang +for writing materials and tried to write, sitting for a long time +lost in thought, with the pen between her fingers. But presently the +difficulties of the task appalled her. Might not all be spoiled by a +single ambiguous sentence, a single ill-chosen word, a single even +slightly clumsy phrase, that would escape her notice? After all, it +would be better not to write. Her presence alone must tell everything. +Yes, of course it would! She wondered she had not thought of this +before. But immediately she was filled with terror at the idea of a +chance meeting, and so she remained, torn between doubts, and feeling +perilously near to tears. + +Through the open window could be seen, far away, amid the darkness of +the night, a small point of light slowly revolving and flashing over +the surface of the waters and along the coast. Out of the shadow there +would start for an instant white cottages, great boulders, or a wooded +slope, sought out by that light as by a watchful eye passing all things +in careful review. Leila saw the slim cone of light moving slowly +towards her, felt herself and her surroundings enveloped in the white +blaze of the inquisitorial eye, and then all was engulfed in darkness +once more. Far up on the black mountain-side, near the sky that was +hardly less dark, other electric flames shone in a row. She could hear +the noise of the waves, and the whole scene gave her the impression of +a night of enchantment in the wildest, strangest corner of the earth. +She forgot her own doubts and fears for the moment and followed the +movements of the electric flash along the wooded base of the mountains +and across the ruffled waters, in search of groups of houses. One of +those groups might be Dasio. Again the white light flashed upon her, +and trembled an instant on either hand before leaving her entirely. She +sprang backwards into the room. + +Weary at last, she flung herself upon the bed without undressing. + +It was a long, never-ending night. From time to time the flashlight +flooded the room, and Leila was glad of this, for it seemed as if the +luminous eye were keeping a vigil in her stead. Just before dawn she +fell asleep, but awoke again almost immediately, grieved at having +slept despite her resolution not to do so. Later she rose with numbed +limbs, and closed the windows. The flashlight and the other lights +along the mountain's brow were no longer to be seen. Beneath her window +she saw a _pergola_, a muddy courtyard, some narrow grass-plots, and, +a few yards beyond, the slumbering lake reflecting the heavy, unbroken +masses of cloud. She lay down on the bed again. Day was coming, and she +would soon know her fate. + + + II + +Leila rose and dressed at six o'clock. In washing herself she flooded +the room, but nevertheless rang the bell for more water. The maid saw +at once that the Signorina had not turned back the bedclothes, and +glanced wonderingly from her to the bed. Leila blushed, but did not +offer any explanation. Having apologised for the state of the floor, +she inquired, half unconscious of hypocrisy, if it were far to Puria. +She knew well enough from Massimo's letter that one could walk there +from Dasio in twenty minutes. The girl replied that it took less than +an hour to go to Puria, and upon Leila's request, promised to find a +boy to accompany her, and act as guide. + +"At what time will you start?" she inquired. + +"At seven." + +Exhausted by her long fast and long hours of sleeplessness, Leila ate +her breakfast with a good appetite. She inquired about the lights she +had seen in the night, and was informed that a torpedo-boat bearing a +powerful searchlight was always on duty and that the flames upon the +hillside were the electric lights along the funicular railway of Santa +Margherita and at the Hotel Belvedere. At seven she started with her +guide, astonished at her own calmness and resolution. + +The guide was a lad of about twelve, with sparkling eyes and +obstinately silent lips. Leila could get nothing out of him save +monosyllables, but, indeed, all she desired to know was that he knew +the way to Puria and Dasio. As they walked towards Loggio she looked +neither to right nor left, for the higher she climbed the faster did +her heart throb, partly from fatigue, partly because her resolution +was weakening. At the first turning of the steps above the oratory of +San Carlo she was obliged to stop and rest. The sun was not shining, +but the air was sultry. A party of young people, all laughing merrily, +passed her. The girls were teasing the men for not daring to gather +some clusters of cyclamen growing on the brink of a precipice above +a mountain torrent. With the agility of a squirrel the little guide +suddenly scampered away, returning presently with a bunch of cyclamen, +which he silently presented to Leila. She placed the flowers upon her +breast, reflecting that fate had sent them to her for _him_, and that +she would not have dared to gather them with her own hand. On reaching +the top of the hill, where the path turns to the left, and leads down +to the Campo region, she stopped to rest once more. Here the whole of +upper Valsolda lay stretched beneath her. In the centre, high above +everything, lay Dasio, its campanile and a few roofs alone stretching +upwards out of its nest of verdure. Seated on the grass Leila inquired +the names of all the villages, and then let her glance fall upon the +small yellow-white campanile beneath the mighty rocks. From the tower +she raised her eyes to the heights above it, seeking for the point that +had reminded Massimo of the one he had gazed upon at the Montanina, +while she played "Aveu." She fixed upon one that was surrounded by +mist, towards the centre of the group that slopes downward from the +highest summit on the east. Her heart swelled at the memory of the +music. + +Again, she seemed to hear triumphant voices about her as she had done +on first entering Valsolda waters, and rising to her feet, struggling +with her emotion, she started onwards. On the Dasio road, beyond Puria, +she ordered the boy, who was walking in front of her, to tell her +should he see any one coming towards them. They met a charcoal-burner, +a Customs guard, and a woman with a basket of mushrooms. Leila +reflected that she might ask for Dr. Alberti, but she lacked the +courage to do so. Below the last hill, shaded by chestnut-trees, upon +the little bridge close to a chapel, she leaned against the handrail, +exhausted and trembling, and almost despairing of being able to go on. +There was an old woman gathering nuts near by, and Leila sent the boy +to inquire if she knew Dr. Alberti. The old woman, who was deaf and +half imbecile, did not understand. Leila straightened herself with an +effort, and glanced into the chapel as she passed, but its gaudiness +repelled her. She felt that had there been naught else than the +Crucifix there she would have flung herself on her knees in prayer. But +as it was, she passed on. + +On reaching the narrow, steep path to Drano, two minutes' walk below +Dasio, she sat down on the lowest step, and ordered the boy to go on +to the hotel. He was simply to inquire if Dr. Alberti was at home, and +then return to her with the answer. The reply, for which she waited in +feverish agitation, was that the doctor was out. + +She remained for some time, her face hidden in her hands, thinking and +feeling herself utterly alone. Uncovering her face at last, she fixed +her eyes, as if in appeal, upon the clustering verdure that clothed the +opposite bank of the valley. All was peace and indifference. She sent +the boy back to ask some one from the hotel to come and speak with her. + +A pleasant-mannered girl soon appeared. It was no easy task for Leila +to inquire for Alberti, but as she could not avoid doing so, she +preferred to do it in this way, rather than at the hotel and in the +presence of any number of inquisitive strangers. She learned that the +doctor had been summoned to Muzzaglio two hours before. On setting out +he had said that he would be back by ten o'clock, and now the clock was +about to strike nine. If the Signorina wished to go and meet him, she +could not possibly miss him. She must go by Pian di Nava and San Rocco. + +"You can stop at Pian di Nava, not a quarter of an hour's walk from +here. He is sure to pass that way." + +Hereupon the girl tried to explain the way to the little guide, who +was unfamiliar with the region, but as he did not seem to understand, +she herself offered to act as guide, and led Leila upwards through the +poor but clean village, as far as the public washing-place, where she +pointed out the path that turned westwards from there. + +"That is the path," she said. "You will reach Pian di Nava in about +five minutes." + +Leila paid the boy, dismissed him, and started on alone. She left the +path at a point where it crossed a field, and sat down to wait beneath +the trees shading one side of it, whence she could see all the windings +of the path in front of her. + + + III + +That morning Massimo had risen at dawn, having slept hardly at all. On +the preceding day he had been to Lugano to hire the boat that would +bring Benedetto's remains from Porto Ceresio to Oria. And now that +this was arranged, he had only to wait for the summons to take part in +the sad ceremony, but meanwhile he was passing through great mental +anguish. The memory of Maironi was still dear and sacred to him, and +he would have been happy to render private homage to his master, but +this public homage signified participation in beliefs and ideas which +were no longer his own. To refuse it would amount to an insult, to +grant it would amount almost to hypocrisy. Benedetto represented the +Catholic Creed in its entirety, imperishable faith in the Church, meek +and humble obedience to authority. Massimo had ceased to believe. He +had begun by separating himself from Rome intellectually, by persuading +himself that Roman Catholicism was doomed to perish; then, rapidly, +had come the separation from the Divine and risen Christ. But despite +the apparent suddenness of the change, the old faith died hard, and +his outlook on life was still coloured by the traditional beliefs +of Christianity. The first step, the freedom from Rome, would have +been sweet to him, had the breaking away from Rome not meant also the +breaking away from his own past as a champion of the Catholic Faith. +But his horror of a subsequent sinking towards agnosticism was so +great, and filled him with such intense despair, that he was at times +assailed by violent and fleeting paroxysms of reaction. That very night +as he thought of the state of his own conscience and of Benedetto, he +had lighted the candle in a spasm of pain and hope, and had knelt on +his bed before the picture of the meeting of the Saviour and Peter upon +the waters. Groaning with misery, he had prayed for faith, faith, and +again for faith! But soon the flame that had illumined his soul died +down once more. The silent surroundings had seemed to scoff at him as +he had scoffed at himself. When he had put out the light he crushed +his face into his pillow, his heart calling out to Leila. Again he +scoffed at himself for his foolish cowardice, and angrily repelled the +image that would not be driven from his heart, and did but bend before +these violent outbursts, as a reed before the wind, only to rise again +immediately. He forced himself to think of the sick man at Muzzaglio he +must visit on the morrow, whose unhappy marriage had brought him to +drink, and who had become half imbecile, living in a foul hovel with +four goats and a black sheep. He never came down to Castello or to +Puria save to exchange milk for spirits. The birth of a kid or lamb was +the signal for a series of orgies, and the man was known throughout the +countryside as the "savage." At the present moment he was recovering +from pneumonia, and Massimo was making every effort to raise him out of +his state of abject misery. With the aid of two kind women from Dasio +he had got him decently clean and had removed him to an empty stable +(for Muzzaglio consisted entirely of stables), and placed him upon a +couch fit for a human being. Every morning the doctor himself carried +him eggs, broth, and the small quantity of wine the man could not do +without. He had made up his mind to see his patient's wife and persuade +her to take her husband back into the house from which she had driven +him because he was a drunkard. He must also make her promise not to +sell the black sheep which she hated, this hatred of hers filling the +sick man with childish terror whenever reconciliation and reunion were +mentioned. "She will sell the sheep!" he would cry. "She will sell the +sheep!" + +Massimo left the hotel before seven o'clock, went to see a sick child, +and then returned for the basket with the eggs, the broth, and the +wine. On reaching Muzzaglio he found the convalescent sitting up, and +after listening patiently to the endless chatter of the two old women +who were nursing him, once more turned back to Dasio. A herd of cows +was grazing among the pastures of San Rocco, and the ceaseless tinkling +of the bells rose above the sound of the river below. He dropped upon +the grass and sat listening to the river, fancying that he was back in +his room at the Montanina listening to the voice of the Posina, and the +old heartache seized him. He walked on, slowly, pausing for a moment in +the wood to notice a cluster of cyclamen, in gazing at which he sought +to banish the thought of Leila, and then, keeping mechanically onward, +he reached the level stretch of Pian di Nava. + +Then it was that he saw, not two hundred yards away, a lady in a light +summer dress, seated on the upper edge of the field in front of him. He +paid no further attention to her, for almost every day visitors from +Loggio or San Mamette came up to Dasio. The lady was seated beyond the +path and some twenty yards towards the right. As Massimo approached, +walking slowly, she rose to her feet. Her movement made him glance +carelessly in her direction, but he did not recognise her, and turning +his face towards the path once more, kept on his way. She started, +swayed forward, and then checked herself. Thereupon he also stopped and +once more looked at her. She was so pale and her face was so agitated +that he would not have recognised her even now had not her eyes been +fixed upon him in a glassy stare. He hesitated, trembled, and felt his +being turned to stone. She bowed her head, and, staggering, leaned +against the tree under which she had been sitting. Massimo stopped +short. He saw it was Leila, but could not believe his own eyes, and +raised his hat stupidly, unconscious of his own movement. She lifted +her pale, tear-stained face to him imploringly, and her lips moved. He +was forced to conclude that she stood in need of some slight service, +though to seek his help was clearly embarrassing to her. At the same +instant an idea flashed across his mind. + +"You are here with Donna Fedele?" he asked, quickly putting himself +on the defensive. Evidently Donna Fedele had brought this about, had +persuaded the girl to consent, or had coerced her into so doing. It +seemed the only possible explanation of Leila's presence. But Leila +shook her head and looked down. + +"Are you with your father, then?" the young man asked, more astonished +than ever. Again Leila shook her head. + +Then at last her humble, shrinking attitude conveyed an inkling of the +truth to Massimo, and he began to understand. But not even now did he +venture to utter a word, to make a movement that should betray his +consciousness of the sweet truth. Leaning towards her, half blind with +emotion and with a beating heart, he murmured: + +"Are you alone?" + +Leila hid her face in her hands without answering. The young man +seized her hands, and felt them steadily but slowly yielding, in a +wave of self-abandonment such as no spoken word could have expressed. +He murmured incoherent words and offered her his arm, feeling that she +would shrink from being led by the hand here, where at any moment some +one might pass, but still unwilling to relinquish his hold of her. + +Aflame with happiness, Leila had once more become mistress of herself, +while Massimo, whose head reeled, did not know which direction to take. +He turned towards Dasio. Leila did not speak, but the arm he held +guided him gently in the opposite direction, towards the woods. Once +among the trees, he put his arm round her and they kissed for the first +time, yet not passionately, but almost reverently. Then Leila dropped +her face upon Massimo's breast. + +And he, no longer bewildered, his face bent low into her sweet hair, +murmured: + +"It is for ever?" + +Her only answer was to press her head closer to his breast. They heard +women's voices in the wood, and Leila, raising her head, started +forward in front of Massimo, turning often to glance at him. On passing +the cluster of cyclamen that Massimo had noticed but a short time +before, he gathered one for her and smiled. She kissed the hand that +held out the flower, and then spoke for the first time: + +"Why do you smile?" + +The low, familiar voice thrilled him. He was more sure than ever now +that he was not dreaming, and more than ever did reality appear as +a dream. That voice had been familiar to him only in coldness, in +scorn, and in anger. These words, trivial in themselves, were the +sweet and solemn notes of an unknown chord of love. For some minutes +its sweetness so overcame Massimo that he could not speak to tell her, +as he did at last, how the sound of the river had reminded him of the +Montanina, and how he had stood gazing upon the cyclamen, forcing +himself to banish her image that was scorching his heart. The old fire +burned again in Leila's eyes at the story of his past suffering, and +betrayed the remorse she felt for her long injustice. + +"You are the one who have much to forgive," said he, tenderly, thinking +of his own unjust thoughts of her. But the past came back to each with +such overwhelming force that neither could speak, in protest or in +exclamation. They walked on in silence as far as the open pasture-lands +of San Rocco, where the river thundered its greeting to them. + +"Listen," said Massimo. + +Leila closed her eyes, for the difference in the landscape prevented +this deep voice from awakening in her memories of the Posina. The sharp +mountain air and the tinkling of bells from the pastures reminded her +only of the wild slope where the rhododendrons grew, and where love had +conquered. + +Exhausted with emotion and fatigue, the colour suddenly fled from her +face, and she told Massimo that she must rest. Anxious and alarmed, he +placed her on the grass, and, taking her hands in his, began stroking +and caressing them. She sat looking earnestly into his face, her eyes +shining with tenderness and love. She would not let him go to fetch +water for her from the river, and presently, becoming more composed, +she took one of Massimo's hands in hers and murmured: + +"How could you forgive me so soon?" + +"Oh, as to that ..." he cried, and the question he had been withholding +ever since she had confessed that she was alone now fell from his lips: +"But you yourself...?" + +She understood at once, and told him she felt unable to explain in +words, but that, if he wished it, she would do so in writing. In answer +to a further question, he learned that she had arrived the night +before and had taken a room at San Mamette. Only one other question +did Massimo venture to ask: Did her father know? Leila assured him +that Donna Fedele alone had been told, but not until after her own +departure. A troubled silence followed; then Massimo proposed that they +should return to Dasio, where she would be able to rest and refresh +herself; and she agreed immediately, as if it were her part not to +acquiesce but simply to obey. + +They started slowly, she leaning on his arm in silence. He was +beginning to be uneasy concerning the comments her presence might give +rise to at the hotel. He thought he saw a look of pain in her eyes, as +if she wondered at his silence. He dropped her arm, and, placing his +own round her, drew her lovingly to him. She murmured anxiously: + +"Have I done wrong?" + +Massimo held her closer. + +"My wife!" he said. + +She laid her head upon his shoulder. + +"I have always, always loved you!" she whispered. + +At the entrance to the wood they met the women whose voices they had +heard some time before. The peasants saluted, and looked curiously at +the Signorina. Massimo felt it would be a mistake to feign overmuch, to +exert overmuch caution in order to avoid arousing suspicion. When the +women had disappeared, he told Leila that he should present her to the +hotel people as his future wife. + +"Yes, yes! But for your sake, not for mine! It was for your sake +before!" she said. + +She wanted him to understand that if the presence of strangers had made +her cautious in her demonstrations of affection, it was out of regard +for his reputation rather than for her own. She asked him, eager to +hear him declare the contrary, whether he would not repent later having +presented her as his future wife. Meanwhile they had reached the narrow +valley that sweeps down from Pian di Nava to Terra Morta and the little +cemetery. Leila paused on catching sight of the church and houses of +Dasio nestling amidst the verdure, beneath the two colossal masses +of dolomite, one facing south and the other west, that meet at right +angles and form the Passo Stretto. + +"Not yet," said she. But she quickly regretted her words, as if they +had meant disobedience; and she would have gone on, despite her +dread of the hotel and her desire to make this sweet hour as long as +possible. Massimo allowed her to rest for a few minutes--for a few +minutes only, because she was so pale! The sky was still overcast, and +mist rested upon the grey heights. The unbroken verdure, the ashen +tints of the landscape, seemed in silent sympathy with those two souls +that were so full of each other. + +"Ah!" Leila cried, enraptured, at last, "if only we could live here +always!" And she closed her eyes. Massimo was silent. It would be a +dream of delight indeed. But did Leila realise what it meant to live at +Dasio? He concluded it would be wiser not to answer, but his silence +made the young girl wonder. + +"No?" said she, and smiled. + +"Yes," he made answer, "but it would be well to try it first--to try +living here for a few days first." + +She stared at him. Her longing glance said: "Can I live here with you +for a few days now?" Feeling that perhaps he had spoken imprudently, he +took advantage of the fine rain that was beginning to fall to suggest +that they should go on again. + +Thoughts of the future, called forth by Leila's words as to their +living together at Dasio, had roused them to a sense of reality. They +were silent, each trying to escape from the delirious present and to +deal calmly with the problem of the future. An impulse of true love had +brought her here. She had taken no thought for the morrow. To be sure +Massimo had said "For ever!" and had called her "wife!" but what then? +She would not have allowed thought of the morrow to trouble her had she +not seen that it was troubling him. She would have taken up her abode +at Dasio without hesitation. She was quite indifferent to what people +might say, but her anxiety was to do or say nothing of which he might +disapprove. She gazed into his face, seeking anxiously to read his +thoughts. He was silently struggling against this ecstasy of happiness, +struggling to be a man and not a headstrong youth, that he might wisely +and firmly control, not only his own actions but also those of the +woman who was to become his wife. Now the fever of joy would prevail, +and he would look at Leila, this incredible reality, in a way that made +her smile; now his manly resolution would assert itself and cast a +shadow across his brow. + +"And Donna Fedele!" he cried suddenly. "What do you suppose she thinks?" + +Leila could imagine easily enough what she thought. "There is only one +person in the world capable of such madness!" Leila did not wish to say +this, however, and stooped to read an inscription carved upon a stone +in a low wall facing the path. + + +To GIUSEPPINA LORIO + + _Who perished here by the hand of an assassin._ + +Leila shuddered as she pictured to herself a tragedy of passion, a +heart as fiery as her own pierced by steel or lead. + +"I would not be murdered," she said; "but to die now, suddenly, would +be joy indeed!" + +Massimo spoke no word, but he looked reprovingly at her. + +"No, no!" Leila murmured. "I wish to live, to live, to live!" + +They entered the village, and for his sake she became more cautious +even than he was, not even turning to look at him until they had +reached the threshold of the hotel, when she flung him a burning +glance. Massimo asked the proprietress to show the Signorina, who +was going to stay a few hours, to a room and take her orders for +luncheon, which she would take in her own room. While he was speaking, +a messenger from San Mamette arrived with Donna Fedele's telegram. He +read it and put it in his pocket without comment, and said goodbye to +Leila, saying that he must pay some visits at Puria; but before going +he went to his room to write a few lines to Donna Fedele. + + +"DEAR MOTHER FEDELE,--Leila is here. Perhaps I did not deserve that you +should remind me of my duty as a gentleman. I beg you to ask Signor da +Camin for his daughter's hand on my behalf. + + "Your + "MASSIMO." + + +He gave the letter to the messenger and hastened away to Puria. + +Meanwhile the proprietress had been singing Massimo's praises to Leila, +hoping thus to pave the way to further exploration. She spoke of his +kindness, of his skill, and of her own hope that he might be appointed +parish doctor to the Valley. + +"Perhaps you are a relative of his?" she ventured at last. + +Instead of answering, Leila asked for writing materials. + +Massimo did not return from Puria until two hours later. He had gone +there in feverish haste, but had walked home slowly, and without even +remembering to glance at the friendly peak of dolomite. He felt as if +his reason must weaken, such was the tumult of thoughts and sentiments +within him. He had asked for the hand of an heiress without thought for +her wealth, but he might easily be suspected of having enticed Leila to +Valsolda in order to oblige her father to consent to a union between +them. He was so appalled by this reflection that he asked himself +whether it would not be better to sacrifice his happiness rather than +submit to such a suspicion. Now he determined to speak to Leila of +this matter, now he was terrified by the thought that perhaps, in the +ardour of her passion, she would fail to understand him, and doubting +the strength of his devotion, reproach him for being unable to face +the comment of the world as she herself had done. Torn by this fear, +he wrung his hands, at the same time seeking to convince himself that +it was vain, that this horrible suspicion would come to no one, and +that, should it do so, Leila would know how to banish it. On reaching +the hotel once more he was wet with perspiration, but as pale as +death. Learning that Leila had not come down, he went to his own room, +and almost immediately word was brought him that the Signorina was +in the garden, and had asked for him. He forgot his gloomy thoughts, +and joined Leila where she was sitting on the wall at the foot of the +garden, near the fir-tree and a small fountain. In her hand she held +a letter, and rose on catching sight of him. She told him that she had +lunched in her room and had then done some writing. Massimo held out +his hand, believing the letter must be for him, written to tell him of +that which Leila had declared herself unable to utter, the story of the +change that had taken place within her. Before giving him the letter +she showed him the address: "Signor Girolamo da Camin, Velo d'Astico +(Vicenza)." Massimo withdrew his hand. + +"No," said she; "you are to read it, only please do not do so in my +presence. You have not lunched? Then read it while you are lunching. I +am going to rest for a little while." + +Massimo escorted the young girl as far as the door. She seemed to have +read his thoughts, and to have noted some slight reserve in his manner. +At the moment of leaving him she fixed her glance upon him. The fine, +slightly bewildered eyes seemed to grow larger, as her lips murmured: + +"Do you love me?" + +"Now and for ever!" said he. + +Massimo went to his room and read as follows: + + +"TO MY FATHER. + + +"What I have done and what I propose to do will seem very strange to +you. I ask you to grant me immediately that liberty which I shall +acquire by law in the course of a few months. I cannot tell you as yet +how I shall use it, but this I can and do tell you, that of the income +that is mine I shall demand only enough to live here modestly and +alone. I shall not inquire how you dispose of the rest. For the present +I need nothing. Later on I will write again. + + "Greetings, + "LEILA." + + +"P.S.--Should circumstances make it necessary for a few days, I shall +accept the hospitality of Donna Fedele Vayla di Brea, this being a more +suitable arrangement." + +A flood of love and joy swelled his heart, and he drew a long breath +of happiness and relief. She must take nothing, absolutely nothing, +from her father! How much more he felt that she was his very own now, +without her wealth! How he longed to press her to his heart! But she +must re-write the letter at once and say she would neither demand nor +accept anything from her father. He could not possibly postpone telling +her of his joy and of the firm decision at which he had arrived, and +started to go downstairs to her. Before reaching the bottom of the +stairs, however, he had had time to reflect. It would not be fitting +for him to see her in her room, and so he went to the garden to wait +for her. It had begun to rain lightly again, but, regardless of this, +Massimo sat down on the wall where she had sat before. It suddenly +struck him that in her letter Leila had purposely refrained from +mentioning him, nor had she dated her note, whereas he had revealed +everything through the mission he had confided to Donna Fedele. It +might be necessary to send her a telegram, asking her to suspend her +action. Or would it not rather be better for Leila to tell her father +openly how matters stood? + +She did not come to him, and growing impatient, Massimo began walking +up and down the garden. Leila appeared at a window, saw him, and +suddenly disappeared again. Massimo could not resist going to meet her +on the stairs. He knew there was no one in that wing of the house, a +Milanese family who had arrived over night having been out on the hills +since dawn. + +"I am happy!" he cried. + +She fell upon his breast, clasped her hands behind his neck, and +whispered: + +"Was the letter right?" + +They went out to the shelter of the fir-tree, he speaking eagerly, +but in an undertone, she silent and happy, drinking in his passionate +words. The girl said at last that she did not wish to be a burden to +him, but that she was glad to give way to him, and that, as he wished +it, she would write another letter, saying that she relinquished all +right to the income. Upon hearing of Massimo's letter to Donna Fedele, +she told him about the journey to Turin, and he heard the sad truth +for the first time. But even Leila had no idea that to postpone the +operation even for a few days might prove fatal to the invalid. + +Surprised and deeply grieved, he complained of not having known of all +this in time to offer to accompany Donna Fedele to Turin. Leila glanced +at him. She feared lest her thought, put into words, might sound like +selfishness, but her eyes said plainly: "Do you not see that in that +case we should not be here together?" He understood, and smiled in +recognition. A common feeling of unworthiness kept them from returning +to the subject, and moreover, it was time for Leila to re-write her +letter. + +While she was writing in her own room, and Massimo was lunching, the +Milanese family returned. They were dishevelled, wet, tired, and laden +with mountain flowers, cyclamen, aconite blossoms, ferns, mushrooms, +strawberries, goat-cheeses and empty bottles. There was no further +hope of silence and quiet conversation in the garden. When Leila came +downstairs with her letter Massimo immediately proposed that they +should start on her way back. + +He looked at his watch. It was nearly three o'clock. + +"We will spend four hours going down," said he. + +They started amid wind and sunshine. A strong breeze had sprung up, and +changed the face of earth and sky. The blue was breaking through in all +directions. The pasture-lands of Rancò, the chestnut-groves of Drano, +the sharp and naked summits--everything sparkled. They left the Puria +road at the point where the girl from the hotel had talked with Leila, +and went along the narrow country path that lost itself in the soft +bosom of a broad valley where the waters of Passo Stretto sang as they +swung merrily southward. The path appeared again suddenly, following +the waters, rising beside them to the little stone bridge that spans +them by a bold spring upwards from the lower bank to the higher, at a +point where boulders pressed hard upon the rebellious stream. Before +reaching this rustic bridge, which seemed more a part of Nature's work +than of man's, the path ran close to a cavern, large enough to shelter +two or three persons. The cavern faced north and commanded a view of +the slopes of Dasio, of the Passo Stretto, and of the amphitheatre of +rocks that dominated the whole. Massimo and Leila sat down here to rest. + +"And which is the dolomitic peak?" she asked. + +Massimo stared at her in amazement. What did she know of the dolomitic +peak? She bent her head and remained silent. He took one of her +hands between his own, and repeated his question more anxiously and +pressingly. What did she know of it? + +"I should like to answer you with Schumann's melody, and put my whole +soul into it," said she, softly, but without raising her head. + +Massimo knew now that Donna Fedele had spoken, and he silently pressed +the dear imprisoned hand that quivered in his as memory brought back +the "Aveu" to both minds. + +"Show me the peak," said Leila. + +He pointed it out above the crest of the opposite range. It was a +small tooth leaning against the sky, and biting into it just below the +summit, towards the east. + +"I thought it was that one," said she, "but the effect is different +from the Montanina drawing-room." + +"Did you look for it there?" Massimo asked, for the sake of the sweet +answer he expected. But he did not wait for the answer after all, but +inquired how Donna Fedele had come to repeat his words about the peak. +Again Leila bent her head low. + +"I read them all," said she. + +"All my letters?" + +"Yes, all, I think." + +Then he realised that she must be aware of the bitter judgment he had +passed upon her. + +"And still you came?" + +"Had I not read, I should not have come." + +Massimo was still clasping the dear little hand, and he continued to +stroke it in silence, as if seeking to free it from an affront it had +suffered. + +"I read the last one," said Leila, "up among the rhododendrons of +Priaforà. It was then I came to a decision, and laid my plans." + +She smiled as she thought of Siora Bettina, and Massimo had little +trouble in drawing from her the story of her flight. Half angrily, half +gaily she told of the Velo priests and Signora Fantuzzo's manœuvrings, +confessed her own hypocrisy, and made even Massimo laugh by her +description of the journey from Arsiero to Vicenza. But never once did +she mention her father. As Massimo held her hand, he pulled gently at +the ring she wore. She took it off and offered it to him with a sad +and earnest glance. The young man read the words "To Leila." Then he +remembered that his poor friend Andrea had told him of the dispute he +had had with his fiancée about this very name. In silence he placed the +ring upon her finger once more, and, still in silence, released her +hand. + +"I was naughty," she said softly, "and he was so good!" + +Again Massimo sought Leila's hand. + +"At the time of his death Andrea's father wished me to take his son's +place," said he. "Andrea himself must have put this desire into his +father's heart. We will never forget him, dear, will we? Never until +death! Would you like me to call you Leila in memory of him?" + +"Yes, yes!" she cried, deeply moved. Both in turn pressed the ring to +their lips. + +"He used to talk to me about you very often," said Leila. Massimo made +no answer. Together they rose as by a tacit understanding, and crossing +the bridge, followed the rapidly rising path, which now followed the +curving bank, now forced its way into narrow, shady gorges, through +which flowed tinkling rivulets. Leila was the first to break the +silence. + +"I fear I am too wicked, too strange to make you happy." + +Massimo smiled. + +"Leila may have been both wicked and strange," said he, "but Leila is +not." + +Walking by his side, she took his hand and said softly: + +"Yes, henceforward I will always be Leila. What do you wish Leila to be +like?" + +"I wish her to be more gentle than I am, and her only peculiarity must +be that she can love a poor, struggling doctor, who offers her nothing +but a life of hardship," said Massimo. + +Leila clasped his arm passionately, as she reproached him. + +"Leave that kind of thing for others to say," said she. + +But hardly had she uttered the words than she blushed and begged him to +forgive her. + +"We shall stay here, shall we not?" + +Massimo explained that, as yet, he could not be sure of this. He had +come to Valsolda intending to apply for the post of parish doctor, +but had abandoned the idea because the appointment appeared to have +been practically offered to some one else. But this other man had +now withdrawn, and there was some hope for Massimo himself. He had +therefore decided to apply. If he failed to be appointed he could not +remain here. In that case he must try somewhere else. + +"To-morrow," said he, "I am going to call on all the mayors." + +"To-morrow!" Leila cried in dismay. "Shall I not see you to-morrow, +then?" + +"Perhaps you may, and perhaps not. But Leila must realise that we +cannot be together as we have been to-day until the answers from Velo +d'Astico arrive." + +The girl was troubled, and murmured that she feared she was not yet +entirely Leila. Massimo did not seem to understand, and begged her to +repeat her words. + +"Perhaps I don't understand very well," she said. "But I will obey. I +will do everything you wish." + +She would have liked to follow all the paths that led upwards, that +they might never reach San Mamette. When, near the washing-place +at Drano, they came out upon the paved way leading to the lofty +grazing-lands of Rancò, she wished to explore the woods a few yards +farther on. Everything here suggested an excuse for lingering--the +gigantic boulders, looming out of the deep shadow, a group of slender +locusts, lost amidst the chestnuts and walnut-trees, a huge and +venerable chestnut, the patriarch of the grove, a blue line of distant +and sun-flooded lake, showing amidst the branches, and at last, where +the path climbed upwards into the open, the walls of rock above Dasio, +rising bare and mighty, and the slender dolomitic peak, slanting +against the sky. She was evidently very tired, but she would gladly +have mounted farther still. This, however, Massimo refused to allow. + +"Leila obeys," said she. + +Although ready enough to climb upwards, she wished to rest at every +step when they were descending, at which they both laughed. Below Drano +Leila stopped to listen to the murmuring of water, hidden beneath the +spot where she stood. + +"I should like to know whether it is laughing or crying," said she. +"You probably think it is laughing at me, but I believe it is weeping +because we shall reach San Mamette so soon." + +She inquired if they would pass the waterfall she had seen in the +morning, and on learning that they would not, glanced at Massimo, +laughing and blushing, but without uttering her wish. It was but +slightly out of the way, however, and Massimo yielded to her desire to +go that way. + +There in the shadowy ravine, enclosed between steep and wooded banks, +and cut off at one end by a wall of rock, they passed the last hour of +this memorable day, seated hand-in-hand upon a grassy mound opposite +the silver stream of falling water. + +"All this is like Schubert's music of 'Der Müller und der Bach,'" said +Massimo at last. "Oh for a summer of love here alone, always alone!" + +Leila looked at him without speaking, so ardently that Massimo's head +swam. + +"I have an idea," said Leila. "I should like to find a pool of water in +which I could see to put my hair tidy." + +They followed the stream downwards to a spot where it spread +peacefully, forming a quiet mirror. From the bridge they had noticed +this sheet of water reflecting the cascade. With a smile Leila begged +Massimo to go away. He demurred somewhat, but finally obeyed, and +loitered along the Puria path. But presently a silvery laugh called him +back. Seated upon the bank, she had let down her magnificent fair hair, +where the sun and shadow played together. She had lost the tiny ribbon +with which she was in the habit of binding her tresses, and finding +it impossible to manage the golden mass, was laughing at her own +carelessness and awkward plight. In her lap lay two shell combs, and +she was trying, with both hands, to form the heavy wave of hair into +a knot at her neck. She looked more lovely than ever, and might well +have been the naiad of the waterfall. Massimo stood gazing at her, lost +in admiration, and she laughingly begged him to turn round, for she +could not possibly manage her hair while he watched her thus. But he +was unable to take his eyes from her golden head. Yes, she might indeed +have been the naiad of the spot, the fair-haired queen of this little +kingdom of rocks, of water, and of forest. + +"Stay as you are!" said he at last. + +"Yes, indeed!" cried the girl. "And pray what would people think of +you, seeing you with a wild creature like this?" + +She decided to plait her hair in two braids, and to let them hang over +her shoulders. Then she sprang lightly to her feet. + +"Will that do?" she inquired, turning her laughing face towards Massimo. + +"It is a poem!" said he. + +"This Valsolda is a poem indeed," Leila murmured. "Do you think you +will be nothing but a doctor here?" + +"What else should I be, dear?" + +She could not tell, but it seemed to her that he was not the man to be +satisfied only with paying medical visits to the peasants. + +"I have no faith left," said he. He meant that he had no faith +in himself, but Leila, recalling his letters, placed a different +interpretation upon his words. + +"Neither have I," said she. "And I am so glad you no longer share the +faith of those Velo priests!" + +"Oh, my dear!" cried Massimo, interrupting her. "What was poor Signor +Marcello's faith, and Donna Fedele's and my own mother's? I am losing +it, have lost it already indeed, but I would not have Leila lose it. +However, I was not speaking of religious faith. I meant faith in +myself." + +"I have so much faith in you." + +Massimo smiled. She cast a rapid glance around her, and seeing no one, +bent forward to kiss him. + + * * * * * + +It was time to start for San Mamette in earnest. They went slowly +downwards, speaking little, and bearing themselves with prudent +dignity. On reaching the parish church brooding over the roofs of the +village, beneath a mighty crag, they paused in front of it. Massimo had +decided to leave Leila here and go up to Muzzaglio to see his patient +once more. Leaning against the parapet encircling the church place, +they made the final arrangements for the morrow. Massimo would not come +to San Mamette, nor would he meet her elsewhere, but he would send her +a letter towards evening after his visits to the mayors. + +"A long letter, please," she begged, and promised to write one herself, +which Massimo's messenger would carry back to him. She took the bunch +of cyclamen from her bosom, pressed it to her lips, and then offered +it to Massimo. Some one was coming up the steps connecting the church +place with the village. Massimo kissed the cyclamen again, and then +quickly disappeared up the steep path. + + + V + +Shortly after nine o'clock Leila left the hotel and climbed to the +church place to find the exact spot where Massimo had taken leave of +her. Here her intense longing seemed to find relief. On returning to +the hotel she remained at her window until nearly midnight, watching +the fantastic flashing of the revolving light, as it leaped from +lake to stream, from bank to bank, through the misty atmosphere, and +watching the signals glowing on Monte Bisgnago, against the dark sky. + +Dreams--dreams--all was a dream! All was night and flames, within her +and around her. + + + + + CHAPTER XVII + THE WHITE LADY OF THE ROSES + + +Leila rose from her bed before dawn, and, without waiting to dress, sat +down at her table and wrote as follows: + + +"The night is still dark; I am very tired, but, nevertheless, I find +it impossible to stay in bed. I have been feeling as if you were going +away from me. I must talk to you. Last night, between nine and ten, +I went up to the church place once more, to the place where we said +goodbye. In memory I went over all the paths we had travelled along +during the day, especially the one in the wood, where we went soon +after our meeting. I should like to go there now if I could. I believe +I should be able to find the exact place, the very tree near which we +passed, and from which I pulled a leaf on our return. I am covering +that leaf with kisses now. Ah, I am still Leila, Leila, Leila! But I +promise you to become Leila! Please love Leila also! + +"Now I am going to write what I should never have the courage to say. +Perhaps, at the bottom of your heart, you despise me because I have +come to you thus, like a mad creature. You will despise me still more +when you learn that I came without intending to ask anything of you, +because I feel I have no right to do so, because whatsoever you may +do for me, for my honour, for my life, for my love, will be simply a +noble gift. My love for you is no sudden thing. I loved you even before +I knew you, before you came to the Montanina. The night you arrived +I listened with a beating heart to the whistle of your train. Then I +rebelled against love. Why? From pride. The more I loved you the more +unkind and haughty did my attitude towards you become. This is the +truth. I deserved all the bitter thoughts you harboured against me. I +came here to tell you this, and also to place myself in your hands. +And, after all, I told you only of my love, but ah! I had no need to +tell you more. + +"I feared you would cast me off as unworthy. I should have said, 'It +is what I deserve!' I should not have taken my life, for I have given +my word not to do that. I should not have entered a convent, for I +have lost my faith. I should have arranged, in some way, to live near +you, seeing you sometimes without being seen. But you were kind and +generous. You took pity on one who has been both proud and sinful. Your +lips have pronounced absolution, for you have said, _for ever!_--you +have said, _my wife!_ The memory of this will be a never-ending joy to +me! But your gentleness terrifies me. I tremble lest I may cause you +unhappiness, lest I be unable to maintain what I promise, lest I fail +to become Leila. I tremble because of the evil blood that flows in my +veins. Had I not possessed this evil blood I could not have deceived my +father, my devoted maid, and that poor creature who accompanied me to +Vicenza, deceived them by acting a part, with perfect naturalness and +without remorse. + +"But still, still ... still, when I reflect that you are going to +make me yours for ever, I feel that no worshipper has ever served and +adored his God as I shall serve and adore you. I have written that I +have lost my faith. I am a creature of passion rather than of reason. +I cannot analyse my religious sentiments clearly for you. As long as +I could I clung to the religion of my convent school. You may perhaps +recall my aversion to innovation in religion, to destructive yet not +reconstructive ideas. As long as I could I accepted the religion of the +archpriest and of the chaplain of Velo. Even Signor Marcello's religion +and Donna Fedele's did not seem entirely pure to me. They spoke of the +gospel as if they had a right to interpret it, and I knew well enough +that no layman had such a right. I said to myself, 'The whole, or +nothing.' As long as I could I accepted everything, and then, when I +came to know really well some of those who represent that whole, and +to see them intriguing together--the archpriest, the chaplain, the +archpriest's sister-in-law, my own father, and a certain friend of his +called Molesin--I could stand it no longer, and I said, 'It shall be +nothing.' + +"But this nothing does not satisfy me, and I turn to you, rejoicing +that you are freed from your old beliefs, from your ideas of a +renovated Catholicism. I ask you to give me a God whom I can worship +in the forests of Dasio, in the gorge where the waterfall murmurs, +upon the lake, and in the bridal chamber, a God who shall not force +official mediators upon me; a God who shall ask me for love only, and +forbid me only to hate; a God who will not torment my intelligence +with incomprehensible dogmas, nor annoy me with tedious practices, nor +expect to delight me with a paradise and terrify me with a hell. + +"Shall I see you to-morrow? Did my window overlook the street, I think +I should stand by it all day long, hoping! But my room overlooks the +courtyard. Shall I be doing wrong if I start from San Mamette this +afternoon at three o'clock, and go and sit on the grass, opposite the +waterfall? Shall I be doing wrong if I linger near a half-ruined +chapel, where the path begins to descend, and where a view of the whole +valley, the rocks of Dasio, and the dolomitic peak suddenly breaks into +sight? Would there be any harm in your passing that spot on your way to +visit your mayors? + +"Perhaps Leila should not write these things. + + "POOR LEILA." + + +Returning to bed, she slept the deep sleep of fatigue and youth until +the sun was high. She could not wait for Alberti's messenger and sent +the boy who had been her guide to Dasio with the letter. + +She did not leave her room again until two o'clock, and spent the time +in gazing upon the hills, the lake, the clouds, the play of light and +shadow, and in dreaming and writing. She wrote to Donna Fedele, telling +of her joy at being loved and forgiven, craving pardon once more for +having left without informing her friend of her intention, telling of +the letter she had written to her father, and begging for news of the +invalid's condition. She directed her letter to the hospital in Turin, +fearing it would not find Donna Fedele at Arsiero. At two she went out +to buy some stamps, and on the threshold met a messenger who was the +bearer of a letter from Massimo. He wrote: + +"Yesterday was such a dream, Leila, that your letter of this morning +was welcome to me if only as a proof of the reality of those heavenly +hours. And last night, on my way to Muzzaglio, I saw once more, and in +reality, the wood where, in less than an instant, we blotted out all +the bitterness, all the pain of the past. I did not pluck a leaf, but I +lingered there, for the delight of the memory was overpowering. In that +precious instant you were still Leila to me. Please never again speak +unkindly of Leila; it hurts me. Do not speak of kindness on my part, +much less of noble actions. Do not use the word 'pity' in connection +with the sentiment which you aroused in me when we first met, and +against which I also struggled at its birth. Never again utter that +horrible thought--which you have never really believed--that I could +despise a woman capable of such a miracle of love and humility. And, on +my part, I will not ask you to forgive me for my harsh early judgment +of you. I will tell you only that my love for Leila now fills and stirs +my soul like an eternal melody. + +"Dearest, we will seek a faith together. I remember your aversion to +my Master and to my ideals at the time, though I thought then that you +probably spoke in ignorance and only because you disliked me so. Now +I understand better. But--forgive me--I still feel that if you knew +those first ideals of mine you would see that, in themselves, they were +no barrier to a religion such as you desire and long for, a religion +of the open fields and watercourses, a religion of love and freedom +from ritual. From my letters to Donna Fedele you have learned what +is my present attitude towards dogmatic beliefs and of the grief the +overthrow of these has caused me. Only yesterday did I cease to dwell +upon this sorrow, and I would not think of it to-day, nor to-morrow, +nor for all the time that I might have your love, were it not for a +fast approaching event to which I cannot even allude without a feeling +of deep emotion and sadness. One who is dead has come forth from his +grave, and is drawing near me, is seeking for me. He is my Master, the +man I have loved best in this world, the man whose wonderful faith +embraced all sinners. His body is to be brought here the day after +to-morrow in the evening. I have this morning had a telegram to tell +me. I must go to meet him. Dearest Leila, you and I will indeed seek +for a faith together, but the thought of this meeting has paralysed me, +I cannot tell you how my mind is torn. + +"It will not be possible for me to meet you as you have arranged. I +must be at Cima at half-past two to see the mayor. Please start from +San Mamette at that hour, and get some one to accompany you to the +Sanctuary of Caravina. When you have passed the village of Cressogno, +dismiss your guide. You cannot miss the way, for the sanctuary stands +alone. Should we not have met before, wait for me at the church. We +will proceed to Cima together, and you can return thence by boat to San +Mamette, while I go up to Dasio alone. Leila, my own! + + "M." + + +A whistle! A steamer arriving from Oria. Leila had forgotten to wind up +her watch. She consulted a time-table that had been placed in her room, +and concluded it must be nearly half-past two. She sent for the boy who +had accompanied her before, and they immediately started out, walking +rapidly, and in half an hour's time she found herself at the farther +extremity of Cressogno, in sight of Caravina. Here she dismissed her +guide and went on alone. + +She had brought Massimo's letter with her, and now read it through once +more, as she sauntered slowly along the pleasant level path beneath the +olives and among the vineyards of the sunny hillside, sloping gently +downward to the lake. At about a hundred paces from the cypresses that +faced the sanctuary she raised her eyes, and her face beamed. Massimo +was coming towards her. + +For a time they were silent, partly from emotion, partly for another +reason. Each felt that the other was thinking of a shadow cast by a +dead man, and a diffidence constrained them both. + +"You are sad," Leila said at last softly. "Can I do anything to comfort +you?" + +"Dearest," he began impulsively, as if he had been waiting only for a +word from her to pour out his heart, "there were several things in my +letter that do not in the least express my true feelings. I felt this +somewhat while writing, but still more strongly after the letter had +left me. As long as I possess your love I shall never feel contempt for +any one. I shall feel nothing but pity for those to whom such a love is +denied." + +Leila did not speak, but gazed upon him with tender eyes. Presently +she ventured to inquire timidly about the dead friend. She remembered +that one evening after dinner, at the Montanina, she had asked where +Benedetto was buried, and that Massimo had answered, "At Campo Verano, +for the time being." + +Massimo now told her everything, but without touching upon the mental +trouble he had referred to in his letter. Leila approached it gently. +She repeated her question softly: + +"Can I do anything to comfort you?" + +As Massimo made no answer, she added: + +"I can see how much you still love your Master." + +"Yes," said Massimo, "I love him still." + +He spoke excitedly and as if there were further words to follow. At +that moment a cloud cast a rapid shadow over olives and vineyards, over +the path, and a long, pale-green strip of slumbering lake along the +shore. Massimo paused. Leila, convinced that he was about to speak, +gazed anxiously at him as she waited. He did indeed wish to speak, and +was struggling to find his way amid the tumult of thoughts and feelings +that were warring within him. The words seemed so close to his lips and +then they sank back again. He was so fully conscious of this that he +never doubted she would not understand him when he cried sadly at last: + +"I cannot!" + +He stepped away from the olive-tree against which he had been leaning, +and begged Leila to go on, for the sky looked threatening over towards +Lugano, and a suspicious mist hung over Caprino and San Salvatore. +She obeyed sadly. She was pained that he should not have relieved his +feelings, and also because she vaguely realised her own powerlessness. +Massimo, feeling that he had grieved her, took her arm, and began +stroking her hand tenderly. She laid her right hand upon her left, that +both might share in his caresses, and so, in silence, they advanced +towards Cima. In the village they heard an old piano quavering: _Sola, +furtiva al tempio...._ + +Massimo paused, and stood listening. + +"The prelude to love!" said he. Leila glanced at him in astonishment. +What could he mean? On learning that Massimo had been greatly moved +by that melody, which he had heard on the night of his arrival at the +Montanina, while the whole house slept, she blushed and smiled. + +"It was not I who was playing," she said. + +"Not you?" + +"No; it was Signor Marcello." + +She had flushed hotly, fearing he would be disappointed, and his face +did indeed show some slight disappointment. But he saw at once her +distressed look, and laughed heartily at his own mistake. She joined in +so readily, that he began to suspect she had been jesting, and begged +her to tell him the truth. + +"It _was_ you who was playing!" he cried. + +"Yes, yes!" said she, flinging up her head and smiling, as was her wont +at happy moments. "Yes, I was playing!" + +Massimo did not know whether to believe her or not, and both laughed +in turn, without further discussion, until the noise of distant wheels +told them that the steamer had left Porlezza, and was nearing Cima. +Now there was a little tussle. Massimo, half serious, half in jest, +proposed that they should not meet on the morrow. They might expect +an answer from Leila's father or from Donna Fedele by Monday. Leila +protested. No matter what the answer might be, it could not change +anything, and on Monday, answer or no answer, she was going with him +to meet Benedetto's body. It was decided at last that early on the +following morning he would send her a letter containing the plans for +the day. + +Once on board the boat, she took up her position near the stern, and +remained gazing at Massimo, who was standing on the landing-stage, as +long as she could see him. + + + II + +At six o'clock she dined in her own room, and then sat down to write to +Massimo. Towards seven she heard the whistle of the steamer from Oria, +and went to the window to see it pass, returning afterwards to her +writing. Suddenly there was a knock at her door. It was the housemaid. +Two ladies had arrived by the boat, and were asking for the Signorina. +Leila inquired their names. The girl did not know. What were they like, +then? They were both elderly; one was short and the other tall. The +tall one had white hair, and appeared to be very ill. Leila sprang to +her feet. Donna Fedele! Was it possible? Bewildered and in silence she +stared at the girl, who went on to say that she had heard the lady with +the white hair inquire of the proprietor if Dr. Alberti were also at +the hotel. No further doubt was possible. At a bound Leila reached the +door, thrust the girl aside, and flew down the stairs. + +In the narrow entrance-hall she saw Donna Fedele sitting, while Cousin +Eufemia stood near, talking with the proprietor. + +"You?" she cried, and would have flung herself into her friend's arms +had not the old cousin restrained her. + +"The poor Signora," said the proprietor, who was holding a tray with a +small glass of Marsala, "is greatly fatigued." + +Donna Fedele, whose face was as colourless as her hair, forced a sweet +smile, while her beautiful voice said painfully: + +"This is a surprise, is it not? Are you quite well, and did you have a +pleasant journey?" + +Leila could not keep back her tears. + +"Tut, tut!" said Donna Fedele. "What in the world are you crying about? +Are you sorry to see me here?" + +"Poor Signorina!" said the sympathetic proprietor; "it is only because +she is so delighted." He was sure there was some mystery, but he did +not know what it was. + +Meanwhile Cousin Eufemia was trying to persuade the invalid to taste +the Marsala. Donna Fedele had almost fainted on entering the hotel. +They had hastened to place her upon a chair, and some minutes had +elapsed before she was able to ask the proprietor if a young lady, +travelling alone, were stopping in his house, and if Dr. Alberti were +there also. + +The Marsala restored her somewhat, and Leila also succeeded in calming +herself. She arranged that the invalid should have her room, which was +the best double-room that was available, and that she should have a +small one next to it. + +Donna Fedele now declared that she felt strong enough to mount the +stairs and go to bed, adding, with a touch of her old love of teasing, +that her companion, having excited the admiration and curiosity of the +natives, was now at liberty to go for a walk and show herself. + +"Nonsense, nonsense!" laughed the delighted Eufemia. "The Lord and Our +Lady be praised, you are better again!" + +With difficulty, leaning upon Leila's arm and pausing at every step, +Donna Fedele reached the top at last, and entered her room, where Leila +and Cousin Eufemia hastened to get her into bed. + +As she helped to undress her friend Leila was horrified by her +emaciation, and by the signs of illness. She said nothing in Cousin +Eufemia's presence, but as soon as the little old woman had gone out of +the room, Leila flung herself upon her knees, and seizing the hand that +hung beside the bed, kissed it passionately. + +"What have you done, child?" said Donna Fedele. + +She did not understand that the young girl was shedding tears of +compassion for her, for the sublime and single-hearted woman whom +she had wronged, and who had come to her, sick and fainting, as the +tenderest of mothers might have come; while she herself, absorbed +in her love, had given so little thought to her and to her terrible +sufferings. Leila sobbed out: + +"I am happy, dear friend--so happy! I did wrong not to tell you, but I +did right in coming here." + +"You did right?" + +"Yes. He loves me--he is going to marry me. He is so noble, so good! We +had written to you all about it." + +"'He is going to marry me'!" Donna Fedele repeated. "I should think so +after what has happened!" + +Leila, still on her knees, raised her head. + +"Why?" said she. "It is not his duty for him to marry me." + +Donna Fedele silently withdrew her hand from Leila's clasp, and placing +it upon her head, said softly: + +"Who knows what strange ideas of duty this little head may contain!" + +It was dark in the room, and Donna Fedele could not see the sudden +flame in Leila's eyes, but she heard it in her voice and in her excited +utterance. + +"Why should it be his duty? It was I who came to him. He loves me, but +at the same time something brotherly in his affection would protect me +even against myself, if that were necessary." + +Donna Fedele smiled and stroked the young girl's hair tenderly. + +"It is necessary--very necessary," said she. + +Leila took the hand that had been caressing her hair, and pressing her +face upon it, murmured: + +"Perhaps it is." + +"For shame, for shame!" her friend cried. + +While Donna Fedele, who had withdrawn her hand, was thus chiding +the kneeling girl, patting her head somewhat sharply the while, the +searchlight flashed through the room, and they heard a scream from +Cousin Eufemia. Even Donna Fedele had been startled. Her terrified +cousin came bustling in to close the windows, exclaiming: "Oh, poor +me! What an awful thunderstorm we are going to have!" and Leila had to +explain where the light came from before she went away, soothed. Donna +Fedele now wanted every detail of Leila's life during the past three +days. The girl gave a colourless account of her doings, and then asked +permission to inform Massimo at once of their friend's arrival. Donna +Fedele herself desired this, but protested that she would not see him +until the morrow. Leila went into the next room and wrote a few hurried +lines, telling Massimo also how ill Donna Fedele was, and then begged +the hotel proprietor to have the note carried to Dasio immediately. + +Cousin Eufemia, who, in spite of her fatigue, was fully determined not +to go to bed until all her preparations for the night were completed, +and a supply of broth, mineral water, and Marsala placed in the +invalid's room, took Leila aside and implored her, with tears in her +eyes, to arrange so that, should it prove necessary, a physician might +be sent for. She trembled for Fedele, who, by this time, ought to have +been in the Turin hospital. + +"She thinks she will die," said Eufemia. "She went to confession and +received Communion the day before yesterday, and yesterday she sent for +her confessor again. If we could only get off to Turin to-morrow! But I +am sure she will not wish to go." + +Leila, frightened and distressed, went to inquire about the doctor. The +physician who was on duty for the time being lived at Cadate, not ten +minutes' walk from San Mamette. Leila insisted upon relieving poor old +Eufemia, and sitting up with the invalid at least part of the night. +But Eufemia would not agree to this. + +"I must sit on a chair," said she, "for if I lie down, even in my +clothes, I shall go fast asleep at once. With my rosary, and my mind +fixed on Our Blessed Lady of Consolation, I shall be better off than in +bed." + +Leila was obliged to give way. She sent word to the proprietor that +the person to whom she had sent the note might perhaps come, some time +before midnight, to inquire for the invalid. She did not go to bed, but +often went to listen at her friend's door. Once she heard Donna Fedele +ordering her cousin to lie down. Eufemia resisted for a time, but +Fedele raised her voice, and the old woman was obliged to obey, having +first stipulated that she would not undress. Again Donna Fedele made a +request in a low tone, and Cousin Eufemia began reciting the rosary. +The young girl brought a chair and sat down by the door, determined +to spend the night there, prepared to enter the room should it be +necessary. + +She was sure that Alberti would start as soon as he received her +note, and was therefore not surprised when he arrived towards +half-past eleven. Hearing voices at the door of the hotel, Leila went +downstairs. Massimo was very troubled, and was still more distressed +by the account of the invalid. They discussed the advisability of his +seeing Donna Fedele at once, should she be awake. Leila did not think +it wise, and so he went to the room he had ordered for himself, begging +Leila to call him immediately in case of need, and to send for the +Cadate doctor as well. + +Leila was alone in the dark corridor, while the entire household slept. +Yesterday there had been light in her heart, and to-day there was +shadow. For her sake, entirely for her sake, Donna Fedele lay there +suffering, perhaps dying. She felt almost as if she now loved Massimo +less, and she wept silently, biting her lip that she might not sob +aloud. A small voice did indeed whisper to her that Donna Fedele had +not been obliged to come, that it had not been necessary, and that she +would have done better to go to Turin. Leila would have listened to +this voice willingly enough, had her motherly friend come to her in +good health, and with reproaches on her lips. But she had come in so +pitiful a plight, so kindly, and with such tenderness in her words and +upon her face! And to whom did she owe her happiness if not to this +friend, who had paved the way to it? + +Towards two o'clock she feared she would fall asleep, and rising +softly, went to her room and stood by the open window that the cool air +might banish her drowsiness. She saw a light shining beyond another +open window. Perhaps Massimo was lying awake in that room. She withdrew +from the window, for she shrank from seeing him and being seen by him +at that moment. She listened to the whisperings of the night, the +gentle lap of the placid lake, the leap of a fish, the hooting of an +owl in the distance, and presently, on resuming her post at Donna +Fedele's door, she became conscious that her love was undergoing a +transformation, that contact with painful reality was imparting to it +an earnestness and a depth it had lacked before. + +At four she heard Donna Fedele ask for something. Cousin Eufemia got +out of bed, and ran against a chair, at which Donna Fedele laughed +softly. After this all was quiet until morning. + + + III + +At half-past six Cousin Eufemia, who had come out of the room at six, +leaving Donna Fedele asleep, cautiously opened the door again, and +seeing that the invalid was awake, entered on tiptoe. + +"Dr. Alberti is here," said she. + +Donna Fedele turned painfully on her side, so that her face was towards +the door, and said: + +"Let him come in." + +Massimo entered briskly, his tall person slightly bent, his face +wearing an expression of eager satisfaction. + +"What a pleasure!" he exclaimed, partly from force of habit, partly to +deceive himself and her, although he was fully aware that those words +were not the most appropriate he could have uttered on meeting a friend +whose condition was so much more serious than when he had last seen her. + +Donna Fedele smiled. + +"I don't know about the pleasure!" said she, and held out her hand, +which he kissed. + +"But why did you undertake this trying journey? I assure you it was +entirely unnecessary. How could you doubt----" + +Massimo had been about to add "that I should act as a Christian and a +gentleman?" But he checked himself, and flushed hotly, for the word +"Christian," after his last letter to the woman who was now listening +to him, would have scorched his lips. + +Donna Fedele gazed at him in silence, but with a scrutiny so +penetrating that his colour deepened still more. + +"It will depend upon you and Leila," she said, "to make this the best +action of my whole life." + +Failing to grasp her meaning, Massimo made no answer. + +"And now," said he at last, breaking a silence that was embarrassing, +"allow me to act the part of a doctor." + +But with a slow shake of her forefinger, the invalid refused. Greatly +disappointed, Massimo asked the reason of this refusal. She replied +that she did not need a doctor, that indeed she herself had come to act +the part of physician both to Leila and himself. But not at once. At +present she wished to know what these young people intended to do. On +hearing that Leila had written to her father, and was waiting for an +answer, she pointed out that it was absolutely certain to be a refusal, +and that, answer or no answer, the girl could not remain here. + +"God will give me strength to take her back to her own home," said she, +"or at least to the Villino for a few days." + +Thereupon Massimo told her what Leila had written to her father, and +the reason for anticipating a favourable answer. Donna Fedele readily +admitted this, and was furthermore pleased to learn that Massimo had +hopes of being appointed physician to the Commune of Valsolda. But it +was none the less necessary that Leila should go away with her, and +Massimo at once recognised this necessity. He believed, however, that +it would be difficult to persuade Leila, but this he did not say. + +"Call her," said Donna Fedele. + +Leila came, but on learning what was proposed the colour fled from her +face. + +"No, no!" she cried, rather beseechingly than in protest. + +Donna Fedele called her a foolish child, and assured her that, as she +and Massimo had come to an understanding, matters would of necessity +take their natural course. Was it possible she could not see the +impropriety, the impossibility of her remaining in Valsolda? Leila +hastened to explain. She had hoped Donna Fedele would remain a few +days, that this rest and quiet might benefit her. Then she, Leila, +would have gone to Turin with her friend. Of course she was sorry to +leave Valsolda, but it was the bare thought of returning to Velo that +horrified her. Her coming of age and becoming her own mistress was +simply a question of months now, of a very few months. Donna Fedele +pointed out that in Turin she would be left entirely on her own +resources. + +"If your father would consent," she said, after a few moments' +reflection, "I could leave you at Santhià, with my cousin." + +After a brief discussion it was decided that Donna Fedele should rest +to-day, see the Cadate doctor to-morrow, and, should he consent, start +with Leila, sending a telegram to another cousin to meet the girl at +the Santhià station, while Eufemia, who had recovered her box, over +which she had begun to sigh frequently in private, should continue +the journey with the invalid. Letters coming to San Mamette for Leila +would be sent on to the Santhià address. Donna Fedele determined to act +without waiting for Sior Momi's permission. He had always shown himself +most deferential towards her, while her cousin's house at Santhià was +so safe a refuge, and Leila so abhorred the idea of going back to Velo, +that she felt she had the right to decide on her own responsibility. + +The long talk had exhausted her small stock of strength, and she begged +for an hour's rest and silence. She made another request, that Massimo +would return to Dasio, and that Leila would make up her mind not to +see him again until that evening between six and seven o'clock, and +then only in her, Donna Fedele's, presence. She felt the share she +had had in bringing about Leila's mad flight, and her responsibility +weighed upon her more than it would upon a real mother. Leila showed +signs of rebellion. + +"Leila, dearest Leila!" said Massimo, with a smile. As by enchantment +the little wild animal, with flaming eyes, was tamed. He wished it to +be so, and that was enough. Donna Fedele started. + +"How is this? You have changed your name?" + +"Only for him," said Leila, blushing. "But for him, I have really +changed it." + +"But why?" + +With a rapid gesture Leila checked Massimo's explanation, and implored +Donna Fedele not to press her for reasons. + +"It will be far better for you to call me Leila, also," said she. + +Donna Fedele shook her head, and made a gesture as if to say: "Who +can make anything out of this extraordinary pair?" And here the +conversation ended. + + + IV + +It was Sunday, and on Saturday, in obedience to Donna Fedele's orders, +Cousin Eufemia had sought information concerning the whereabouts of the +church and the hours of the different services. She had learned that +the church, on the hillside above the town, could only be reached by a +flight of very steep steps, and that the one Mass celebrated there was +at nine o'clock. Nor were there any other churches in the neighbourhood +which were easier of access. She saw well enough that her cousin was in +no condition to go to Mass, but nevertheless, she did not dare to go +herself without informing the invalid of her intention. At half-past +eight, therefore, she told her. Donna Fedele sent for Leila. + +"Go to Mass with Eufemia," said she. "Unfortunately, I am not well +enough to go. You must hear it for me." + +Leila was anxious to stay with her, but she would not hear of this. +"No, dear," said she, "I insist upon your going," and added that, had +it been necessary, Eufemia could have stopped with her. As Leila still +hesitated, she asked with a smile if, in order to obtain a favour +from her, she must call her Leila. The young girl made no answer, but +started immediately with Cousin Eufemia. + +Donna Fedele was suffering. Sharp pains had begun to torment her during +her interview with Massimo, and still continued. This was no new form +of suffering--she had had these pains before; now, however, she could +not help recognising how weak was her power of resistance. She took +her Prayer Book and sought to read the prayers of the Mass, but she +could not, and presently her hand sank heavily upon the coverlet, +and the little book fell to the floor. A heavy perspiration drenched +her brow, and coursed down her thin cheeks; but no groan escaped her +lips. Shortly before her cousin and Leila returned from Mass the pains +grew less severe, and during the first moment of comparative ease she +murmured aloud to herself: + +"My dear Fedele, you will never leave this place!" + +However, she found strength to receive them calmly on their return, +and in answer to their anxious questions, said she had indeed been +suffering some slight pain, but that she was better now. She asked for +a little Marsala, and her voice betrayed extreme exhaustion. Leila +proposed sending for the doctor. + +"Send for him if you will," said the invalid, smiling, "but mind you +send for the right one!" + +Leila blushed, and explained that she had meant to allude to the Cadate +doctor, and not to Massimo at all. + +Cousin Eufemia's heart was full of misgivings, for she reflected that, +if Fedele consented to see the doctor, she must be feeling very ill +indeed. The sufferer sent her to see that the physician was summoned, +and then begged Leila to pick up the Prayer Book, and read her the +following words of St. Augustine's: + +"And now it is time that I should come to Thee for all eternity. Open +Thy door to me, and teach me how to reach Thy threshold. I possess +nought save a willing heart, and I know nothing save that the things +of the world and all frailties are to be shunned, while the things of +eternity and of truth are to be sought after. This is all my wisdom; +and how to reach Thee I know not. I beseech Thee, therefore, to watch +for me, to enlighten me, and to set my feet upon the right path. If +those who find a refuge in Thee reach Thee through faith, then give +me faith; if this be obtained through virtue, then grant me to be +virtuous; and if knowledge lead to Thee, then give me knowledge. Cause +faith, hope, and charity to increase within me, through Thine own +admirable and singular bounty." + +At the opening words Leila had shuddered. Was this a forewarning of +the end? As she read on, it no longer appeared so, but her first +impression did not fade, and it sounded in her voice until the end of +the paragraph. + +"Thank you," said Donna Fedele, gently and seriously. "When I shall +have crossed that threshold I hope you will sometimes pray thus, in +memory of your poor old friend." + +Leila seized her hand and kissed it. After that the invalid lay without +speaking until the arrival of the doctor. His visit was to little +purpose, for he was not allowed to make the thorough examination +that alone could have enlightened him. Donna Fedele told him of the +operation, and said that she had intended leaving for Turin on the +morrow, but would not do so without his permission. She therefore +requested him to come again the next morning and give his verdict. +Meeting Leila in the corridor, the doctor told her he had found the +patient's heart in an extremely weak state, and that he feared the +worst. + +Massimo came at six o'clock. The invalid was free from pain. Cousin +Eufemia, greatly distressed because Fedele had left off teasing her, +kept glancing from Leila to Massimo with questioning eyes which were +full of dread and anguish. Silence and the absence of the familiar +smile terrified the watchers, but each shrank from confessing this fear +to the others. At seven o'clock Donna Fedele begged her cousin to leave +the room for a time, and signed to the two young people to come to her +bedside. She asked Leila if she had received an answer from Velo. No, +it was not possible yet. + +It was apparent that she intended to introduce another topic, and was +finding it difficult to connect it with this preamble. She thought for +a time, and presently spoke. + +"If Leila has really made up her mind to give up her fortune," she +began, "there is no use discussing the matter. But she is young. The +day will come when the Montanina will be at your disposal, and I +entreat you both not to forsake it. Did I not fear to burden you with +such a charge, I would also beg you to have a Mass celebrated once a +year, for the repose of my soul, at Santa Maria ad Montes, and----" + +She paused, stretched out her thin hands to the two young people, and, +finding her familiar smile once more, finished the sentence. + +"--and to be present at it." + +They pressed her hands in silence, and the sufferer's beautiful dark +eyes shone. She seemed to be a little stronger, and requested Massimo +to look out the trains for her, in case she should be able to start on +the morrow. By leaving San Mamette shortly after ten, the travellers +would reach Santhià at six in the afternoon, and Turin at half-past +seven. Massimo would go with them as far as Porto Ceresio. Leila asked +timidly: + +"Why not as far as Milan?" + +He explained to her in an undertone that he could not do so. That +other traveller from Rome would reach Porto Ceresio from Milan eight +minutes before their arrival there from Lugano, and the steamer he had +chartered would start for Oria at once. + +"You cannot come?" said Donna Fedele, who had not heard his +explanation. "Ah!" she added. "Perhaps for the reason of which Don +Aurelio informed me." + +Massimo was unaware that she had met Don Aurelio in Milan, and they now +spoke of him, of his poverty, and of his untroubled soul. Donna Fedele +mentioned the conditions that had made him decide to accompany the body. + +"Could they not have left those poor bones to rest in peace in Rome?" +she said. + +Leila glanced at Massimo, who made no answer. + + * * * * * + +Towards midnight Donna Fedele had another attack of severe pain. +By dawn she was easier, but the doctor from Cadate who saw her at +six found her feverish, and naturally pronounced the journey to be +impossible. At ten Massimo started for Porto Ceresio, expecting to be +back at Oria with the private steamer by two in the afternoon. From the +Albogasio cemetery, where Benedetto was to be buried, it was only a +quarter of an hour's walk to San Mamette. + + + V + +Pale, and with a beating heart, Massimo stood at the entrance to the +Porto Ceresio station, waiting to see among the passengers by the train +from Milan, which was late, the familiar faces of Don Aurelio and of +the friends from Rome, who were expected to arrive at the same time +as the body. There was no one of his acquaintance in the train. The +first impression, which was almost a relief, was quickly followed by +one of vexation that he should not have been notified of the delay, and +that he should have left Leila and Donna Fedele so much earlier than +was necessary. He consulted the station-master, who could give him no +information, but promised to telegraph to Milan for news. Massimo went +to wait at the station café, on the railed terrace overlooking the lake. + +Here, in the presence of the peaceful waters reflecting the green +mountains, his quiet thoughts also reflected three figures. One was +that of the beloved and fiery-souled girl; a second was that of the +sweet woman who had come for the sake of the fiery-souled girl and for +his own sake, who had come to die, perhaps, in a strange house, moved +by a love of a nature different indeed, but infinitely more lofty and +serene. A third figure was that of Benedetto, standing at a greater +distance, and at once loved and feared. This last figure suddenly drew +near to him, and stood alive before him once more. He felt his dying +Master's hand upon his head, could almost feel his arm about his neck, +the arm that was too weak to press him close. He heard the feeble voice +saying, "Be holy!" and he heard the words, "Let each one perform his +religious duties as the Church prescribes, according to strict justice, +and with perfect obedience." He reflected that yesterday--Sunday--he +had neglected to go to Mass. This had never happened before. The +breaking away from the Church in thought had been an easier matter than +the breaking away from her external practices, than the breaking with +long-standing habits, an act which seemed almost an offence to his +beloved dead. A slight twinge of conscience roused him, admonishing him +to assert his will against these dangerous impulses, proceeding from +a sentiment but imperfectly dominated by reason. The painful conflict +that for days had been going on within his soul, and that had become +more violent on the news of the arrival of the dead Benedetto, was now +reaching the acute stage. The oft-repeated and alternating prevalence +of one impulse over another was weakening that of reason, while the +impulse of sentiment--a force that never lies dormant, that knows no +doubt, and tends constantly to reconquer lost ground--grew ever more +vigorous as the meeting with the dead friend grew nearer. + +Massimo scanned the surface of the distant waters over towards the +point of Melide for the special steamer that, by this time, should +have been in port. The lake was deserted in that direction. There were +only two small boats to be seen between Morcote and Brusino Arsizio. +This second delay was a mystery also. Once more he sought out the +station-master. Milan had answered that nothing had arrived there, but +that some other persons having also made inquiries, a telegram had +been sent to Bologna, and that the answer would be forwarded to Porto +Ceresio as soon as it was received. Massimo went back to the café, and +at last discovered the white prow of a steamer coming from Melide, and +keeping well in the middle of the lake. A slight breeze had sprung up. +Now a breath would break the surface of the water into azure ripples +above the green reflections of the mountains; then the breath would die +down, and the reflections reappear. This new unrest of wind and lake +seemed to the young man an unrest of waiting, like his own. + +To Massimo's amazement the special steamer arrived crowded with people. +The fact was quickly explained, however. The people of Albogasio looked +upon Piero Maironi as a benefactor. They had chartered the steamer +to Oria at their own expense, and had started, more than one hundred +strong and led by their parish priest, to meet the dead son of Franco +and Luisa. + +On learning that there was no news of the body, these poor souls were +somewhat disconcerted, but presently the station-master came to tell +Massimo that he had been notified from Milan that the body would reach +Porto Ceresio at eight in the evening. It was then half-past two. +Massimo telegraphed news of the delay to San Mamette. The Albogasio +people, who had feared that they had gone to useless expense, and had +lost a day's work as well, now appeared quite satisfied, despite the +prospect of a wait of nearly six hours. There was some grumbling on +the part of those who had come unprovided either with food or money, +but they grumbled submissively. These good people would have suffered +the pangs of hunger uncomplainingly, had not Massimo and their parish +priest arranged to provide them with bread at least, while those +provident ones who had brought food with them showed themselves willing +to share with the others. A sense of gentle pity and of gratitude +towards the deceased, gentle memories of other dear departed souls, +a solemn demonstration of deep and unsullied faith, bore witness to +the presence of so many other virtues in the hearts of this humble +flock, that Massimo was profoundly touched. The parish priest made +known to him a woman called Leu, who remembered Benedetto's parents, +and who could not say enough in praise of _Sciora Luisa_. But the +others were discussing the man who had disappeared years ago from +Oria, leaving no trace, and whose dead body was now returning. They +spoke of the sensation that disappearance had caused, of the many +mistaken suppositions, and of the good priest, a stranger in these +parts, who had seen to it that the charitable dispositions of him who +had disappeared were carried out. A few old people remembered the other +Piero, the uncle, Engineer Ribera. + +Shortly after five o'clock a telegram from Don Aurelio informed Massimo +that he was about to start from Milan with the body. When Massimo +had read the telegram he handed it to the priest from Albogasio, and +walking away without a word, began to follow a deserted path along the +shore, on the left of the landing-stage. He continued walking slowly up +and down here for nigh on three hours, without being able to formulate +a single thought, until evening's welcome shadows fell. + +When the train entered the station the darkness was profound, for +storm-clouds now lay massed in the sky, where no moon shone. The people +from Albogasio had invaded the station, carrying lighted candles and +flaring torches, and led by their priest, in surplice and stole. Don +Aurelio and Massimo's Roman friends alighted silently and with grave +faces. Massimo, shaken by a nervous trembling, bit his lip that he +might not sob aloud. Short and measured greetings marked the solemnity +of the moment, and many of the bystanders were weeping. Railway +employees, carrying lanterns, opened the freight-car that contained the +body. Massimo and the young men from Rome stepped forward. Some slight +confusion ensued, and excited voices were heard. Don Aurelio commanded +silence in a tone of authority, and once more all was quiet as the +coffin appeared, borne towards the station entrance on the shoulders of +six young men, of whom Massimo was one. The few passengers the train +had brought had all passed out. One woman only, dressed in mourning, +and accompanied by a maid, followed the funeral procession on board the +steamer. No one knew who she was, and even the glare of the torches +failed to reveal her face, hidden by a thick veil. + +Amidst deep silence the bier was placed upon the fore-deck, and covered +with a black pall ornamented with a silver fringe. Amidst deep silence +also those who bore lights lined up on either side of the deck. The +priest took up his position in front of the pilot-house, and facing the +bier. Still in deep silence the rest of the little flock huddled in the +stern, leaving the space clear between the candle-bearers and the bier. +Don Aurelio, Massimo, and the young men from Rome stationed themselves +beside the priest. Without a word of command, the gang-plank was +withdrawn from the landing-stage, the crew pushed the steamer off, the +captain bent over his speaking-tube, the pistons creaked, and slowly +and heavily the paddles beat upon the water. When the boat had swung +half round, and brought her prow towards the upper lake, the parish +priest of Albogasio began intoning the rosary. The assembly responded, +and the combined and steady sounds of the pistons, the paddles, and +the water, cleft by the prow, formed a deep-toned accompaniment to the +monotonous chant. Like a phantom ship the vessel thus broke the silence +of the quiet lake and of the sleeping shores, broke the darkness with +two shining lines of funeral candles. + +Massimo kept his eyes fixed on the black pall with its silver fringe. +The love that the dead man had once borne him, the calumnies, the +insults, the outrages of every description for which that poor body +and the spirit that moved it had been the mark; the thought of his own +desertion, which had come so near accomplishment, while others, like +these friends from Rome standing here beside him, had remained loyal +to the beloved memory, despite the contempt, the derision, and the +animosity of the world--all these thoughts formed within him a confused +tumult of love, grief, and remorse that completely unmanned him, and +slipping away quietly, he went down to the cabin and wept bitterly, his +sobs mingling with the combined and steady sounds of the pistons, the +paddles, and the flying foam. + +"No, no, dear friend! I will not forsake you! I am coming back to you! +I am coming back!" + +He had not noticed the presence at the farther end of the cabin of +the two women who had been in the train. When his sobbing had become +less violent, and he had risen to his feet, seeking to compose himself +before going on deck once more, she who appeared to be the maid rose +and came towards him. + +"I beg your pardon, sir," said she, "but can you tell me whether any +one will speak at the grave?" + +Massimo, who was taken by surprise, hesitated an instant, and then +replied in the affirmative. The maid thanked him, and then returned +to the dark corner where the lady in mourning was sitting. The young +man went up the steps, and had nearly reached the deck when the maid +addressed him once more. + +"I beg your pardon, sir, but are you going to speak?" + +"No," said Massimo. + +The woman thanked him. + +This was a fresh grief to Massimo, for it showed him that there +were those who expected the favourite disciple to speak the last +farewell, while he had refused, and now, at this eleventh hour, he +would be entirely unable to find fitting language. Grief he felt, and +astonishment as well. Why had these women supposed he would speak? Did +they know him? Presently he went back to the place where he had stood +before. The priest had finished reciting the rosary, and now all was +silent, only the sounds of moving things could be heard, while the +shadows that were cleft at the prow of the phantom ship by the glow +of the candles foregathered once more about the stern, in a darkness +that was deeper still. When they had passed the Melide Bridge, some one +standing behind the priest said, in a loud voice: + +"_De profundis._" + +A hundred voices began intoning the _De profundis_. When the psalm was +half over, the steamer, which was making straight for the dark outline +of the point of Caprino, suddenly came to a standstill. The chant was +quickly interrupted. A great black shadow, set with shining points, +passed within fifty yards of them, cutting across the steamer's path. +But few were aware of this shadow, and of the danger of a collision +between the ship of Death and that other vessel. Those few shuddered +in silence. Once more the pistons creaked, and once more the psalm was +taken up. In the broad basin between Campione and Lugano the darkness +encompassing the funereal illumination that shone on the fore-deck +appeared less deep. On all sides majestic profiles stood out in black +relief against the sky. The lights of Lugano outlined the curve of +the bay. As the boat sped towards Caprino, the lights of Castagnola, +of Gandria, and at last the formidable summits and the distant waters +of Valsolda, with the lightning flashes from the torpedo-boat, were +revealed in rapid succession. Massimo took Don Aurelio's arm. + +"You are going to speak?" he asked. + +Don Aurelio replied that he was, and as he felt the young man draw him +towards him, immediately understood that there was something further he +wished to say. + +"I have returned to Christ and the Church!" said Massimo, trembling +violently. "I have returned but now!" + +Don Aurelio folded him in a close embrace, and whispered softly, in a +voice that was full of joy: + +"Dear, dear friend, let us thank God! You have lifted a great weight +from my heart!" + +Don Aurelio told him presently that he was much pleased with these +young men who had come from Rome, and that the misrepresentations and +intemperance of certain innovators had produced a salutary reaction +in their minds, so much so that, were it not too late, he would have +greatly preferred to entrust the task of speaking at the grave to one +of them. + +Meanwhile the boat had passed Gandria. The dazzling eye of the +torpedo-boat flashed upon Don Aurelio and Massimo, who were going +towards the fore-deck. The brilliance swept the vessel fore and aft, +following it on its way, then suddenly forsook it. Upon the black brow +of Bisgnago, over against the sky, the electric signals were glowing +like flames upon a sublime altar, whence prayers were ascending for the +valleys below. The shore at Oria was crowded with people who had come +from Castello and from San Mamette, to meet the body. Those who, from +this spot, witnessed the slow growth of the point of light advancing +out of the west across the black waters, the flashing around it of the +silvery ray that seemed to be guarding its path, the sublime flames +upon the mountain-top, and the silent eagerness of the crowd, were +filled with a sense as of a mysterious solemnity in which both heaven +and earth were taking part. And aboard the boat also the travellers, as +they approached the end of their journey, were experiencing a feeling +of trepidation for which they could not account. The parish priest gave +an order; the black pall was removed; Massimo and Benedetto's other +youthful disciples stood forth, ready to raise the bier. The woman who +seemed to be a maid came on deck, asked a question, and going down to +the first-class cabin once more, presently reappeared with the veiled +lady. They went as far astern as possible, evidently desiring to be +the last to leave the boat. The steamer came alongside the pier, and +the gangway was thrown across. Six young men, of whom Massimo was +again one, raised the bier. Some orders were heard and a few words +of warning or reproof, but immediately all was silence once more. The +parish priest stepped ashore first, then came the disciples with their +burden, while the bearers of candles followed close behind. Then slowly +and decorously the other passengers crossed the gangway, the two women +last of all. The silent procession passed under a portico, across a +small square, through a first dark passage, and then through a second, +which lay beneath the house that had belonged to the dead man, and so +reached the church, the very church where, but a few years before, Don +Giuseppe Flores had learned of the flight of him who was now brought +here for his humble burial. The candles on the high-altar were already +alight. In an instant the church was full of people and of lighted +candles. The veiled lady would not have been able to enter at all had +not the crowd parted before her, moved by instinctive respect. The two +took up their position in the last row of benches near the holy-water +font, and were much stared at. No one knew who they were. Only Massimo +and Don Aurelio had any idea as to the identity of the veiled lady, but +the two friends exchanged no word concerning her, respect for the past +forbidding either to confide in the other. + +The funeral service began, and the voice of the congregation was raised +in response to the priest. Massimo, upon his knees, his face buried in +his hands, remained absorbed in prayer during the entire service, and +so also did the veiled lady. There was some slight disturbance, first +at the main door and then at a side entrance, because a lad who had +come from San Mamette with a letter for Dr. Alberti was trying to force +his way in. He did not succeed, however, and the letter, which some one +took from him, could not possibly be delivered to Massimo until later +on. When the service was over Massimo and his five companions raised +the bier once more, and moved forward behind the priest. The church +was soon empty, and the last person to rise from her seat and go out +was the veiled lady; but seeing that the path was very rough, and that +the candle-bearers were already far ahead, she returned to the church +again. Among the stragglers behind the procession her companion found a +boatman who was willing to undertake to row them to Lugano later on. + +While the procession was traversing the short distance that separates +the church from the cemetery, lightning flashes began to break from +the banks of heavy cloud, and a sudden gust of wind blew out almost +all the candles. The coffin was put down at the head of the flight of +steps leading to the gate of the cemetery, and the bearers of the few +candles that were still alight took up their position on either side. +A second gust extinguished these last candles also, and went whistling +away through the olive-groves that slope down to the lake. Don Aurelio, +who had remained behind, forced his way through the crowd, and reached +the steps. Some one tried to strike a match, that he might not stumble +on the unfamiliar stairs, but it was immediately blown out. Then a hand +grasped his and guided him upwards. Only those who were nearest could +see him, the others heard only his ringing tones, carrying above the +noise of the wind and of the waves breaking against the embankments far +below. + +"He is come," Don Aurelio began, "the much afflicted wayfarer, unto +his last resting-place, succoured once more by the prayers of Holy +Church, who, when he died in her maternal arms, commended him to Divine +mercy. It was neither his friends nor his disciples who, to his pain +and vexation, proclaimed him a saint, but simple souls from amongst the +people, souls full of faith and imaginings. When the Church prays for +a dead son, she does so in no spirit of criticism, but, in her austere +wisdom, considers only the universal frailty of man, the universal +misery of hidden or apparent sin before the inscrutable mystery of +Divine justice. But the Church, remembering the tears that Jesus shed +by the tomb of Lazarus, allows poor human hearts to utter words of love +and grief beside the grave, allows them to voice the praises which, +indeed, are contained in their tears. Love, pain, and praise all now +rush to my lips for utterance, but I cannot find words to express them, +for I feel within me I know not what hidden influence restraining me; +I believe this influence is that of the dead; I believe he desires +neither expressions of pain nor of praise, but I also believe that I +hear the words he wishes me to speak." + +The speaker paused with heaving breast. A quiver of emotion ran through +the crowd that thronged the steps. A few voices said softly, "Yes, yes!" + +"Peace!" Don Aurelio went on--"peace to thee, O spirit of Piero +Maironi! O spirit of Benedetto! I will not speak my own words, the +words of love and pain and praise, but rather those that thou biddest +me speak! Let these hills of thine send their wind, not to destroy my +words, but to waft them far afield, wheresoever thou hast been named +with affection and respect, or with anger and insult. + +"Listen, my friends! This man spoke much of religion, of faith and of +works. Being neither a prophet nor the Sovereign Pontiff, speaking +from his high place, he may sometimes have been led astray; he may +sometimes have put forward views that the authority of the Church +would be justified in rejecting. The true character of his mission +was not to agitate theological questions, wherein he might deviate +from the true path, but to bring back the faithful, of all orders and +conditions, to the spirit of the gospel; it was to reinspire the world +with this spirit. He never failed to proclaim his humble submission to +the authority of the Church, to the Holy See of the Roman Pontiff. Were +he still alive he would glory in giving proof of this as an example +to the world. It is in his name that I declare this! He knew that +the world despises religious obedience as cowardice. He, on his part, +fiercely despised the contempt of the world, that glorifies military +obedience and the sacrifices it imposes, although military authority +is assisted by prisons and chains, by powder and lead, while religious +authority has no such support. He loved the Church above all things +on earth. In thinking of the Church he was wont to compare himself +with the smallest stone of the greatest temple, which, had it a soul, +would glory in its small ministry. Yes, he did indeed think he could +perceive the evil spirits which hell lets loose within Holy Church; +which we know cannot prevail against her--we have the Divine promise +for this--but which, nevertheless, may inflict cruel wounds upon her by +conspiring with those other evil spirits that work their fiendish havoc +in the world. He thought he recognised them, and it was an irresistible +impulse of filial affection, of filial sorrow, that carried him, a +suppliant, to the feet of the Sovereign Pontiff, the Father of the +faithful. + +"He wishes me to pardon in his name all those who, possessing no +ecclesiastical authority, passed judgment upon him, condemning him as +a Theosophist, a Pantheist, and as one who shunned the Sacraments; +but that the scandal of these accusations may be destroyed, he also +wishes me to proclaim, in a loud voice, that such errors were ever +abominations in his sight, and that from the moment when he, a +miserable sinner, turned from the world to God, he did always and in +all things suit his actions to the beliefs and the prescriptions of the +Catholic Church, and this unto the very hour of his death. + +"He died trusting firmly that one day, when the spirits of evil that +afflict the Church shall have been driven back behind the gates of +hell, all men who have received baptism, and who call upon the name of +Christ, will be united in one great religious body around the Holy +Throne of the Roman Pontiff. He implores all those who are his friends +to pray for this end. + +"Friends and brothers, all you who resented the false accusations +brought against this man by Catholic laymen, journalists, and +libellers, let us unite with him in forgiving them all. Let us also +pardon such as derided and insulted him for his faith. _Nesciebant_, +all of them! We ourselves are too ignorant to dare to judge of the +ignorance of others. Wanderers amidst the darkness, we question the +stars as we grope blindly on our way, we call to each other with voices +that ask, that advise, that encourage; we cry out the good news when +we have discovered the right path, that others may hasten towards it. +But let us not judge him who fails to answer our call, for we know not +whether the obstacles that lie between him and us be not greater than +his strength may overcome. Let us pray for one and all, as we pass +through the darkness, longing for the dawn of the day of God. + +"Poor body, that was once so dear to us, rest in peace until the coming +of that glorious dawn!" + +The coffin was lowered to the side of Elisa Maironi, the last prayers +were recited, the grave was closed. The priest had returned to the +church to lay aside his robes, and the crowd was fast dispersing. +Massimo, Don Aurelio, and the young Romans who had lingered long beside +the grave, were descending the steps, and the sexton was about to close +the gates, when the woman who seemed to be a maid came to beg that they +should be allowed to remain open a few minutes longer. As the sexton +hesitated, Don Aurelio and Massimo intervened, and persuaded him to +consent. Hereupon the maid withdrew and joined the veiled lady, who was +waiting in the lane, to the west of the cemetery. Not until that moment +did the person who had taken the letter which the messenger had brought +from San Mamette remember to deliver it to Massimo. Between the gusts +of wind Massimo succeeded in reading it by the light of a match: + + +"Our friend is very ill. Come as soon as possible. + "LEILA." + + +Massimo implored Don Aurelio to go with him. Don Aurelio should have +returned to Milan at once, but he gave up his intention of doing so on +hearing what had happened. The two took a hurried farewell of their +young friends, who were left behind to wonder at their sudden flight. +During the confusion of leave-taking the veiled lady and her companion +passed the group of disciples without being seen by them. Presently, +however, they noticed that the maid was standing with the sexton at +the gate. They saw how inconsiderate it would be to remain there, but +as they had retained the services of the steamer, they felt bound to +take the two strangers on board. One of the young men went up to the +gate and spoke to the woman who was waiting there, but she refused his +offer with something like dismay. Hereupon the friends started on their +way towards Oria. The sexton saw the tall, slim figure of the veiled +lady kneeling by the grave upon the upturned sod. She remained there +motionless for a few minutes, and then went down the steps, leaning on +the arm of the maid, who told her of the offer, and of her refusal. +Her mistress made no comment. On the Oria road they met the boatman, +who had come to tell them that the lake was very rough, and that a +second pair of oars would be necessary. The lady made a sign, and the +maid ordered him to engage another boatman to help him. Shortly before +reaching the church-place of Oria they met the parish priest, who was +carrying a lantern and offered to guide them through the dark and +winding lanes of the village. The veiled lady pressed her companion's +arm as a sign that she was to refuse, but the maid, who had no desire +to break her neck, saw fit to accept. Mistress and maid then held a +whispered consultation, and presently the servant begged the priest to +stop. Producing her purse from a bag that hung upon her arm, she took +out a gold coin, and offered it to him. + +"From my mistress," she said, "for your poor." + +The steamer had not yet started on its way when, by the light of a +couple of lanterns, the veiled lady and her companion stepped aboard +a boat which lay rocking on the waves. Shot vigorously forward by two +pairs of oars, the boat passed alongside the steamer, and was seen in +the light that shone from the first-class cabin. The young men were +watching it with great curiosity from the deck. The lady had thrown +back her veil, and they saw that she was both young and lovely. One of +them exclaimed: + +"I know who she is! She must be the woman on whose account Benedetto +fled from the world." + +"Who is she?" another inquired. + +All were more or less vaguely acquainted with the main facts of the +matter, but no one knew the lady's name. More curious than ever, they +hastened to the fore-deck, seeking to catch another glimpse of the +little boat, against which they could hear the waves plashing in the +distance. Again they saw it for an instant in the light of the electric +ray from the torpedo-boat, and then Jeanne vanished from their sight +for that night and for ever. + + + VI + +Shortly after twelve o'clock Donna Fedele had become suddenly and +alarmingly worse. She was suffering no pain, but the fever, which had +risen rapidly, convinced the doctor that there was nothing further he +could do for her. The end could not be far away now. The sufferer, +who was perfectly conscious and aware of her condition, desired to see +a priest at once and receive the last Sacrament. The parish priest of +San Mamette was summoned, and by five o'clock everything had been done. +Greatly impressed by the poor woman's piety, faith, and resignation, +the parish priest had given her Extreme Unction. Massimo's telegram +from Porto Ceresio troubled her visibly. She did not say so, but Leila +saw plainly that she thought he might have arranged not to go there. +After having received the consolations of her religion, the young man's +return seemed to be the one thought that troubled her. She asked for +him so often that at last she begged Leila to forgive her. + +"I know I am foolish," she said, taking the girl's hand, "for according +to his telegram he cannot possibly be here yet. I have a few words to +say to him, and I am much afraid he will not arrive in time." + +Leila sought to reassure her, but could not do so, for a lump in her +throat prevented her speaking. She envied Cousin Eufemia, who appeared +perfectly calm. The old woman's affection for Donna Fedele amounted +almost to adoration, but her fear of not being able to accept the +will of the Almighty with sufficient humility oppressed her even more +sorely. She was unceasing in her attentions to the sufferer, but she +came and went gravely and calmly, and with dry eyes. Only once was she +on the verge of failing in her determination to be strong, and that was +when the invalid, reaching out to take her hand, said with the shadow +of her old smile: + +"Give my dear love to your sisters." + +The poor old cousin bit her lips, but did not answer. The pious +gentleness of the dying woman and Cousin Eufemia's fortitude, both +pointing to a state of the soul at once so humble and so lofty, were a +revelation to Leila, and filled her with amazement and reverence. At +six o'clock the parish priest withdrew, promising to return at seven, +and Donna Fedele, begging the doctor and Cousin Eufemia to leave them +alone for a few minutes, called Leila to her side, and signed to her to +kneel down, that she might place her arm around her neck. + +"Dearest," said she, "tell Massimo that after thinking of him and of +his poor mother, I died with a pain in my heart, and a hope also. Will +you tell him so?" + +Torn by an inner conflict caused by the belief that she knew the nature +of that pain and of that hope in which she might not participate, and +also because she shrank from the idea of being appointed by another +to bring pressure to bear upon Massimo's spirit, while, at the same +time, to refuse would be horrible, Leila breathed a "yes" which did +not deceive the dying woman. Donna Fedele sighed and withdrew her arm, +murmuring that she had much to say to her, but that her strength failed +her. She asked for a crucifix, and then lay without speaking until nine +o'clock. At nine she inquired for Massimo once more. Half an hour later +Leila, who was standing at the west window, saw a light appear in the +distance amidst the surrounding darkness. The doctor recognised the +special steamer, and announced its arrival to the invalid, who begged +that a note might be sent to Massimo, asking him to come at once. +Hereupon there ensued a period of extreme unrest for her. She seemed +to have lost all notion of time and space, and was continually asking, +first if the boat had arrived, and then, when it had been seen to stop +at Oria, if Massimo were come. And so the time dragged on, and at last +it was eleven o'clock. Leila herself was uneasy, for they had heard +nothing from the boy who had carried the note. She could not understand +how Massimo, having received the note, had not hastened to San Mamette. +Shortly after eleven the proprietor, who had sent some one towards +Albogasio, came rushing upstairs, and announced: "He is coming! he +is coming!" Leila hastened downstairs, and met the two men in the +vestibule. She had not expected to see Don Aurelio, who, perceiving her +embarrassment, left her in the midst of a rapid explanation to Massimo +and hastened upstairs. The proprietor accompanied him to the door of +Donna Fedele's room. The well-known voice and familiar face, from which +radiated content and kindness, revived Donna Fedele somewhat. + +"Oh, Don Aurelio!" she cried. "And Massimo?" + +Placing his lips near the dying woman's ear, Don Aurelio began speaking +so softly that the parish priest, the doctor, and Cousin Eufemia, +standing at a little distance, could not even hear his voice. But they +heard Donna Fedele's short and feeble exclamations uttered with an +indescribable accent of astonishment and delight. + +"Here he is!" said Don Aurelio, raising his head as Massimo entered. + + * * * * * + +From that moment Donna Fedele appeared transformed. The chamber of +death seemed to have become the chamber of convalescence, so much +that for a moment the watchers believed that a very serious, but +favourable, crisis had been passed. The first indication of this was +when Donna Fedele asked Massimo if he had read a letter from Sior +Momi, and pointed to Leila, implying that she would show it to him. +To satisfy her he held before his eyes, but without distinguishing a +single syllable of it, the letter in which Sior Momi gave his consent, +protesting at the same time that he desired to vacate the Montanina, +as he had discovered that the air of those regions did not suit him. +The letter further contained kind messages for Massimo, and solicited +the favour of a few lines from him, endorsing what Leila had said +concerning the accounts to be rendered. + +Presently Donna Fedele begged Don Aurelio and the two young people to +draw near to her. + +"I was unkind to the archpriest and the chaplain of Velo," she said. +"Please let them know that I am sorry." + +"Yes, yes! I will see it is done," said Don Aurelio. She thanked him +with a long glance full of ineffable meaning, and signed to him that +she wished to kiss his hand. + +Towards three o'clock they saw from the nervous movements of her hands +and the restless twitching of her lips that she wanted something and +could not express herself. With her eyes she drew their attention to +a glass in which the roses from the Villino were still languishing. +Cousin Eufemia placed her ear near the sufferer's lips, and asked: + +"Is it the roses?" + +The dying woman moved her head in acquiescence, while her hands plucked +at the sheet. Her cousin, convinced that she wished to have the roses +upon her bed, went to bring them to her, but Donna Fedele shook her +head as vigorously as she could. Poor Eufemia was distressed at not +being able to understand. Massimo and Leila understood but did not dare +to speak. Don Aurelio, who was more familiar with death, ventured to +intervene. + +"She wishes to have them scattered upon her afterwards," he explained. +Again Donna Fedele thanked him with her eyes. + +At last the beautiful dark eyes were closed--those eyes that for +two-and-fifty years had shed so much spiritual radiance, so many sweet +and gentle smiles. The hands rested quietly upon the Crucifix. Don +Emanuele bent over the still face. He was not sure that the end had +come, for the long lashes still trembled slightly. + +"Dear friend," said he in a loud voice, "pray for us. Are you +suffering?" + +Her eyes remained closed, but her waxen lips moved. Don Aurelio +believed he caught the words, "I am happy!" + + * * * * * + +He repeated this to the watchers. "She says, 'I am happy!'" + +With his eyes still fixed upon the dying woman he signed to the others +to kneel. + +A few minutes of silence. + +"Yes, she is happy!" he added at last in a loud voice. "Let us worship +and rejoice!" + + * * * * * + +The sun was rising and Donna Fedele Vayla di Brea, clad in black and +clasping the Crucifix, lay upon her bed, where side by side with the +faded roses from the Villino, there rested many bright blossoms of +Valsolda. Death had restored her sweet smile. It shone through the +closed lids like the light of a secret vision of delight. It rested +gently on her waxen lips. No youthful, living countenance could surpass +the beauty of that ivory face, smiling beneath its arch of thick, snowy +hair. And thus, having lived according to the faith of her fathers +and the spirit of the gospel, having redeemed her promise to Signor +Marcello, and consummated her supreme sacrifice, did the White Lady of +the Roses rest, in the first light of her mystic dawn. + + + FINIS + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78258 *** diff --git a/78258-h/78258-h.htm b/78258-h/78258-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..27cae9c --- /dev/null +++ b/78258-h/78258-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,21067 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> + <meta name="format-detection" content="telephone=no,date=no,address=no,email=no,url=no"> + <title> + Leila | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +h1,h2 { + text-align: center; font-weight: normal; + clear: both; +} + + h2 {margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + + h3 {margin-top: 2em; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;} + +p { + margin-top: .5em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .5em; +} + +.p1 {margin-top: 1em;} +.p11 {margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;} +.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} + +.p4 {margin-top: 4em;} +.p6 {margin-top: 6em;} +.p6b {margin-bottom: 6em;} + +.big2 {font-size: 130%; } +.big3 {font-size: 145%; } +.big1 {font-size: 115%; } + +.half-title +{ + margin-top: 6em; + text-align: center; + font-size: 145%; + margin-bottom: 6em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + + + +hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} + + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + + + +table.autotable { + margin-left: 30%; + margin-right: 30%; + width: 40%; +} + +.x-ebookmaker table.autotable { + + margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + width: 60%; +} + +table.autotable { border-collapse: collapse; } +table.autotable td, +table.autotable th { padding: 0.25em; } + +.tdl {text-align: left;} +.tdr {text-align: right;} +.tdc {text-align: center;} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + visibility: hidden; + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; +} /* page numbers */ + + +blockquote { + margin-top: 0; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + +.center {text-align: center; text-indent: 0;} + +.right {text-align: right;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + + +figcaption {font-weight: normal;} +figcaption p {margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: .2em; text-align: inherit;} + +/* Images */ + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} +img.w100 {width: 100%;} + + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + + + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: 1px dashed; margin-top: 2em; } + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + + +/* Poetry */ +/* uncomment the next line for centered poetry */ + .poetry-container {display: flex; justify-content: center;} +.poetry-container {text-align: center;} +.poetry {text-align: left; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} + + +/* Transcriber's notes */ + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: 1.5em; padding-top: 1.5em; + padding-left: 1.5em; padding-right: 1.5em; margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 4em; } + + +/* Illustration classes */ +.illowe50 {width: 50em;} + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78258 ***</div> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe50" id="cover"> + <img class="w100" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="cubierta"> +</figure> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="tnote"> + <p class="center p2 big2">TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:</p> + +<p>In the plain text version text in <em>italics</em> is enclosed by underscores +(_italics_) and <span class="smcap">small capitals</span> are represented in upper case as in SMALL +CAPS.</p> + +<p>A number of words in this book have both hyphenated and non-hyphenated +variants. For the words with both variants present the one more used +has been kept.</p> + +<p>Obvious punctuation and other printing errors have been corrected.</p> + +<p>The original cover art has been modified by the transcriber and is +granted to the public domain.</p> + +</div> +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> +<hr class="tb x-ebookmaker-drop"> +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="half-title">LEILA</p> +</div> + + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h1>LEILA</h1> + <p class="center">BY</p> + <p class="center p2 big3">ANTONIO FOGAZZARO</p> + <br> + <p class="center p2">AUTHOR OF "THE SAINT"</p><br> + <br> + <p class="center p2">TRANSLATED BY<br> + <span class="big2">MARY PRICHARD AGNETTI</span></p> + <br> + <p class="big1 center p4">GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY<br> + NEW YORK<br></p> + <br> + <p class="center"><em>Publishers in America for Hodder & Stoughton</em></p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="center p6 p6b"><em>Printed in 1911</em></p> +</div> + + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</span></p> + + <p class="center big2 p4">CONTENTS</p> +</div> + +<table class="autotable"> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdr"><small>PAGE</small></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdc">CHAPTER I</td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A MYSTIC PRELUDE</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_2">2</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdc">CHAPTER II</td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl">DISTAFFS AND THREADS</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_39">39</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdc">CHAPTER III</td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl">THE WOOF</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_94">94</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdc">CHAPTER IV</td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl">SHEARS</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_128">128</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdc">CHAPTER V</td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl">THE SHADOW OF SIGNOR DA CAMIN</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_192">192</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdc">CHAPTER VI</td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl">IN THE TOWER OF PRIDE</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_199">199</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdc">CHAPTER VII</td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl">FROM THE HEIGHTS TO THE DEPTHS</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_227">227</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdc">CHAPTER VIII</td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl">HOLY ALLIANCES</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_251">251</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdc">CHAPTER IX</td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl">THE VILLINO OF THORNS</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_272">272</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdc">CHAPTER X</td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl">THE GAME BEGINS</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_286">286</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdc">CHAPTER XI</td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl">AWAY FROM LOVE AND THE WORLD</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_301">301</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdc">CHAPTER XII</td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl">CONCERNING A SOUL</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_316">316</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdc">CHAPTER XIII</td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl">"AVEU"</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_336">336</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdc">CHAPTER XIV</td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A DROP OF THE PATERNAL BLOOD</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_351">351</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdc">CHAPTER XV</td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl">OH! POOR ME!</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_374">374</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdc">CHAPTER XVI</td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl">NIGHT AND FLAMES</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_395">396</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdc">CHAPTER XVII</td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl">THE WHITE LADY OF THE ROSES</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_427">427</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</span></p> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</span></p> + <h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER I<br> + <small>A MYSTIC PRELUDE</small></h2> +</div> + +<h3>I</h3> + +<p>"Signorina!" called Giovanni the footman, entering +the dining-room breathlessly, after looking for +her in the garden, in the drawing-room, and in her +own chamber. It was nine o'clock, and his master +and Signorina Leila had finished dinner before eight. +The master had withdrawn to his study almost +immediately; the Signorina had gone into the +garden. But now she was in the dining-room again +by the window.</p> + +<p>Her eyes were fixed on the grove of chestnuts +to the east, over beyond the ravine, where a brawling +stream makes its way from a small lake hidden +behind the green shoulders of the lofty peak of +Priaforà. But she was straining her ear to catch +a far-away sound that rose and fell—the rumbling +of a distant train speeding towards the Val d'Astico +above which the villa is situated. She turned +suddenly at the servant's call, crushing a letter in +her hands.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?"</p> + +<p>"The master is unwell."</p> + +<p>Leila uttered an exclamation.</p> + +<p>The fellow gazed stupidly at her. She started +forward, then, pausing, spoke again to the slow-witted +footman.</p> + +<p>"Where is he?"</p> + + + +<p>"In the study, I think."</p> + +<p>Leila ran towards the salon and met the maid +Teresina coming towards her with outstretched hands.</p> + +<p>"It is nothing—nothing," Teresina said quietly, +diverting Leila's attention to a locket that had fallen +open from her belt. The girl chafed with impatience +while the maid carefully closed it for her. Nevertheless, +the action calmed her.</p> + +<p>"Giovanni, go and prepare the guests' room," +said Teresina, addressing the footman, who stood +listening, half dazed, half curious.</p> + +<p>Leila trembled. "Is there something Giovanni +must not know?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"No, Signorina, no!" said Teresina, speaking +with the accent of her native Trent.</p> + +<p>But it struck Leila that the maid was deliberately +delaying her explanation.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you speak?" she burst out.</p> + +<p>Teresina cast a quick glance towards the study +door. She was anxious to spare the Signorina, who +was delicate and nervous, and so easily excited.</p> + +<p>"If he should come out," she whispered, "and +find us here talking, he might suspect something. +We had better go away."</p> + +<p>Followed by Teresina, Leila hurried across the +salon and entered the dining-room. Anxious though +she was to hear the maid's story, she listened a +moment to the whistle of the train, wondering +whether it was signalling from San Giorgio or from +the station of Seghe. Then....</p> + +<p>"Tell me!" she demanded.</p> + +<p>Well, as usual, Teresina had carried the master's +letters to him in his study. From the threshold +she had seen him bend his head first backwards +and then towards his left shoulder, close his eyes, +open them with a wild stare, and again close them, +only to strain them wide once more, so that the +balls showed white. She had sprinkled some water +upon his face and had sent the footman in search +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</span>of the Signorina, for, to tell the truth, she had really +felt somewhat startled at first. Meanwhile the master +had sighed deeply and had muttered something about +a sudden drowsiness. Then he had opened his letters +and papers, and seeing that she was hesitating +whether to leave the room or to remain, he had +dismissed her. Outside she had listened, but had +heard only the rustle of papers. So....</p> + +<p>A bell sounded twice.</p> + +<p>"The master!" Teresina exclaimed, and hurried +away.</p> + +<p>Leila followed her a few steps, but stopped in +the drawing-room, watching the maid's retreating +figure, watching the billiard-room door, that closed +softly behind her, listening, and waiting for Teresina +to come back.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the train was whistling beneath the +heights of Santa Maria, just before running into +the terminus station of Arsiero. From the station +it was a walk of some ten minutes to "La Montanina," +the villa, so called because, with its gabled +roofs and its back to the hill, among groves and +fields that stretch downwards to the deep Posina, +it is so like one of those peasant women who come +wearily down from the steeps of Priaforà, and pause +to rest awhile upon the bundle of wood they have +gathered in the forests. In this villa lived Leila and +Signor Marcello Trento.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Teresina, as devoted to Signor Marcello as she +had been for twenty years to his wife, who had +now been dead two years, knocked at the study +door, trembling lest her master might have been +seized again with illness. Encouraged by the sound +of his "Come in!" she entered, smiling, that he +might not notice any signs of her recent fright.</p> + +<p>The door opened on the left of the easy-chair in +which Signor Marcello was seated at a table littered +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</span>with papers, and in the light of an antique Florentine +brass lamp, which had shone upon his father's grey +head, and now shed its glow upon his own, in which +the grey and auburn were mingled. His hair was +wild and rough and of that coarse texture perhaps +characteristic of virile natures. As Teresina entered +he turned towards her a face showing a moustache +and tuft upon the chin that were lighter in tone than +his hair, and, beneath a low and wrinkled brow, eyes +that were terrible in anger but most gentle in +moments of tenderness. Just now it was the face +of the unrelenting inquisitor, and the woman was +conscious of a blush that flamed to the roots of +her hair.</p> + +<p>"How is it," he demanded, "that I am all wet?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," she answered.</p> + +<p>"You don't know, indeed? Who poured water +upon my hair? Don't you understand me?"</p> + +<p>Teresina felt that further denial would only make +matters worse.</p> + +<p>"You fell asleep," she began, "and I thought +you had fainted, so I sprinkled a little water over +you. I beg your pardon!"</p> + +<p>"How stupid you are!" Signor Marcello exclaimed. +"At first I could not understand, but then +I guessed it must have happened in that way. But +it was stupid of you."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I fear it was."</p> + +<p>Teresina was greatly relieved. She could hardly +have hoped for anything better than that her master +should believe he had been asleep. She was about +to withdraw when Signor Marcello stopped her with +a wave of his hand.</p> + +<p>"I want to know whether the train from Schio +has arrived."</p> + +<p>"I don't know—non so no," Teresina stammered, +and then quickly begged him to excuse a phrase +savouring of the dialect of Trent, which never failed +to irritate Signor Marcello. She passed slowly in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</span>front of her master and took up the snuffers, intending +to mend one of the wicks of the Florentine lamp, +which had begun to smoke.</p> + +<p>"Let it alone!" he growled. "Do you suppose +I cannot snuff a wick better than you can?"</p> + +<p>Again the servant asked his pardon and left the +room, walking on tiptoe lest the noise of her steps +should cause him further irritation. She had hardly +begun to tell Leila about her master, when she was +once more summoned by the double ring.</p> + +<p>"What does he want now?" Teresina wondered +anxiously.</p> + +<p>She saw at once that Signor Marcello's face had +changed—that it was now all gentleness.</p> + +<p>"Forgive me," he said kindly. "Perhaps, after +all, it is I who am stupid. Were my eyes open or +closed when I was asleep?"</p> + +<p>"They were closed."</p> + +<p>"Did I not open them at all? Did you not see +the white of my eyeballs?"</p> + +<p>Teresina's blood ran cold, and she hesitated an +instant before answering in the negative. Her +master was scrutinising her with that inquisitorial +glance that always made her shiver. She became +confused, and instead of insisting in her denial, +declared she really could not remember.</p> + +<p>"And where did you get the water?" Signor +Marcello asked quietly.</p> + +<p>Teresina had filled a glass at the washstand in +his bedroom beyond the study. She saw that by +confessing this she would be admitting that the +questionable nap had lasted a certain length of time. +She failed, however, to find a fitting lie on the spur +of the moment, and so answered truthfully, but with +the hesitation of one who confesses reluctantly.</p> + +<p>Signor Marcello gazed searchingly at her a little +longer, and then said gently:</p> + +<p>"You can go now, my dear. Let me know when +Signor Alberti arrives."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</span></p> + +<p>Teresina left the room, alarmed, she knew not +why, by his extreme gentleness. It was the third +time in two-and-twenty years that he had addressed +her as "my dear." He had pronounced the words +carelessly enough the first time, when she had presented +herself to him on entering his service. He +had uttered them a second time, impelled by profound +emotion, upon the death of his only son, Andrea, +when he had thanked her for her part in the nursing +which she had shared with himself, the mother being +incapacitated by the disease that killed her a year +and a half later. The quiet tenderness of this third +<em>cara</em> was something quite new.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Alone once more, Signor Marcello rose slowly to +his feet. His face was colourless. Turning to the +broad window, he joined his hands as in prayer, +gazing with reverent eyes at the dark sky above +the Torraro and the army of mighty chestnuts extending +from the slope of Lago di Velo to the ravine +of the Posina. He was close upon his seventy-second +year—his father's age on that night when a similar +attack of arteriosclerosis had overcome him, and +the doctor's verdict had prepared the family for the +old man's death five months afterwards.</p> + +<p>The silent flame of the lamp that had been found +burning by his dead father's side seemed a living +symbol of that tragedy. But to Signor Marcello the +moment was not tragic; it was the solemn warning +of the coming of a welcome day, the happiest that +God could now grant him, of departure and eternal +reunion with beloved ones. His heart was full of +tenderness, and yet fear of the God of love who +is also the God of justice swayed him. His soul +glowed and quivered, but was speechless, like the +wavering flame of the lamp.</p> + +<p>Teresina suspected that her master had been +thinking of his father's death. She said nothing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span>of this, however, to the Signorina, who was probably +ignorant of those circumstances. She determined +only to inform the doctor of what had happened +and, for to-night at least, to spare Signor Marcello +an interview with young Alberti, who had been his +poor Andrea's dearest friend. Alberti was really +coming to Velo to visit the curate of Sant' Ubaldo, +but the priest, being unable to put him up, had +begged the hospitability of the Montanina for his +friend.</p> + +<p>"And of course he must needs arrive on this +particular evening!" grumbled Teresina.</p> + +<p>Leila thought she heard steps in the garden.</p> + +<p>"It is surely he," said the maid. "The train +whistled long ago."</p> + +<p>Leila started. "Don't call me!" she ordered, +and ran out by the door to the servants' stairway, +which she ascended very slowly, pausing at intervals +to listen. In her own room she crossed to the +window. There was no sound of steps, nor could +she hear voices. Impatient with herself, she thought: +"After all, what is it to me?" and turning from +the window, she once more read the crumpled letter. +She read it with knitted brow, from time to time +raising her eyes—strange eyes of an indefinable colour—letting +their stern glance follow some thought from +the letter seemingly into space. Again her hand +crushed the sheet, and she flung it on the floor.</p> + +<p>At that moment the sound of distant voices floated +through the open window. Leila started and raised +her head to listen. The voices came from lower +down, from the foot of the garden by the entrance, +close to the tiny church of Santa Maria ad Montes. +Her light eyebrows contracted quickly once more, +and her small, whimsical face assumed an indescribable +expression of fierce pride. She rose, +picked up the letter, and closed the window. What +was this Alberti to her?</p> + +<p>She was neither the daughter nor a relation of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span>Signor Marcello. She was a pure flower that had +blossomed amidst foulness upon an evil stem. The +only son of the house of Trento, poor Andrea, had +loved her when she was still little more than a +child, and had wished to make her his wife. When +he died his parents, who had always strenuously +opposed this marriage, had taken Leila into their +home, buying her, as it were, with gold, that this +maiden who had been so dear to him might be +preserved from the corruption of this world, and +prompted also perhaps by a sense of affectionate +remorse for the grief they had caused their beloved.</p> + +<p>From her earliest girlhood Leila had had no +illusions about her parents, especially her mother, +whom she judged with precocious insight that sprang +from the early recognition of certain tendencies +within herself, when the experiences of her own home +seemed to tell her that life held no further secrets. +These tendencies she despised and hated with all +the strength of her proud spirit, as in her heart +she despised her mother, her contempt at times +breaking through her rigid self-imposed restraint. +From the age of twelve to fifteen she went to the +convent school of the Sacred Heart, where she was +distinguished for her talents, her love of study, and +her pronounced musical ability. At sixteen she +became engaged to Andrea, who was then about +eighteen, and was studying mathematics at Padua, +her native town. Her parents, Signor Girolamo +Camin and his wife Chiara, had appropriated the +"da," denoting noble origin, and were known as +<em>da</em> Camin. Signor Girolamo was a vulgar intriguer, +who had more than once been declared insolvent, +and also dabbled in politics.</p> + +<p>Signora Chiara, who had seen much and not +inglorious service in the ranks of gallantry, left her +husband unceremoniously at about the time the +student Andrea Trento was beginning to fall in love +with her daughter. Although already middle-aged, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span>she settled in Milan in the company of an elderly +Austrian, who died almost immediately, and left her +a comfortable fortune. She then gave herself up +to a life of piety, and opened her house to priests, +friars, and nuns, who were easily led to believe her +a widow. Girolamo, on his part, employed a vulgar +woman as his housekeeper, carefully concealing his +weakness for her, but showing himself too tolerant +of the airs of a mistress which the coarse creature +was quick to assume.</p> + +<p>Motives of gratitude and a girlish sense of vanity +at being admired and desired, rather than love, had +prompted Leila to accept Andrea. He was too young +for her, too light-hearted, too immature to understand +the moral conflict that was stirring in the +depths of her soul. Handsome, intelligent, and +generous, Andrea Trento was humble of mind, underrating +his own talents but quick to admire those +of others.</p> + +<p>Of all his friends Massimo Alberti of Milan was +his favourite. The ties that bound them were rather +those resulting from a long friendship between the +two families than any that had sprung from their +university life together. Massimo Alberti, who was +several years older than Andrea, was at Padua +finishing the medical course he had begun in Rome +when Andrea entered the university. His friend's +talents, his broad culture, and the sobriety of his +mode of life filled Andrea with admiration. Leila +he also looked upon as vastly superior to himself, +and often talked to her of Alberti, whom she had +never seen. On one occasion he even told her, in +a transport of love and humility, that Alberti was +much more worthy than himself to become her +husband. Leila, who was far from meek, and whose +habit it was to follow any assertion to its ultimate +consequences, had reflected that such language was +doubtless virtuous, but most unpleasant and inopportune. +This was not her idea of love. On one +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span>pretext and another she had always managed to +avoid meeting her lover's friend.</p> + +<p>Andrea's death grieved her so deeply that she +formed an exaggerated estimate of her affection +for him, confusing it with her compassion. +When her father whiningly informed her that he +had been asked to make a great sacrifice for her +benefit, that Andrea's parents wished her to live +with them as their daughter in memory of the son +they had lost, and that, although his heart might +bleed, he was prepared to accept a proposal so +advantageous to her, she immediately guessed the +nature of the bargain he was hiding from her, and +flung out an indignant refusal in a transport of +offended pride, vindicating, for the moment, her +right to maintain the family honour, so ill defended +by this despicable father of hers. But afterwards, +since her rage against him was so great and her +loathing of the filth he had dared to drag to the +very hearthstone was so intense, she withdrew her +refusal, her thoughts dwelling the while on the poor +lad who was dead.</p> + +<p>She accepted the Trentos' offer, but the act of +entering their house as a thing paid for was a severe +trial. She soon perceived that one of the conditions +of the bargain was that her father should not enter +the precincts of the Montanina, and this condition +was a source of relief and yet of sorrow to her. Her +attitude towards the Trentos was at first cold. She +seemed to be trying to show them silently that she +felt no gratitude; that she was aware they had +desired her only as a sort of relic of their dead +son; that, after all, they were the persons benefited, +and that she had consented to become their benefactress +only in memory of him, and not from +motives of affection towards themselves. Under +these conditions Signor Marcello's fiery temper +made a rupture probable, and, after his first most +affectionate welcome, many storms did indeed arise +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span>between them. But Signora Trento's gentleness and +Leila's musical accomplishments combined to save +the situation. The husband softened under the influence +of his wife's gentle virtues and at sight of the +suffering which soon brought her to the grave. +Music did the rest. Signor Marcello, who was a +fair pianist, found in music a mystic expression of +his deepest grief, hope, vague memories, and regrets. +He and Leila both brought to the piano the same +intense passion and the same tastes. Secret +antagonism might indeed long dwell within the +hearts of both, but their sympathy in music facilitated +a mutual recognition—albeit measured and intermittent—of +the beauty that lay in the nature of each, +and a mutual tolerance, also measured and intermittent, +of what in one was displeasing to the other.</p> + +<p>Signora Trento's death brought about a crisis in +their relations to each other. Little by little Leila +had allowed herself to be won over by the lady's +gentle ways; and her care of the poor invalid +had softened Signor Marcello's heart. His attitude +towards Leila grew day by day more tender +and paternal; day by day he failed somewhat both +in look and bearing and grew more indifferent to +the things of this world, except music and, to a +certain extent, flowers, becoming ever more absorbed +in thoughts of the things of eternity; and thus at +last the girl came to feel a filial reverence for him, +and the feelings she had experienced on entering his +house for the first time no longer ruled her. This +recent loss of consciousness, which Signor Marcello +had failed to realise, and Teresina's face, more than +her words, stirred Leila deeply, despite the fact that +her mind was so full of the expected arrival of +Massimo Alberti. Three years had passed since +Andrea's death, and since his friend's funeral Alberti +had not visited the Montanina; but he never allowed +New Year's Day and certain other anniversaries to +pass without sending some word of greeting to Signor +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span>Marcello. The old man appreciated these attentions, +and would often speak of them to Leila, sometimes +expressing regret that he had not again had the +pleasure of meeting Alberti. Leila always let the +subject drop as soon as possible. Poor Andrea's +unpleasant words had never faded from her memory; +the tenacity of this recollection annoyed her, and she +despised herself for dwelling upon it. Whenever +Signor Marcello mentioned Alberti's name she +invariably experienced a sense of persecution and +irritation, for he rarely did so without adding some +word of praise and of affection. This real sense of +repulsion increased rather than diminished with time. +She could not help associating it in her thoughts with +a fading memory of Andrea and with other dim +emotions of her soul—a nameless gloom, flashes of +inexplicable gaiety, which she found it difficult to +check, tears provoked by music, and a sense of brief +but almost fearful intoxication imparted by the life +of Nature, by flowering fields, and woods in the +vigorous freshness of June. The meaning of these +vague feelings did not entirely escape her. The idea +that she was yearning towards love, that blind +instincts inherited from her parents were dragging +her towards it, was bound up with the dread that one +passion might develop within her heart and take firm +root there. Thus she explained to herself her aversion +to Alberti's name and personality, and her +clear analysis of her own mind only increased her +irritation with herself. She felt that it was her duty +never to love again, her duty towards Andrea's +memory and towards Signor Marcello, which she had +tacitly acknowledged by accepting the part of living +relic of the dead; but, above all, she felt it was her +duty towards herself, for she would never stoop to +the life of most women, she to whom, in spite of +dishonoured parents and tainted blood, destiny had +offered the opportunity of a life of glorious purity. +In such a state of mind the very act of considering +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span>that lurking memory in which a germ of passion +might be concealed sent the blood rushing to that +particular nerve-cell, and something was indeed +generated by the plastic power of the blood itself. +Signor Marcello's delighted announcement that +Massimo Alberti was to be a guest at the Montanina +made her shudder, but a quick revulsion of feeling +brought anger that was akin to remorse. Nevertheless, +when she cried out, "What is this Alberti +to me?" Leila was conscious, alas! that she was +insincere.</p> + +<p>Before going to bed she kissed Andrea's likeness, +which she wore in the medallion, and a little ring he +had once given her as a peace-offering after a sharp +quarrel. Then, having put out the light, she turned +her face to the wall, drew the sheet over her head, +and burst into tears.</p> + + +<h3>II</h3> + +<p>As he wended his way upwards from the station of +Arsiero to the Montanina, Massimo Alberti, who had +arrived from Milan after a journey of nearly eight +hours, amidst dust, smoke, and noise, in all the heat +of burning June, thought he must be dreaming. The +moonless sky was cloudy, folds of white mist lay +around the brow of Priaforà and the cliffs of +Summano, which point up into the sky like the teeth +of a saw lying above softly wooded heights; the +light mountain breeze was flinging wild odours across +the uplands, and the many voices of small waters, +falling into the hollows of the ravines, sounded +in his ears; but nowhere was there a note of +human life. The road gave out the scent of wet +earth, which was pleasant after so much dust. Where +it turns, entering a ravine, and revealing, higher up, +a clump of chestnuts crescent-shaped below a black +diadem, formed by the points of towering pines +beyond, the peasant from Lago di Velo, Simone, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span>commonly called <em>Cioci</em>, who was going on ahead +carrying Massimo's luggage, waited to inquire if the +Signore were going to Velo, to Sant' Ubaldo, or to +the Montanina.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" Massimo exclaimed in +amazement. "I am going to Don Aurelio's, at Sant' +Ubaldo."</p> + +<p>Whereupon his quick-witted guide, who at the +station had contented himself with proffering Don +Aurelio's excuses, saying he had remained at Velo to +attend to a sick old man, now answered quietly:</p> + +<p>"Because the priest has no room for you, you +know."</p> + +<p>Massimo was astonished. No room? Had his +friend not written that there was a room ready for +him? Cioci explained the case after his own fashion.</p> + +<p>"It is because of Carnesecca, you see."</p> + +<p>This explanation only added to Massimo's +bewilderment. <em>Carnesecca?</em> What was <em>Carnesecca</em>?</p> + +<p>"Because he has taken him into his house, you +see."</p> + +<p>Massimo gave up trying to understand. Then +where was Don Aurelio sending him, as he could not +have him himself? With some difficulty he drew +from his guide the information that Don Aurelio had +ordered him to take the stranger to the Montanina. +Why, then, good heavens! had he not said so at +once?</p> + +<p>"I thought you would ask in time," said Cioci.</p> + +<p>Massimo ordered him to lead on to the Montanina. +He was annoyed, and he reflected that priests, even +the best and dearest of them, are sometimes just a +little wanting in tact. He had the greatest respect +for Signor Marcello, but he was unwilling to grasp +hospitality that had not been offered. He was +annoyed also at the thought of meeting other guests at +the Montanina, of not being able to enjoy that +freedom and quiet for which he so longed, and which +he had promised himself on leaving Milan. He was, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span>moreover, displeased at not having been informed of +this change in time. He might easily have postponed +his arrival. When they had gone another hundred +yards honest Cioci stopped, and once more turned to +address Massimo.</p> + +<p>The priest had sent word that Signor Marcello was +very grateful to him for going to his house.</p> + +<p>At the last turn, where the road to the Montanina +branches off from that leading to Velo, Cioci made a +final pause and shot out a final message—the priest +had said that if the gentleman had luggage in the +van he was to tell the station-master, and they would +send for it next morning with a cart.</p> + +<p>Massimo could not suppress a smile. No, he had +nothing in the van. This time Cioci laughed also.</p> + +<p>"Cossa vóla, sior! What would you, sir! There +were so many of them!"</p> + +<p>To the Montanina, then. The annoyance Massimo +had at first experienced gave way to other thoughts. +His heart ached as he recalled his friend, who had +died so young, who had been so good, so dear, so +frank and full of spirits; who had told him with so +much enthusiasm of Velo d'Astico and of the Montanina, +of his faith in his mother's gentle kindness, +which would soon lead her to consent, and would then +obtain his father's consent as well, to the union for +which he yearned. Andrea had also described to his +friend the little apartments which would be the scene +of his future bliss—three rooms and a terrace on the +west side of the villa. And now, where were the joy +and the sweetness of all those hopes? where was that +fair head, that beautiful face sparkling with life and +spirits, that warm and honest heart? Beneath the +sod; while the woods, the hills, the voices of deep-flowing +Posina and the murmurings of small and +plaintive waters all went on as before. Here was +the old chestnut-tree with its trunk split like a three-branched +candelabrum; here, at the turn of the road, +the strange little church loomed in dim whiteness; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span>and now, farther up, the villa showing palely, and +the dark brow of great, pensive Priaforà.</p> + +<p>A year before Andrea's death he and Massimo +had talked together, beneath this chestnut-tree, of +the Camin family, and of the necessity of keeping +them all, even her father, away from Leila after her +marriage. Andrea was convinced of this necessity, +and said that the girl wished it as much as he did. +He had been enthusiastic in his praise of her high-mindedness +and the precocious maturity of her intellect. +At this point he had confessed that he had not +been quite honest with his parents concerning Leila's +age. The girl was about sixteen, and he had said +she was eighteen.</p> + +<p>Instinctively Massimo paused and placed his hand +upon the trunk of the chestnut, this surviving witness; +and he thought of the lad with God. It seemed to +him that the tree, the modest little church, and the +frowning mountain were sharing the thought with +him.</p> + +<p>"Are you tired, sir?" asked Cioci, who had also +stopped. Massimo roused himself.</p> + +<p>"No, no. Let us be getting on," said he; and, +to free himself from his sad thoughts, he began +talking with Cioci of the priest. The people of Sant' +Ubaldo must be well pleased with their priest.</p> + +<p>"Ah, cossa vóla! What would you!" Cioci exclaimed. +The expression was a panegyric; it was as +if he had said: "How can I be expected to express +the inexpressible?" And he added, "A great head, +I tell you!"</p> + +<p>As they were passing the little church of Santa +Maria ad Montes a woman's voice called from above:</p> + +<p>"Cioci! This way, Cioci!"</p> + +<p>"Signora!" Cioci answered, pausing.</p> + +<p>The Signora was Teresina, who soon appeared +at the gate to the footpath beside the church. She +admitted Cioci, and sent him on towards the house +with his load, while she detained Alberti.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span></p> + +<p>He remembered her as the maid who had +bandaged a sprain he had managed to get coming +down from Colletto Grande with Andrea. She was +eager to tell him that her master, Signor Marcello, was +delighted to be able to entertain him, but that his +health was none too good, and that this meeting +would surely move him deeply. She therefore took +the liberty of begging Massimo to pretend he was +greatly fatigued after his journey, and to withdraw +early, so that the master might follow his example. +This was the Signorina's wish as well.</p> + +<p>The Signorina? Of course—Massimo had not +thought of her. Signorina da Camin now lived at +the Montanina. Massimo, accepting Andrea's word, +as Andrea himself had accepted that of Signor +Girolamo, had always called her thus instead of by +her true name, Camin, and Leila herself believed in +her right to the "da." Massimo had seen her but +once, and that in the street and at a distance. He +had, however, seen two photographs of her, which +his friend had shown him, and he distinctly recalled +the two entirely different impressions they had conveyed. +He remembered the dainty head of a girl +of sixteen, with hair carefully dressed, somewhat +irregular features, and smiling eyes that seemed to +be gazing into the object-glass and inquiring, "Is +that right?"</p> + +<p>He remembered another dainty head with somewhat +disordered hair, a head drooping slightly +forward and looking down, so that the eyes were +hidden. He had paid but little attention to the +first, but the second had struck him. This face +might have been that of a being conscious of deep +guilt or of an unhappy fate; it might have been a +face upon which love was gazing, and which was +striving to conceal love; it might have been simply +the face of a young girl lost in thought. Compared +with the other it was the more youthful face of a +deeper soul; it was the face of a child of fifteen +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span>who, both morally and intellectually, was as mature +as any woman of thirty. The very idea of having +her photograph taken in that position pointed to +something strange and strong in the mind of the +poser. Massimo had been fascinated by the picture, +but upon restoring it to his friend had refrained from +confiding to him his doubt as to whether this tempting +creature, with her air of a grieving and thoughtful +sphinx, would fit his nature and be capable of +forming his happiness. He remembered now that +for many days the face of the girl-sphinx had +haunted him with troubling insistence. As he +followed Teresina, the image of the two small, fair +heads, that were so distinct, once more flashed across +his mind. In his thoughts the question which one +of the two he would find was already forming itself, +but he dismissed the thought as an unfitting one. +Nor did Teresina succeed in distracting his thoughts +by her account of how, since early morning, Signor +Marcello had been eagerly looking forward to his +arrival. He had invented an excuse for getting +herself and the footman out of the way, yes, and the +Signorina also (who, however, had seen through his +stratagem), that no one might see him enter the room +prepared for his guest. First he had gone into the +garden and gathered some roses with his own hands. +These he had taken to the room in all secrecy. Not +that he expected his action would remain unobserved, +for, of course, the servants would have to go into +the room before the guest's arrival to put fresh +water at the last moment and to see if everything +was in order. It was that he did not wish to be +under observation whilst going in and while he +remained there, probably because he felt that he +would be exposing his inmost emotions to a witness, +and this was a thing he abhorred.</p> + +<p>Before reaching the villa Teresina and Massimo +met Cioci, who, freed from his burden, and desiring, +for no very unperceivable reason, to pay his respects +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span>to the stranger, had chosen this far less easy way +to Lago, instead of going straight there through the +upper part of the garden.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, good-night to you," he said, taking +off his cap.</p> + +<p>Having received what he was waiting for and +having thanked the generous traveller, he told +Teresina that her master was close behind him on +his way down.</p> + +<p>"There!" cried the woman, "it is just as I +thought!"</p> + +<p>They met Signor Marcello near the level space on +which the villa stands. It was dark, and he was +advancing with stooping shoulders and unsteady +tread. Massimo hurried upwards to join him, and +was immediately clasped in a close and silent +embrace. He began at once to offer his excuses for +thus intruding, laying the blame at Don Aurelio's +door, the old man repeating the while, in a voice +that betrayed his feelings:</p> + +<p>"You do not know, you do not know what a joy +it is to me to see you, to embrace you once +more!" And again he strained Alberti to his +breast.</p> + +<p>They crossed the level space, and passing through +the dining-room, entered the salon, Signor Marcello +leaning upon Massimo's arm. He expressed the wish +that his guest should be conducted to his room without +delay, saying they would have a talk together +afterwards. Massimo would have preferred to +remain with him at present for a little time, so +that Signor Marcello might soon be free to go to bed. +But Signor Marcello would not hear of this, and +Teresina, who knew well how many childish whims +her old master's heart contained, divined how anxious +and impatient he was that his guest should see how +he had prepared his room. She therefore added a +gentle invitation to her master's, thus conveying to +Massimo that it would be wiser to yield.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span></p> + +<p>As he was leaving the room Signor Marcello remarked +that he would wait for him there, and that +they would have coffee together.</p> + +<p>Teresina accompanied the visitor to the very +apartment in which, in his dreams of the future, +poor Andrea had pictured himself with Leila. She +ushered him into the small room that opened upon +the west terrace. The light revealed to her all her +master's preparations, and she exclaimed softly:</p> + +<p>"Poor, poor Signor Marcello!" Then, amidst +many excuses, she advised Massimo to let his host +understand that he had observed everything, without +speaking openly of all the arrangements. +Thereupon she withdrew.</p> + +<p>On the marble top of the chest of drawers a beautiful +white rose bent its head from a tall crystal cup, +above a photograph of Andrea. Upon the bedside +table rested a handsomely-bound copy of the "Imitation +of Christ," and a small packet of letters tied +together with a black ribbon. This packet Massimo +opened, not without curiosity. They were his own +letters to Andrea. He then proceeded to examine the +"Imitation," expecting that this also was a souvenir, +and found written within its cover the words:</p> + +<p>"To dear Andrea, on the day of his first Communion. +Rachele Alberti Vittuoni."</p> + +<p>It was his mother's name, and she, too, had long +been dead. He pressed his lips to the writing. +Through the open window the deep voice of Posina +and the soft murmur of the Riderella, that hurries +through the garden close by the villa, alone broke +the silence. Amidst the hush and the repose of +Nature, in the majesty of the night, the small room +with its many memories seemed a sanctuary. Still +praying silently, he put out the light and left the +room. Teresina was waiting for him in the corridor. +The master, she said, seemed somewhat excited, and +she was anxious that he should retire early. As a +matter of fact he had complained of Leila's absence, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span>and was upset at her having withdrawn, but this the +maid refrained from mentioning.</p> + +<p>Massimo did not find Signor Marcello in the drawing-room, +but in the garden, where he was seated +upon one of the benches on the west side of the +villa, having preferred that their talk should take +place there in the dark. Alberti would have kissed +the old man's hand, but this Signor Marcello would +not allow, and making Alberti sit beside him, he +put his arm around his shoulder.</p> + +<p>They sat silent for some time in the chill breath +of black, overhanging Priaforà, Signor Marcello +staring into the shadows with unseeing eyes, while +Massimo listened to the voices of Posina and of the +Riderella, which led him back to the chamber of +memories, and watched almost unconsciously the +lights of Arsiero, scattered like a swarm of fireflies +amidst the gloom, lower down on the right, beyond +the Valley of Posina, in the hollow below the heights +of San Rocco and the sky-piercing peaks of Caviogio. +Presently Massimo referred to the lateness of the +hour, but Signor Marcello drew the young man +towards him with an impetuous movement.</p> + +<p>"No, no!" he cried, and began to question +Massimo eagerly concerning himself and Don +Aurelio. Massimo had to tell him, in as few words +as possible, how, when a medical student in Rome, +he had met the present priest of Lago; how Don +Aurelio and he had had a mutual friend, a man of +whom much had been said, both in praise and in +condemnation—a species of lay apostle. Massimo +was sure Don Aurelio must have spoken of him, and +was greatly astonished to find that the name of Piero +Maironi, as well as that of Benedetto, was quite +unknown to Signor Marcello. Feeling that this was +not the moment for enlarging upon a subject that +would have led to lengthy discussion, Massimo contented +himself with stating that Don Aurelio, having +no fixed occupation in Rome, had, through the kind +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span>offices of a member of the clergy, been received +by the Bishop of Vicenza into his diocese and appointed +to the cure of Lago di Velo. He pronounced +him a godly man, devoted to his ministry, full of +charity and Divine love, and averse to religious strife. +Signor Marcello seconded this praise in a voice hoarse +with emotion, and the deep sighs accompanying his +words told clearly that it was an emotion of longing +that the Church might be blessed with many such +priests as Don Aurelio.</p> + +<p>Teresina's voice reached them out of the darkness.</p> + +<p>"Master, I am sure Signor Alberti must be tired."</p> + +<p>"Let us alone!" said Signor Marcello, but quietly +enough. "I know quite well what you want. I am +not tiring myself!"</p> + +<p>"Gèsu!" sighed the poor woman anxiously under +her breath, but she did not venture to insist.</p> + +<p>Massimo had now to tell of himself, of his reluctance +to practise his profession, although his studies +and time of probation were over; and he talked +of the things that had distracted him from it. Once +more he took for granted that Don Aurelio had +spoken of this, that Signor Marcello knew about +his lectures, his writings of a theo-philosophical +character, and the sharp opposition and disapproval +from different sources that these had brought, about +his weariness of soul and the longing for peace that +had brought him to the mountain solitudes of Velo +d'Astico.</p> + +<p>But Signor Marcello knew nothing of all this, +and showed himself deeply affected by the account +of it. Once more he drew the young man's head +towards his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," said he, "stay here and let philosophy +alone. Those little lights shining down there +amidst the gloom are like philosophy. Who goes +about at night with a light no longer sees the stars. +Ah, the stars, the stars!"</p> + +<p>Massimo pointed out, with a smile, that, light +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span>or no light, there were no stars to be seen on this +particular night.</p> + +<p>"Ah, but I see them!" his companion exclaimed +fervently. "Only this very evening I saw a precious +message written among them for me! I saw it +there—just there!"</p> + +<p>He pointed to the grey clouds above black Torraro. +During their entire conversation this remark and +the gesture that accompanied it were the only signs +of a slight mental agitation which Massimo noted +in the old man. But, taking them together with +what the maid had said, they were sufficient to alarm +him. Rising resolutely, he declared he was very +tired, and asked permission to retire.</p> + +<p>"But we have not had our coffee," said Signor +Marcello.</p> + +<p>Massimo said he was not in the habit of taking +coffee in the evening. The old man begged him at +least to bear him company while he took his own, and +Massimo was casting about for a mode of escape, +fearing to be drawn again into lengthy conversation, +when Teresina, who was keeping guard in the +verandah of the villa in the near vicinity of the +benches, came forward, telling her master she had +taken his coffee to his bedroom. Before his astonishment +would allow him to protest she was on her +way to the kitchen to turn her untruth into a sort +of prophecy. And thus, at last, she carried her +point. Massimo went up the double stairway of +wood leading from the drawing-room to the floor +above, while Signor Marcello retired to his bedroom +on the ground floor, which adjoined the study and +looked out on the near slopes of Priaforà.</p> + + +<h3>III</h3> + +<p>The house had been dark for some time and most +of its inmates were asleep when Signor Marcello +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span>left his room, a tall, stooping figure, the Florentine +lamp swinging from his left hand, while with the +other he held a closed portfolio against his breast. +He passed slowly through study and billiard-room, +and entering the salon, placed the lamp above the +piano that stood crosswise, almost directly beneath +one branch of the stairway, the light suddenly bringing +out of the shadows his deeply-lined face, now +radiant with tenderness and love. Placing the portfolio +on the music-rest, he opened it with great +deliberation, and with trembling hands drew from +it a portrait of his son and gazed long at it. His +lips were trembling also, and his eyes were full +of tears. The little brass lamp, so much dearer +to him than those rich ones hanging from the ceiling, +seemed to shed a happy light upon the lad's handsome +face, mysteriously alive with new and tender +meaning. The father pressed a long kiss upon the +boy's forehead; then very slowly and very reverently +placing it upon the rest once more, he dropped his +large, thin hands upon the keyboard and began to +play, with face upturned and closed eyes.</p> + +<p>He was not an accomplished pianist, but his soul +understood music. His deep religious faith, his +affections, his keen sense of beauty led him +naturally towards musical expression. He reverenced +Beethoven no less than Dante and hardly less +than St. John the Apostle; Haydn, Mozart, and +Bach were to him no less than Giambellino and +Mark, Matthew, and Luke; and, as he read the +Gospels, so he daily studied some one of the four +evangelists of music. Often the evening hour of +memories and fancies would find him at the piano +rapt in ecstasy, touching pathetic chords, absorbed +in the effort to express in music his own innermost +feelings, oblivious to things of the present and +to the passage of time. With upturned face and +closed eyes he was now touching the keyboard tentatively +with those long, thin hands of his, as a blind +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span>man feels the air. He was searching for that last +song by Pergolese:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container p11"> +<div class="poetry"><p> + "Quando corpus morietur<br> + Fac ut animæ donetur<br> + Paradisi gloria."</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p>He sought it in vain, and strove eagerly for a +like harmony of increasing depth and solemnity that +should tell of the slow dissolution of mortality, of +the end of tired day, then of uprising tones pressing +close upon each other, breathless and frenzied, +towards visions of delight. At this point he ceased +to follow Pergolese and poured into his music a +full and enraptured idea of the words "Paradisi +gloria," tears coursing down his cheeks the while. +He was meeting Andrea, his dear one, in another +world of infinite love, of all light, and, perhaps, all +music, and his earthly music trembled with desire +for its Divine ideal. Presently other memories +pressed upon him—memories of his sins, of his +human frailties, starting up together out of the dark +places in memory, quick with fearful life, like innumerable, +forgotten foes, rushing out of ambush, +each shouting his evil name. The glories of Paradise +and of his communion with the beloved dead, despite +his strong faith in God and his firmly-rooted conviction +of approaching death, were devoid of distinct +form, luminous, obscured by the mists of their own +brilliance. It was easy for him to speak and think +of them in music. But it was not so with the +biting memories of sin. His wrists bent weakly, +his hands hung motionless from the keyboard, his +head fell forward on his breast.</p> + +<p>It was but for a brief instant, however. His +humility, a stranger to that bitterness of pride upon +a moral fall, naturally moved him to look for Divine +mercy. He raised his head once more and his hands, +and poured his soul into the music of a <em>Miserere</em>, +passionate indeed, but full also of the sense of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span>generous absolution; a prayer abounding in gratefulness +and delight, almost as if the penitent rejoiced +that his heavenly Father should be more loving and +forgiving towards him than any human father. His +hands were moving in a melody of grief and love, +born from some subconscious memory, of Bellini:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container p11"> +<div class="poetry"> +<p> + "Vieni, dicea, concedi<br> + Ch'io mi ti prostri ai piedi." +</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p>Surely in all his life Marcello had never made his +piano speak so wonderfully. He realised this and +took momentary pleasure in it, and with his emotion +there mingled a feeling of tenderness for the old, +worn-out instrument itself, despised by Leila and +fast nearing its end.</p> + +<p>He played on, with never a thought that others +might be listening. Teresina, who, for that night, +had wisely prepared a bed for herself in a room +on the ground-floor, heard the piano, and hastening +to find out what was happening, caught sight of her +master. Bewildered and frightened, she hurried +upstairs to tell Leila, who occupied an east room +on the first floor, and to consult her. Was the master +in his right mind, or was this the beginning of +some mental disorder? Would it not be wise to +descend and persuade him to go to bed? And +should she do this—or the Signorina? She helped +Leila to dress quickly, murmuring under her breath +the while, "Gèsu, Gèsu!" Leila was silent, determined +first to see and hear for herself. The two +women went on tiptoe into the gallery to the head +of the stairway, from whence there was a view of +the drawing-room, through the stair opening, and +also between the short wooden columns on either +side. But not even by peering between the columns +could the piano be seen. Signor Marcello being +slightly deaf, the two women ventured to descend +the right arm of the stairway far enough to enable +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span>them to see the musician's back, dimly lit by the +lamp that stood upon the piano. Those stooping +shoulders and massive head, swaying with the rhythm +of the music, seemed instinct with passion.</p> + +<p>"Gèsu, Signorina!" the maid whispered, "I <em>must</em> +go down."</p> + +<p>Leila grasped her arm and frowned. Teresina, +looking at her in astonishment, saw her place her +finger upon her lips. She could not know that Leila, +who was an exquisite musician, recognised in those +notes the outpourings of a mind, not indeed confused +by delirium, but rapt in ecstasy. She was +aware only that she must not move.</p> + +<p>A few solemn chords ended Marcello's improvisation, +that mystic prelude to the future. He closed +the portfolio, and, crossing his arms, pressed his +forehead against it.</p> + +<p>"Gèsu, Signore!" the servant exclaimed, starting +forward, but again Leila held her back, and whispering, +"I will go," descended the stairs.</p> + +<p>She went down slowly, careless of the creaking +wooden steps, her hand resting upon the banister, +her eyes fixed upon Marcello. She was not troubled +concerning him, seeing in his attitude merely the +effect of an emotion which, but now, had vibrated in +his music, and due evidently to the meeting with poor +Andrea's friend. She was going down simply in +order to persuade him to retire, without alarming +him, as Teresina might have done. She had +descended barely halfway when Marcello heard her, +and raising his head, demanded sharply:</p> + +<p>"Who is there?"</p> + +<p>"I, Papa," said she, and hastening forward, was +beside him in an instant.</p> + +<p>"You here? Not in bed yet?"</p> + +<p>Marcello seemed both pleased and astonished.</p> + +<p>Leila smiled.</p> + +<p>"Not in bed yet, as you see!" she answered, +adding with a quaint little accent she had picked +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span>up at school from a Roman girl, and which she +sometimes used: "You keep us all awake!"</p> + +<p>Suddenly she remembered that on first coming +to live with the Trentos she had one day happened +to say the same words to Signor Marcello with the +same accent, to express a necessity to which one +must perforce submit. Signor Marcello had been +amused at first, but she had thoughtlessly told him +that poor Andrea had also delighted in that quaint +inflection, whereupon he had become silent and depressed. +And now, hardly had she uttered the +words, "You keep us all awake!" before the +memory of that unhappy silence overcame her, and, +thinking that his face showed that he also remembered, +she dropped her eyes in intense confusion. +Marcello gazed tenderly upon her, raised his hands +to the keyboard, his eyes still watching her, and +struck the first notes of a melody by Schumann that +poor Andrea had often hummed and which Leila +sometimes played to the old man in the dark, never +speaking of it either beforehand or afterwards:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container p11"> +<div class="poetry"> +<p> + "O lass im Traume mich sterben,<br> + Gewieget an seiner Brust...." +</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p>Leila trembled. It seemed to her that Signor +Marcello was saying in those sweet notes: "Do not +fear to speak to me of him." He turned his eyes +away from her and glanced upwards as if seeking +the notes in his memory, his hands following with +sudden passion the melody:</p> + + +<div class="poetry-container p11"> +<div class="poetry"> +<p> + "Den seligen Tod mich schlürfen<br> + In Thränen unendlicher Lust...." +</p> +</div> +</div> + + +<p>She grew alarmed, and resting her hand on his +shoulder, murmured very softly:</p> + +<p>"Enough, Papa! You are exciting yourself. It +is late and you had really better go to bed."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span></p> + +<p>Marcello stopped playing, took the hand she was +withdrawing from his shoulder, and held it affectionately +between his own cold ones.</p> + +<p>"I am all right, Leila," he said. "I am perfectly +well."</p> + +<p>During the last two months of his life, after a +slight quarrel, Andrea had taken to calling her +"Leila." For Marcello, who had heard of this from +his wife, to address her as "Leila" was almost +like saying "Andrea," almost like pronouncing that +name he could not utter without suffering, that name +he was always repeating in his heart, but which his +lips formed only in the secrecy of his own room.</p> + +<p>"Leila, yes, Leila!" he repeated, smiling at her +bewilderment, for she was asking herself what could +be taking place within that mind whose hitherto +most jealously guarded depths were being revealed.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Papa. But please do not tire yourself +any more. Go to bed and rest."</p> + +<p>She could find no fitting words with which to +persuade him. She was anxious not to appear indifferent +to his tenderness or startled by his unusual +language; and she felt a strange desire to press +close to Andrea's father in spirit for protection and +refuge.</p> + +<p>He rose from the piano, but neither took up the +lamp nor prepared to withdraw. Knitting his brows, +as was his wont when about to introduce some serious +subject, he invited Leila to follow him on to the +small terrace beyond the drawing-room. Leila, who +had not the courage to refuse, obeyed in great agitation. +Surely Signor Marcello was going to talk of +poor Andrea. And Teresina was still watching up +there, and might appear upon the scene at the wrong +moment! Although she had little hope of its being +seen, Leila flung a rapid gesture in the maid's direction +that said she should go. Then she hastened +forward to join Marcello, who was leaning against the +railing of the terrace.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span></p> + +<p>"It is raining," she said, making a last attempt +to escape.</p> + +<p>Mist enveloped the rocky peaks of Barco and of +Caviogio, and a moist breeze blew from Val di Posina, +but it was not raining.</p> + +<p>"No," said Marcello. "Come out."</p> + +<p>As she had come to him, drawn almost providentially +by his music, he felt bound to take this +opportunity of speaking, but it was difficult to begin.</p> + +<p>"If ever you should wish to do away with those +artificial rocks that you dislike so much, down there +by the bridge and along the banks of the Riderella," +he said at last, "you need not hesitate to do so. +I might have had them removed myself, but since +... I have let everything go."</p> + +<p>Even the little word "since," that stood for so +much misfortune and so many years of bitterness, +was uttered calmly.</p> + +<p>Leila grasped the true intent of his remark, and +a shudder ran through her as she exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"I?"</p> + +<p>She refrained from adding anything more in order +not to provoke words that she did not wish to hear. +The conviction that Signor Marcello intended to +make her his heir had long been fixed in her mind +like a poisonous thorn. She knew that this was +generally believed, as Signor Marcello was known +to have no near relations, and she was looked upon +as his daughter by adoption, although no legal action +had taken place, nor was any such possible. But +she was determined not to touch the Trento fortune, +which, although not large, reached, nevertheless, a +very comfortable figure. Her father had sold her +indeed, but she would not sell herself. Having given +herself to Andrea's parents, in memory of him, she +would gladly accept gratitude from them, but no +other recompense. Was it not possible that Signor +Marcello did possess a distant relative? If not, +he was extremely charitable, and he might leave +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span>his money to the poor. The bare idea of being +looked upon as a schemer, an adventuress, filled +her with horror. But she had a second reason for +dreading this heritage. What a disgusting struggle +with her father would follow upon the rejection of +such an inheritance! He was always pleading +poverty and writing her shameless letters demanding +money. She had received such a letter this very +evening. She could see him already descending upon +the Montanina in the event of the old man's death, +fastening upon it and tainting it with his presence. +She had faith in her own energy and did not fear +her father, but she loathed him.</p> + +<p>All this she was feeling and thinking as she uttered +the one word "I?". Marcello took her hand and +pressed it, hoping that his touch might speak for +him.</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear," he said calmly, "you."</p> + +<p>A whisper, a scarcely perceptible breath brought +the answer:</p> + +<p>"No, Papa!"</p> + +<p>Marcello smiled, mistaking the motive of her +words.</p> + +<p>"I am old," he said, "and not, I think, very +strong. I may live many years yet, but, on the +other hand, the Lord may call me very soon. Do +you really think I shall be sorry to go?"</p> + +<p>For answer Leila stooped and kissed the hand +that still held hers.</p> + +<p>"Well, then," Marcello went on, "it is right that +we should discuss certain matters. The Montanina +was dear to him, and, indeed, I did much to make +it so! I hope it will be dear to you also. I wanted +to tell you about those rocks, and I also wanted to +say that, should the occasion offer to purchase those +chestnuts over beyond the road, you must be sure +to do so. You will have ample means."</p> + +<p>A passionate sound like a suppressed groan interrupted +him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span></p> + +<p>"No, Papa! No, no, Papa! Do not talk of these +things!"</p> + +<p>Marcello remained in astonished silence, and she +felt impelled to explain herself.</p> + +<p>"Do not think of me as your heir. I cannot, +indeed I cannot be your heir!"</p> + +<p>He was offended, and began to be excited.</p> + +<p>"And why not?" he asked sharply.</p> + +<p>"No, dear Papa! I cannot, I cannot! Do not +let us talk of these things! Please go to bed and +rest!"</p> + +<p>"But why not?" Marcello insisted. "Tell me."</p> + +<p>Leila took his arm, imploring him not to say +anything more—at least, not that night.</p> + +<p>"But you must explain!" he cried, his haggard +face growing ever more angry.</p> + +<p>At this point Teresina, who was still watching, +hearing her master raise his voice, turned on the +light in the gallery where she stood, and called to +Leila, saying she had sought her in vain in her +own room. She wanted certain keys for to-morrow +morning, to get out something for the guest's breakfast. +Timidly Leila murmured: "Papa ... good-night +..." as if entreating him to allow her to go. +Signor Marcello did not speak, but, turning slowly +indoors with bent shoulders, he took the lamp from +the piano and left her without a word of good-night.</p> + +<p>He closed the door of his room behind him, and +undressed himself slowly, full of discontent, like one +who, weary and already half asleep, turns towards +his couch only to find it so disordered that he must +spend time and strength in smoothing it. His +haggard expression told of harsh and angry thoughts. +He believed he knew the reason of Leila's repulse. +She did not wish to become his heir because she +did not feel strong enough to keep her parents at +a distance, and she realised that their presence at the +Montanina would be a mortal insult to his memory. +The thought of those two was sufficiently embittering. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span>For a moment fancy showed them to him, triumphant, +playing the masters in his house. Ah, no, that +should never be! If that hot-headed girl had only +listened a while! He had intended to bring the +conversation precisely to that point. He had racked +his brain to find a means of preventing his heir's +parents from setting foot in the Montanina. A clause +to be inserted in his will suggested itself, but he knew +Leila would never accept a condition thus publicly +imposed, and, too, one enforced by a penalty. She +would simply refuse the inheritance. The only way +would be to talk the matter over with her beforehand, +and obtain some promise from her. It was +a difficult question to handle, but precisely the one +he had intended to introduce. He must resume the +conversation on the morrow. It was the only way.</p> + +<p>When he was in bed he clasped his hands behind +his neck, rested his head against the head-board, +and reflected. Supposing Leila had made up her +mind to marry, and was refusing on this account? +It was a contingency he had foreseen, and one he +and his dead wife had discussed.</p> + +<p>His wife, who was a woman of practical views, +was convinced that this attractive and clever girl +would be much sought after, and that, sooner or +later, she would marry. She thought that Marcello +should content himself with assigning her an annuity, +which she might enjoy until her marriage. Marcello, +however, was not satisfied with this arrangement. +The poet in him delighted in the ideal of a sacrifice +which he should seem to share with his son, +whose soul, freed from all earthly fetters, still loved, +but with an affection that was purged of all egotism, +desiring only and rejoicing in the happiness of his +beloved. He wished Leila to possess the wealth poor +Andrea had offered her. It was, indeed, sweet to him +to think of her as remaining faithful to Andrea, but +he desired that, though she might yield to a second +passion, she should still have reason to bless her +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span>first love. He wished for her happiness, and in +appointing her his heir he did so unconditionally. +Would it be best for him to speak openly to her +now, and let her know how he felt?</p> + +<p>He sighed deeply at the thought that, should he die +that night, his home would fall into the hands of +Girolamo Camin, or, in the event of Leila refusing +the heritage, into those of a young and distant cousin +of his, who had led a gambling and a dissolute life. +The thought that his wife's rooms and Andrea's +might one day harbour such inmates stabbed him to +the heart. As he lay thinking, this same sense of +gnawing anxiety convinced him that he was more +strongly attached to life and earthly things than a +few hours before he would have believed possible. +He reproached himself for this, and fell to thinking +of the words his grandfather, who had built the +Montanina, had inscribed upon the sun-dial: +<em>Terrestres horæ, fugiens umbra</em>. He resolved to +go to confession at Lago di Velo on the morrow, and +taking up his cherished à Kempis which lay always +upon his bedside table, he read the fifty-second +chapter of the third book, with feelings of deep +repentance. Upon raising the snuffers that hung +by a small chain from one arm of the lamp, he +remembered that his father had been overtaken by +death before putting out the light, and without knowing +why, he remained for a moment with his hand +raised. Presently he smiled, put out the lamp, and +by the dim light that fell through the broad window +gazed for a time upon the neighbouring mountain, +so sublimely untroubled and reposeful. Then he fell +asleep like a little child, his arms folded upon his +breast.</p> + + +<h3>IV</h3> + +<p>Upon reaching his room Massimo proceeded to +unpack his portmanteaux, although, in his disappointment<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span> +at not being Don Aurelio's guest, he had at +first determined to take out only what was necessary +for the night. He already regretted his impulse of +selfish discontent, so deeply had he been moved by +Signor Marcello's marked affection, present even here +in this little room that had been dear to Andrea; in +the pathetic souvenirs, in the white rose arranged so +that its dying beauty should overhang that other +blossom of bygone days, so soon cut off. Having +put out the light, he went to the window, and resting +his elbows upon its broad sill, gazed upon those +clouds amongst which Signor Marcello had seen a +message writ in stars. Beneath those clouds the +delicately arched brow of Torraro divided the space +that yawned between Priaforà and Caviogio, whose +black and mighty outlines swept downwards majestically, +like the flowing robes of giant monarchs. His +thirsting soul found comfort in the brooding peace +of the scene.</p> + +<p>It was an immense relief to have escaped from +Milan for a few weeks, to have left behind him the +foulness and the cowardice of the free-thinking crowd +who cried shame upon him for a weakling, because he +professed the loyalty of a soldier to the Church, and +of the Pharisaic masses who cried shame upon him +for a heretic, because he thought, spoke, and wrote +like a man of his times! It was an immense relief +to have shaken off that idle society, ever claiming his +reluctant participation in its eternal comedy; which +made him feel, now by a smile, now by sarcastic +praise, now by neglect, its contempt for a young +man who turned his back upon those pleasures it +discreetly offered him, pleasures which it cherished +and shielded as its one purpose in life, a purpose +indeed not always avowable. Oh to forget, if only +for a few days, those weary and inglorious mental +struggles, so often sustained in the tragic endeavour +to hide the eclipse of hope, and also, not infrequently, +of faith itself! Once more there came the strong, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span>persistent temptation to withdraw from the field of +religious action which he had entered with that +Master who had died in Rome; whereon he and +others had pressed still farther than the Master, +gaining nought but wounds, disappointments, and +humiliations in the service of a cause possibly lost +from the outset, and of a religion that was perhaps +fated to perish. Might he not relinquish the struggle, +and live for all the beauty there is in the world, for +the subtle and harmonious delights of intellectual +activity?</p> + +<p>Such thoughts as these were rather the outpouring +of pent-up bitterness than real temptation. The +attitude Massimo had publicly assumed towards certain +theo-philosophical questions, through essays in +reviews, lectures, and controversial articles, had +secured him a moral position which, while it upheld +and dignified him, proved itself at certain times, +nevertheless, a veritable prison-house. He realised +this, and reflecting on it, was seeking interruption of +his thoughts, raising himself from the window-sill, +when he heard voices in the road that leads +downwards following the wire fence encircling the +grounds of the Montanina. He thought he distinguished +Don Aurelio's voice and that of a woman +speaking to a third person in the grounds. They +seemed to be giving him some orders. Presently, +indeed, a figure appeared upon the bridge +over the Riderella, and, in the dim starlight that +was beginning to pierce the clouds, Massimo thought +he saw two other figures, one black, the other white, +beyond the bridge. The first figure left the bridge, +then stopped, seeming perplexed, gazed at the villa, +walked around it, paused for an instant on the side +where the kitchen is, reappeared, and finally went +towards the bridge again, where Massimo heard him +telling the others that the household were asleep. +Thereupon the two withdrew in the direction of the +gate. Presently Massimo thought he distinguished +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span>the white figure standing with the individual who +had made the tour of the villa, in the road between +the group of birches beside the gate and the clump +of poplars further down.</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio, if indeed it were he, must have +gone on towards Lago. The young man concluded +that the woman must be a certain Signora Vayla di +Brea, of whom Don Aurelio had spoken in his letters +as a lady remarkable both for her talents and for +her noble qualities. And then once more all was +silence.</p> + +<p>Presently from within the villa came the sound +of a piano. Massimo cautiously opened the door +and listened. Yes, it was a piano, and a very poor +instrument too. Who could be playing? Certainly +not Signor Marcello, for he had gone to bed. Then +he remembered that Andrea had often spoken admiringly +of Leila's talent as a pianist. At one moment +he thought he recognised the pathetic and passionate +composition, but presently he lost the thread of the +melody. At first it was Pergolese's "Stabat Mater," +and then suddenly it turned to something else. Very +softly he stepped into the corridor that he might hear +better. The music came from below, from the left, +surely from the drawing-room where he had noticed +a piano. What strange playing, what strength of +expression in the touch, what passion, and what +disorder!</p> + +<p>Doubtless the performer was improvising. What +a fiery soul she must possess, this Leila, if indeed +she were the musician! Once more that small, +enigmatical head, with its disordered hair and downcast +eyes, pictured itself in Massimo's mind. This +music did not speak of a grief-encompassed soul, +of a soul expecting more from life. It spoke of +sorrow indeed, but of a thirst for love and joy as +well. The music paused; there were steps and +whispering near at hand, and he retreated to the +door of his room. Again the music sounded. Now +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span>it was the sweet and solemn notes of grief and +supplication, and then passion once more, tender, +ardent passion. Ah!, "Norma."</p> + +<div class="poetry-container p11"> +<div class="poetry"> +<p> + "Vieni, dicea, concedi<br> + Ch'io mi ti prostri ai piedi...." +</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p>This music seemed a confession! What followed +was no longer "Norma," but a fancy of the player's. +But why had she chosen the dead of night for this +musical outpouring? He recalled the lovely, sphinx-like +face and the eyelids lowered like veils covering +a mystery. But was Leila really the player? +On one hand it seemed too strange an action for +her, on the other the quality of the music and the +hour were in keeping with the strangeness of the +small face. And if it were not Leila, who could +it be? Perhaps some companion of hers of whose +existence Massimo was ignorant, or a fellow-guest +he had not seen. Ah! but it must be she—a creature +painfully eager to love and be loved, who, perhaps, +loved already.</p> + +<p>The music came to an end and he withdrew to +his room, closing the door behind him and returning +to the window, where he remained standing, +picturing almost mechanically a love that was aflame +and oblivious to the world, amidst these silent hills, +whereon passions might be enthroned, confronting +and challenging one another. He shook himself, +sighed deeply, and closed the window, reproaching +himself for all these vain fancies. For some time +he studied Andrea's photograph. The poor lad's +handsome face wore a bright and happy expression, +like a ray of sunshine. How dearly he had loved +him! Without knowing why he felt a painful longing +to clasp his hands and bow his head before that +placid brow. Upon going to bed he fancied that +the music he had heard would prevent his sleeping, +but he fell asleep almost immediately. It was Leila +who lay all night with staring eyes.</p> + + + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER II<br> + <small>DISTAFFS AND THREADS</small> </h2> +</div> + + +<h3>I</h3> + +<p>The next morning Massimo came down to the +drawing-room at half-past six, to the dismay of the +footman Giovanni, who left the floor-polishing in +which he had been engaged amidst great disorder +of furniture, and rushed off for the coffee.</p> + +<p>Gentle breezes blew fresh from all sides through +the large, open windows, through which could be +seen, on the south, the emerald of chestnut-crowned +slopes, on the north, the bare and mighty crags of +Barco, and on the west, the deep declivities of the +garden beneath the Lago road. There could be +seen, too, the tremulous glistening of the clumps +of birch and poplar that border the garden fence, +the Posina ravine, and beyond the little town of +Arsiero, whose houses cluster amid the green at the +foot of the church which seems to guard them, the +gloomy depths of the sharp-cut gorge, and then +mountain upon mountain rising under changing +lights and shadows towards imperial Torraro.</p> + +<p>"Buona mattina," said the footman, returning with +the coffee.</p> + +<p>Massimo meanwhile had been paying more attention +to the music that littered the piano than to +the vision of hills and valleys, sunshine and verdure. +A thick volume of Clementi and a thin one of +Corelli bore the name "Leila," written in a large +hand.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span></p> + +<p>While he was drinking his coffee he learned from +the footman that Signor Marcello had gone out some +time before, but whether he was in the garden or +had gone to church, whether he had taken the Velo +road or that to Arsiero, Giovanni could not say. +Massimo went out also, intending to look up Don +Aurelio. The caretaker opened the gate for him, +and Massimo was questioning him as to the road +to Lago, when he saw the man look beyond him +and salute some one who was passing, with marked +respect. He turned round. A woman stood behind +him, no longer young, but tall and slim; her head +was bare, and in her hand she carried a closed +sunshade, although the sun was already hot upon +the rocky path. To the young man's intense surprise, +she stood still and smiled.</p> + +<p>"Signor Alberti, I believe?" she said.</p> + +<p>The soft voice struck Massimo as being the same +he had heard in the night, alternating with Don +Aurelio's. He bowed with some embarrassment, +looking at the lady as if apologising for failing +to recognise her. Before him stood a noble figure, +that of a woman between fifty and fifty-five years +of age, pale, with a suggestion of olive in her pallor, +her face showing traces of bodily suffering, her hair +quite white, her large and luminous eyes still youthful, +and her manner, voice, and slow utterance conveying +an expression of sweetness and of the dignity +of gentle breeding.</p> + +<p>"I am a friend of Don Aurelio's," she said, still +smiling. "We passed this way last night, hoping +to see you, but you were already asleep."</p> + +<p>Massimo confessed that from his window he had +seen a dark figure and a white one.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I was wearing a white shawl," she +answered. "Are you on your way to Don Aurelio's? +I am going there too."</p> + +<p>Massimo bowed, and questioned with his eyes +rather than with his lips:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span></p> + +<p>"Then you are Signora——?"</p> + +<p>"Vayla di Brea," was her answer, with a pleasant +smile. "Has Don Aurelio been writing to you about +me? And was my name quite unfamiliar to you?"</p> + +<p>Massimo was obliged humbly to admit that it had +been.</p> + +<p>"You see," she went on, "I have rather a grandmotherly +feeling towards you! Was not your mother +a Vittuoni, and was not her name Rachele? I was +at Madame Bianchi Morand's school with her, in +Milan. Your mother was one of the little girls +when I was one of the elder ones. I was very +fond of her and used to amuse myself sometimes +by playing at being her mother."</p> + +<p>They started together along the narrow road that, +just beyond the gate, enters the cool shade of great +chestnuts that fringe the crest of the sharp slope +to the ravine, whence rises the deep, rhythmical +booming of the whirlpools of Perale.</p> + +<p>His companion spoke at once of Don Aurelio's great +disappointment at being unable to receive Massimo +as his guest nor even to meet him at the station. +She told him that two days before the priest had +taken in a sick man, a wretched pedlar of Protestant +Bibles, who had fallen a victim to the people's +fury at Posina, and to whom no one else would offer +shelter.</p> + +<p>"Poor creature!" the lady exclaimed. "He is +an oddity, an oddity indeed!" And she gave a +short laugh, which she quickly checked, however, +pity overcoming her sense of the comic and her +desire to indulge it.</p> + +<p>"He is a certain Pestagran, but about here they +have taken to calling him 'Carnesecca,' because in +his sermons, which are always poetical, he often +introduces Carnesecchi. But he gets even with them. +He used to call his fellow-citizens of Lago fishes, +sprats, eels, pike, and sometimes crabs. Now he +calls them all sharks!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span></p> + +<p>She talked on pleasantly of the despised Carnesecca, +with a gentle humour that amused Massimo, +and without revealing to him that she was an attentive +visitor to the sick man. Their conversation +was interrupted three times; first at the end of +the chestnut-grove, then in that green, flowery spot, +shaded by nut and apple trees, where the women +of Lago have their washhouse, amid idyllic surroundings. +First a poor old woman, then a lame beggar, +stopped the Signorina and poured their woes into +her ears. Then she herself stopped a small, barefooted, +and dirty maiden, carrying a basket. To +each she spoke gently and kindly by name, inquiring +for some invalid or absent relation. For the girl +she had a word of reproof—a little bird having told +her certain things! When she had gently dismissed +these poor people she fell once more to describing +Carnesecca and his partly comic, partly heroic ways, +punctuating her description with the often-repeated +word "Poveretto!" as a salve to a conscience that +was reproaching her for her slightly uncharitable +mirth.</p> + +<p>Passing the first cottages and low sheds of Lago, +guarded by walnut-trees and grape-vines throwing +their cool shade across narrow, sweet-smelling lanes, +Massimo and his companion reached the small square, +where a few neat houses listen respectfully to the +sermon on cleanliness that the fountain preaches to +them, who do not need it, while the rabble of filthy +hovels keeps at a distance, as the human rabble +avoids the priest's sermons. If a peasant woman +who was drawing water were to be believed, Carnesecca +had died in the night. A man in his shirt-sleeves, +with wooden shoes, who was clattering off +to his work, his scythe upon his shoulder, burst +out contemptuously as he passed, without deigning +to look in the woman's direction:</p> + +<p>"What does a foresta like you know about it?"</p> + +<p>The woman protested loudly, not because the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span>information of a <em>foresta</em> might, nevertheless, be +correct, but because she happened to be a native +of Maso, a group of houses not more than a quarter +of a mile away. The sound of the man's heavy +tread grew fainter, down among the dirty cottages, +but his insolent voice could still be heard repeating:</p> + +<p>"A foresta! Foresta! Foresta!"</p> + +<p>Then a girl, who was watering some carnations, +leaned out of the window, and greeting the Signora, +told her that she had carried the milk to Don +Aurelio's house an hour ago, and that Carnesecca +was feeling much better. The other woman excused +her mistake by stating that she had hoped the horrid +creature might really be dead! And when the +Signora reproached her for her cruel thought, she +turned the tables upon her, saying:</p> + +<p>"You cannot understand, Ela! You are a foresta! +And the priest too.... It seems to me that, though +he is indeed a holy man——"</p> + +<p>"He is, nevertheless, a foreigner," said the +Signora, and, turning to Massimo, she added, with +a smile, "He is a Samaritan."</p> + +<p>"So he is!" said the "foreigner" from Maso +sagaciously. "He comes from that very place!"</p> + +<p>Massimo and the Signora laughed and started to +climb the steep path leading to the little church of +Sant' Ubaldo. The church door stood open, and hearing +Don Aurelio's voice, they entered. He was saying +Mass and had reached the <em>Pater Noster</em>. There were +only two worshippers—a little old woman, seated +on the last bench, and Signor Marcello, who was +sitting in the row of benches directly in front of the +altar, his shaggy head bent low, his whole being rapt +in ardent prayer. The new-comers knelt down beside +the little old woman.</p> + +<p>When Signor Marcello rose, somewhat feebly, and +went to kneel at the altar-rail, Donna Fedele Vayla +di Brea fixed eyes brimming with grave tenderness +upon that venerable head, reverently lowering +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span>them again when the priest advanced towards him +with the consecrated host and the words of eternal +life.</p> + +<p>She had known Marcello since her early childhood, +when, soon after the liberation of Venice, +Colonel Vayla di Brea purchased the Villino delle +Rose, near Arsiero. Marcello was then past his +thirtieth year. His parents were still alive, and a +warm friendship soon sprang up between the two +families, who spent the summer holidays in Val +d'Astico. Little Fedele showed a strong liking for +Marcello, and he, touched by this childish affection, +would often amuse himself by playing duets with her. +When he became engaged, the girl, who was now +nearly fifteen and was growing very tall, altered her +manner towards him, avoiding rather than seeking +his society. He alone guessed that this change concealed +those ardent, immature feelings which young +girls sometimes have for men older than themselves, +and under these circumstances consideration for +Fedele urged him for a time to break off all familiar +intercourse with her. With Marcello's wife the girl +became, as she grew up, on most affectionate terms. +Only, being unmusical, Signora Trento could not +share the love of music which still remained a bond +between her husband and Fedele. Gradually these +two began to seek each other's company again, and +their eyes would meet more often than was necessary. +One day, during an excursion, the two found +themselves separated from the rest of the party, and +lost in a pine forest. Perhaps, at first, passionate +dreams overwhelmed the emotional girl, but as they +wandered, trembling indeed and silent, neither sought +the other's eyes. As they came out of the woods +Marcello picked a cyclamen and offered it silently. +Fedele took it and pressed it to her lips, her eyes +glistening with tears.</p> + +<p>Henceforth they played no more together, as if +by an unspoken agreement; but Fedele could not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span>forget. She persuaded her father to leave Arsiero, +and they spent their summers at Santhià, where +they had relatives. In winter they lived in Turin, +where she was much courted, and where at times +she seemed not indifferent to the admiration she +excited. There was talk even of a real passion—of +a rejected suitor, who took his life for love of +her. But she never married, and at eight-and-forty +she found herself alone. Her parents were dead, +and, tired of city life, she remembered Arsiero, and +went back to the Villino delle Rose. Poor Andrea +Trento was already ill, and during the short time +that elapsed between his death and that of his +mother, Donna Fedele was often at the Montanina. +Her former attachment to Marcello had grown into +a regard that, with pity for his great misfortunes, +became almost veneration.</p> + +<p>But after Signora Trento's death and a first +exchange of visits Marcello ceased to come to the +Villino, and Donna Fedele no longer went to the +Montanina. Leila was the cause of this estrangement. +She had, at first, been quite captivated by +Donna Fedele, who, however, had unintentionally +treated her with icy indifference, arising perhaps from +absent-mindedness or from some passing mood. +Inexplicable attacks of iciness had more than once +bewildered those around her. She had smiled at +the girl, had bestowed a careless greeting upon her, +and throughout the rest of the visit had not once +addressed a word to her. Leila set her down as +haughty, and concluded she had taken a dislike to +her. Her future attitude towards Donna Fedele was +the more proud and cold because her longing to +be friends was so strong. On her side, Donna +Fedele, who had no suspicion of the truth, was sure +that Leila disliked her; and deeply though she +regretted this, her reserved nature stood in the way +of her taking steps to win the young girl's heart, +and, believing that her presence was unwelcome to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span>the person most dear and sacred to Signor Marcello, +she discontinued her visits to the Montanina. She +met Marcello not infrequently on the road from Velo +to Arsiero, which passes below the villa. On such +occasions they would walk and talk together, but +they never spoke of Leila. Marcello himself shrank +from any reference to her. Knowing how peculiarly +susceptible Donna Fedele was to impressions, he had +concluded that Leila was uncongenial to her, and +he felt that his son's memory was thereby affronted. +As through narrow mountain clefts a cold air can +sometimes be detected rising, even through hot +summer grass, from the heart of the mountain, so +Donna Fedele felt, and endured in silence, a coolness +invading Signor Marcello's friendship for her, for she +understood whence it came.</p> + +<p>She raised her eyes to the old man's face as he +rose from the altar-rail and returned to his seat, +while Don Aurelio turned to pronounce the <em>Dominus +vobiscum</em>. Massimo looked at his friend, thinking +he had noticed him, but he was mistaken. The +priest's eyes were blind to the things of this world. +The young man saw that he had aged and had +grown thinner since their last meeting, and that his +face seemed more spiritual than ever.</p> + +<p>When Mass was over, Donna Fedele whispered to +Massimo:</p> + +<p>"Of course, you will wait for Don Aurelio. I am +going to see my friend. Will you come there too, +later on?"</p> + +<p>Just for the moment Massimo did not realise that +the friend to whom she referred was Carnesecca. +However, he nodded assent, and sat down to wait +for the priest.</p> + +<p>He was kept waiting for some time. The lad who +had served the Mass put out the candles and departed +about his own business. Signor Marcello, after +remaining long absorbed in prayer, rose from his seat +and entered the sacristy. Massimo heard a few +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span>whispered words, and then all was silence. The +minutes passed, and neither Signor Marcello nor Don +Aurelio reappeared. But Massimo was not impatient. +He was enjoying the sense of peace that dwelt within +these poor walls, in these poor and well-worn fittings +and ornaments, that called up pictures of still poorer +homes, simple beings, and of the festivals of an +unsophisticated faith. Meanwhile through the open +door a light breeze was wafting to him fresh scents +of woods and meadows and voices from the distant +fields. Once more he was rejoicing in his release +from the noise and dust of scorching Milan, as he had +done last night on his way up to the Montanina, along +the side of the dark gorge where the water sings.</p> + +<p>How sweet it was to be overcome by sensation +alone! The music of the night sounded in his +memory like a distant song. A gentle drowsiness, +that was full of vague imaginings, crept gradually +over him. The voices of an invisible choir filled the +church with sweet sounds, while a young girl, with +disordered hair and eyes downcast, came slowly +towards him from the sacristy, and, stooping, touched +his shoulder. His heart gave a bound; he opened +his eyes and saw Don Aurelio, who had touched his +shoulder and now stood smiling beside him.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Don Aurelio, a Roman by birth, had studied in the +Propaganda College with the intention of becoming +a missionary. A long illness, however, and the +wishes of his superiors, who doubted his physical +powers, had obliged him to relinquish this purpose. +An intimate friend of the Benedictine Dom Clemente +of Santa Scolastica, at Subiaco, he had met +Benedetto there, had seen him again in Rome, at +Dom Clemente's desire, and had become deeply +attached both to him and to Massimo. During convalescence, +following a relapse of his illness, mountain +air had been prescribed, and a Vincentine priest, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span>who had been with him at the Propaganda, persuaded +the Bishop of Vicenza to appoint him to the cure of +Lago di Velo. Gentle Don Aurelio had gladly +accepted this dispensation of Providence, rejoicing +at the prospect of preaching Christ to simple souls +in the poverty to which he had been born. And +thus he had come to Lago, knowing nothing of it +beyond the fact that it was very poor. He did not +forget Massimo. He wrote to him often and watched +over him, not like a father, ready to help the struggle +of a fervent disciple of him who lay buried at Campo +Verano, but like a mother, who trembles for the +welfare of her son's soul. He knew how sorely he +must be tempted to wrath and hatred by the unjust +war that was being waged against him by opposite +parties; he knew that he was sometimes tempted to +swerve from the doctrines of true religion, as not a +few of his friends, some moved by natural pride, +others by rebellious impulses, had swerved; and, +finally, he knew that worldly pleasures were also a +source of temptation to him. He was aware, from +what Massimo himself had told him, that women, +lovely and brilliant women, had been attracted by +him; and he knew that the young man's deep and +poetic feeling for woman was perhaps more +dangerous to him than mere physical temptations. +He felt there would be grave danger for Massimo +until such a time as he should meet and love a +woman worthy to be his wife, who would weave +about him a net of affections and of personal +interests, strong enough also to hold him back +from the field of religious strife. Don Aurelio, either +from the natural gentleness of his character, or from +his conception of the special duties which the ecclesiastical +habit imposed, was not a man of strife. +In religious matters he opened his heart to God +alone, praying and looking to Him only for the +triumph of truth and of the Church. A lecture +Massimo had recently delivered in Milan on the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span>Italian heretics of the sixteenth century had brought +such a hailstorm of insults, both black and red,⁠<a id="FNanchor_1_1" href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> +had excited such a pandemonium of universal comment, +that Don Aurelio had advised him to withdraw +for a time from this confusion, offering him hospitality +which, if devoid of comforts, was rich in +peace.</p> + +<p>When he had locked the church door, Don Aurelio +put his arm affectionately through Massimo's.</p> + +<p>"You were good to come!" he exclaimed, +pressing the arm he held still closer to his side. In +this pressure Massimo felt something that troubled +him. His heart misgave him lest this silent demonstration +of affection should mean that his friend +shrank from expressing certain criticisms, or was but +preparing him for them. These criticisms, he felt +sure, could not fail to contain disapproval.</p> + +<p>"You also disapprove of me," he said sadly.</p> + +<p>"Dear friend, you may not have had my approval +in everything, but at this moment I remember only +that you have suffered."</p> + +<p>"<em>You may not have had my approval in everything.</em>" +These words overwhelmed Massimo with +sorrow and oppression. At the moment he made no +answer, but when Don Aurelio, going in front of +him, led the way through the yard surrounding the +priest's poor little house, and was telling him how +disappointed he was at being unable to receive him +there, the young man interrupted and asked, with +almost painful anxiety, of what he had disapproved. +At that very moment Donna Fedele came towards +them, and Don Aurelio was first astonished and then +pleased to see the two whom he thought strangers to +one another smile at their introduction. Carnesecca +was doing very well, but he was restless, and kept +asking for Don Aurelio. The priest objected to his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span>being called Carnesecca, but Donna Fedele, raising +her eyebrows and speaking with unwonted rapidity, +protested warmly that she was one of the people, and +must express herself as they did.</p> + +<p>"Would you have me give him the name by which +the archpriest calls him?" she inquired. This +dignitary, juggling with the stranger's name, +Pestagran, had dubbed him Gran Peste. Don +Aurelio's face flushed. He disliked the archpriest's +nickname for the miserable but well-intentioned +wanderer, but still more he disliked hearing the priest +himself alluded to in sarcastic and ironical terms.</p> + +<p>"Here I am!" he cried, as he and Massimo +passed from the fresh air and coolness of the stairway +into the heavy, drug-laden atmosphere of the +invalid's room. A little old woman who was seated +beside the bed, whence Carnesecca's yellow and +wrinkled old face peered forth, like a handful of +clay, from between his nightcap and the folded sheet, +rose to her feet, clasping her hands and crying +delightedly:</p> + +<p>"Thank Heaven, you have come!"</p> + +<p>The invalid raised his head and shoulders a little, +propping himself upon one elbow, while he brought +the other hand to his nightcap in a military salute. +Then, turning to the old woman, he pronounced her +name solemnly:</p> + +<p>"Lúzia!"</p> + +<p>He stretched out his arm, turning his wrist slowly +and majestically until the palm of his hand faced +the door.</p> + +<p>"You are at liberty to devote yourself to the +performance of your mysterious rites!"</p> + +<p>The old woman hurried away, exclaiming: "I +am going! I am going!" And the upraised palm +fell back upon the coverlet with a dull thud.</p> + +<p>"The good woman was troubled by my very +natural impatience."</p> + +<p>Thus saying, Signor Ismaele Pestagran blew a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span>noisy breath through his nostrils and screwed up his +small eyes into two glittering, black points. Noticing +Massimo, who had entered behind Don Aurelio, he +once more brought his hand to his nightcap.</p> + +<p>"And this gentleman?..."</p> + +<p>"This gentleman's" presence did not seem +entirely welcome to him. Massimo saw this and +made haste to withdraw. Whereupon Carnesecca +said calmly, "Your pardon." Donna Fedele, who +was waiting for Massimo on the landing, asked him +to go downstairs with her. Something was going on +that Massimo should know of. While Don Aurelio +had been saying Mass, the sacristan of Velo had +arrived with a letter from the archpriest. He had +left the letter with Lúzia, who had afterwards expressed +herself to Ismaele as follows: "Those +accursed books of yours will bring you to perdition +and me to beggary!" She had refused to explain +her outburst; but Ismaele was convinced that the +priests of Velo intended to drive Don Aurelio away +from Lago on his, Ismaele's, account. Massimo +asked if there were really any danger of this. How +could Donna Fedele tell? Lúzia had taken the archpriest's +note to her master's study, and Don Aurelio +had not been in there yet. But what was Donna +Fedele's opinion? Donna Fedele was much alarmed. +On account of something Don Aurelio had told her? +Certainly not. He never spoke of his superiors +except to sing their praises. It was her opinion that +there was more to be feared from the chaplain than +from the archpriest, and more to be feared from him +than from the bishop. The bishop, indeed, appeared +most benevolently inclined towards Don Aurelio. +What sort of men were this archpriest and this +chaplain? Donna Fedele would tell him nothing +concerning the chaplain, and said it was a difficult +matter to understand the archpriest. At times he +seemed good-natured, at times harsh; he was sometimes +jovial, sometimes sarcastic; liberal on some +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span>occasions, conservative on others. As a priest he +was above censure. And here Donna Fedele felt it +her duty to add that, as far as morals were concerned, +the chaplain was above censure also. Don Aurelio +had pronounced the archpriest a good theologian and +Latin scholar, and had indeed endowed him with all +those merits of which she was incapable of judging. +Between him and the bishop, a warm-hearted man, +full of charity for friends and enemies alike, there +was some friction. She was willing to wager that the +archpriest had accepted Don Aurelio most unwillingly +at Lago, and only because he had been obliged to do +so. She believed that Don Aurelio had been under +suspicion for some time on account of his sermons, +which were carefully watched, and of which the +chaplain was known to have hinted that they contained +overmuch of purely moral teaching and +mystical sentiment, and overlittle of theology and +asceticism.</p> + +<p>While Donna Fedele and Massimo were holding +this conversation in the doorway, Lúzia passed on +her way to the kitchen-garden to gather some peas. +Donna Fedele stopped her. Well, what had the +sacristan really said? He had said: "Take good +care of your Gran Peste! Take good care of him! +This time your priest will have to go!"</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele's face flushed angrily, while in +Massimo's breast a flame of bitterness burned hot. +The grass in the field, the leaves of the mulberry-tree, +quivering and glistening in the breeze, the calm +hills flooded with sunshine, the clear sky, even the +little garden itself, everything was brimming with +kindness, was a hymn to kindness encompassing the +humble home of this servant of God whose soul was +full of Christ. And now everything seemed meaningless, +frozen by a sudden icy breath. Neither Massimo +nor Donna Fedele dared to utter their indignation +here in the near neighbourhood of Don Aurelio, any +more than if they had been in church. They heard +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span>the priest's step on the stairs, and Carnesecca's voice +crying, "I wish it, Signore! I wish it!" to Don +Aurelio's "No, no!" And then there was silence.</p> + +<p>"He probably wished to go away on account of +the letter," Donna Fedele whispered. "But there +is no danger of Don Aurelio's allowing him to leave +in the state he is in."</p> + +<p>The priest did not come to them, and Donna +Fedele, leaving Massimo, went upstairs and entered +Carnesecca's room without knocking. Massimo was +greatly astonished to see her come down again almost +immediately, laughing heartily, her face hidden in +her hands. She had found Carnesecca with his bare +legs out of bed, and they were such black, dry stilts +of legs, and the poor man had been so dismayed, +and had shouted so vigorously, "Go away! Go +away!" dragging at the clothes the while, that, +with her sense of humour, Donna Fedele would have +had to laugh even if her father and mother had both +died but that morning.</p> + +<p>She went out to Lúzia and advised her to go and +attend to her invalid. But Lúzia would not. The +man was always doing that. He was always trying +to get out of bed without help, and even she herself +was sent out of the room on these occasions. But—what +if he should become giddy? What if he +should fall? What if he should break his arm—break +his leg?</p> + +<p>"Blessed Lady! What a lot of accidents!" cried +Lúzia, unmoved.</p> + +<p>"What a lot indeed!" Donna Fedele retorted, +laughing. "One would be enough, I should think!"</p> + +<p>Lúzia laughed too, and then went on gathering her +peas. Massimo came up and offered to go to the +invalid. Lúzia grasped at this proposal, saying, +"Yes, yes; you go!" But Donna Fedele said, +"H'm!" and smiled in a way that excited Massimo's +curiosity. She then explained to him, with other +smiles and some reticence, that he was not in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span>Carnesecca's good books. Carnesecca read the newspapers, +and had come to the conclusion that Massimo +was a Modernist, one of those people who study the +Bible to discover falsehoods in it, to find errors, +contradictions, and interpolations; while to him, +Carnesecca, every word it contained had been written +by the hand of the Almighty Himself. He rejoiced +in Don Aurelio's disapproval of Bible criticism, and +he had been heard to say that, on this point, he was +more in sympathy with the Jews than with certain +Catholics. In fact, one of his best friends was a +rabbi in London. Massimo, who had never given any +thought to Bible criticism, was greatly amused by +the horror he had inspired and much interested concerning +this friendship with the English rabbi. Donna +Fedele informed him that Carnesecca had spent +several years in England, where he had become a +Protestant and had made the acquaintance of a rabbi, +a man of science, who had taught him that there were +three hundred and sixty-five bones in the human body. +Allowing her own humorous imagination to colour +her story somewhat, perhaps, she went on to say +that, after the tortures he had endured from Catholic +sticks and stones, Ismaele declared he could locate +pains in no less than three hundred and fifty-nine +separate bones. The two were still talking quietly +among the peas when they were roused by the priest's +voice. Don Aurelio was standing at his study +window.</p> + +<p>"Massimo! Will you come in now?"</p> + +<p>Massimo hastened indoors, and Donna Fedele, who +was very tired, begged Lúzia to bring her out a chair, +and, settling herself comfortably, waited for news +concerning the archpriest's message.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Don Aurelio came out to meet Massimo on the +landing, and grasping his hands, held them in his own +for a space, gazing smilingly into his friend's eyes. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span>Presently he drew him into a little study flooded with +light, with a whitewashed ceiling and brick floor, +and barely furnished with a bookshelf, a deal table, +a few rickety, straw-bottomed chairs, a dilapidated +leather easy-chair, from whose rents hung ragged +ends of lining, and, hanging above the easy-chair, +a wooden crucifix. The bookshelf was opposite the +fireplace, and it was crowded with books, as were +the table, the mantelshelf, and all the chairs save one. +Yet there was no disorder or dust; the books were +arranged in tidy piles, and everything was as neat +as Don Aurelio's cassock and his delicate hands. +Above the mantelshelf, between the two windows, +hung two photographs, one of the Sacro Speco at +Subiaco, the other of the Cosmati Cloister at Santa +Scolastica. The books were chiefly religious works. +Don Aurelio set especial store by his collection of +the writings of the great mystics and of his complete +sets of the works of Antonio Rosmini and of +Father Gratry. These and the collection of the +sacred orators of Nôtre Dame, together with many +books by modern French Catholics, were the gift of +Donna Fedele, and had belonged to her father. Don +Aurelio showed his treasures to his friend with such +untroubled satisfaction, and stood so quietly beside +him at the window, pointing out the different peaks, +the villages, and the more distant paths, that Massimo +was forced to conclude either that nothing was wrong +or that Don Aurelio did not yet know. But he was +conscious, to the point of embarrassment, of his +own air of distraction and of his visible lack +of interest in the things of which Don Aurelio was +talking.</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio mentioned Val d'Astico, and Massimo +seized the opportunity to inquire how he got on with +the archpriest there.</p> + +<p>"He is an excellent man," his friend answered; +but he added, smiling, "I fear, however, he has no +great liking for me."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span></p> + +<p>There was no reason for that smile. Massimo saw +that Don Aurelio knew.</p> + +<p>"Why do you smile?" he asked.</p> + +<p>The priest did not answer.</p> + +<p>At this point they heard the voice of Lúzia, who +was coming upstairs, crying:</p> + +<p>"Smèle! Smèle!" (Ismaele! Ismaele!). "Are +you there, Smèle?"</p> + +<p>She burst into the room, glanced wildly round, +and, wringing her hands as if beside herself, cried:</p> + +<p>"Gèsumarite! He is not here!"</p> + +<p>Who was not here? Why, Smèle, of course! +And who was Smèle? Carnesecca, to be sure!</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio realised at once what had happened. +He gave a start and dashed downstairs, followed +by Massimo and Lúzia. It was as she had said—the +room was empty. And his clothes? They were +gone too.</p> + +<p>"Gèsumarite! The poor soul!" moaned Lúzia. +"And he has even left me a franc!"</p> + +<p>A silver coin was glittering on the straw bottom of +a chair, beside a ball of wool and a set of knitting-needles.</p> + +<p>"He has forgotten his watch," she added.</p> + +<p>"Massimo!" Don Aurelio called; "follow me!"</p> + +<p>At the front door they met Donna Fedele; she +had heard Lúzia's cries and the excited voices of the +two men, and was on her way to inquire what had +happened. They told her quickly. The colour left +her face. It was true, then? The letter the sacristan +had brought?... Carnesecca had gone because of +that?</p> + +<p>"It is true," said Don Aurelio quietly; "but that +poor creature has nothing to do with it. And now +he will make himself worse again, for this morning +he was still feverish. You did not see him go out?"</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele, who had been watching Lúzia +gathering her peas, had neither seen nor heard anything. +Neither had Lúzia seen nor heard him go.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span></p> + +<p>Don Aurelio set about arranging a plan of pursuit. +Something must be done at once. "I can't run!" +observed Donna Fedele with a smile. She was so +far from being able to run that, having pressed the +priest's hand in silence, she dropped wearily into her +chair once more. Later she had to ask the milk-girl +from Lago to lend her an arm as far as the chestnut-tree, +where a small hired carriage awaited her.</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio started running towards Lago, believing +that Ismaele had gone to the Montanina. +Massimo went up towards Maso. The priest reached +the chestnuts on the hillside, from which point one +can see the white Trento villa, without having met +a soul. Could Ismaele have passed already? A man +of sixty, with fever upon him, and practically fasting? +Impossible! Don Aurelio stopped abruptly, seized +by a sudden thought. What if the tiresome fellow, +believing all he did believe, had gone to confront +the archpriest? The longer Don Aurelio thought +about it the more he thought it probable, and, +turning, he hastily retraced his steps. Instead, however, +of going straight up by the short cut that leads +from Lago to Sant' Ubaldo, he took the road that, +a few yards from the church, joins the one descending +from Velo. And here he found Massimo, who had +met several people on the Maso road, but no one of +them had seen Carnesecca. This convinced Don +Aurelio.</p> + +<p>"I will go to Velo," he declared, "but I must +go alone. You had better go back to the Montanina, +where they will be waiting for you."</p> + +<p>Massimo asked if, in case Pestagran would not +come back and his room being then unoccupied....</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio interrupted him.</p> + +<p>"No, dear friend, it is impossible. I will +explain...."</p> + +<p>And reading further questions and suspicions in +Massimo's expression of sorrowful indignation, he +urged him away.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span></p> + +<p>"Go to Signor Marcello, who is expecting you. +We will talk later on. I must first find this unhappy, +man and prevent his committing further follies. +Leave me now! Signor Marcello has asked me to +luncheon, and I will come if possible."</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>The archpriest's letter had contained an enclosure +from the episcopal <em>curia</em> of Vicenza that was nothing +more nor less than Don Aurelio's dismissal within +a fortnight from the benefice of Lago di Velo. The +archpriest himself, in a few appropriate lines, expressed +his regret at this unexpected communication, +and begged Don Aurelio to see that all persons and +furniture were removed from the house within the +appointed time, as his successor would then be +arriving with his mother and sister.</p> + +<p>It was a bitter thing to be driven from that peaceful +retreat, from his small, much-loved flock, not to know +where to find shelter or food. <em>All persons and +furniture to be removed.</em> It was impossible that he +could be dismissed on Ismaele's account, but, under +the circumstances, that word "persons" was not +without import.</p> + +<p>After the first moments of grief and bewilderment +Don Aurelio's soul was filled with a sense of sweetest +peace, as if Christ Himself had laid loving hands +upon his head. His own sad plight no longer +troubled him; he was thinking now of two things only—of +finding the Bible-seller, and of a certain important +communication, of a most delicate nature, which +Signor Marcello had made to him in the sacristy +after Mass.</p> + +<p>Walking quickly, he soon reached a wayside inn. +The innkeeper, a bearded Lombard, who had once +been gardener at the Villino delle Rose, stood smoking +in his shirt-sleeves in the doorway. As Don +Aurelio came up he turned his back upon him and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span>entered the tavern, saying in a tone easily heard +outside:</p> + +<p>"Hogs of priests! First they kick a dying man +out, and then run to see if he is dead!"</p> + +<p>And he spat contemptuously. Don Aurelio went +straight to the man, and confronted him.</p> + +<p>"My good fellow——" he began.</p> + +<p>The man was ashamed, and hastened to take his +pipe out of his mouth.</p> + +<p>"Will you have half a measure, Reverendo?" +he stammered.</p> + +<p>"Where is he?" Don Aurelio demanded resolutely. +"Where is the dying man I kicked +out?"</p> + +<p>"Ah! I suppose you mean the Bible-seller. I'm +sorry for what I said. It wasn't meant for you. For +my part I prefer the priests to this Bible chap. +Yes, he is here; my wife found him on the road, +half dead. But he is not going to stay here, I can +tell you! If that is what is worrying you, put your +mind at rest. I'm going to tell him that if his own +feet don't move him, mine will. Will that suit you? +I spoke wrong at first; I'm speaking right enough +now, ain't I? Good-morning!" He greeted a band +of soldiers belonging to a regiment of mountain +chasseurs, who were entering the tavern.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Don Aurelio went to the courtyard at +the side of the house, drawn by the sound of an +agitated woman's voice. Upon a broken chair +planted unsteadily in the black ooze, within a yard +of the manure-heap, sat the wretched Carnesecca, +grudgingly held up by the innkeeper's wife, who +was calling: "Checca! Checca! Quick! Quick!" +with all the strength of her lungs. Don Aurelio +rushed forward to support the tottering man, who +was the colour of a badly-washed rag, and scolded +the woman for not having taken him into the house. +The woman, one moment calling "Checca" and the +next making her excuses to the priest, said it had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span>been her man, Gèsummaria! who had not been +willing. And besides, Carnesecca himself—Blessed +Lady!—had not wanted it. He had seemed much +stronger when they brought him in from the road; +not as he was now. He had even said: "Fling me +on the dung-heap, for I am Jopha!" At this point +Carnesecca half opened his eyes and mumbled, his +chin still resting upon his breast:</p> + +<p>"Jonah! Not Jopha!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, Jopha!" the woman comforted. "Be +quiet and you shall have some coffee."</p> + +<p>Here was Checca at last, a great, stolid-looking +country girl of about sixteen, bringing the coffee—not, +indeed, the coffee of the padrone and his customers, +but that of the padrone's wife and her servant, a +semblance of coffee on terms of intimacy with +roasted wheat.</p> + +<p>Just at this moment a hen that had been calmly +disporting herself on the manure-heap, frightened +by the house-dog, flapped down into the yard, and +disappeared through a near hedge.</p> + +<p>"Gèsu! Mistress! The hen!" screamed Checca, +stopping short. "Catch her, catch her!" shouted +her mistress, remembering a certain hole in the +hedge and the ferocious threats of one of her neighbours.</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio snatched the coffee-pot from Checca's +hands, and the two women, the mistress in front, +Checca close behind, were off like the wind, splashing +through the black ooze. A sip of coffee revived +the Bible-merchant, who fixed upon Don Aurelio +a look that was half dazed, half mirthful.</p> + +<p>"What have you done, you wretched fellow? What +have you done? What has come over you?"</p> + +<p>Carnesecca smiled, and answered in his Val +d'Astico Italian:</p> + +<p>"I got round you, you see! I told you I would. +I got round you!"</p> + +<p>Another sip of coffee.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span></p> + +<p>"You think you have got round me, do you? +And where do you intend to go?"</p> + +<p>Another sip, after which Carnesecca cast a look +of deep inquiry at the liquid, with a most expressive +pout of his lips.</p> + +<p>"Where do I intend to go?" he said, still gazing +into the wheat coffee. "First to the High Priest +of Velo!"</p> + +<p>"I forbid your doing that!"</p> + +<p>"I shall go to the High Priest of Velo in a spirit +of respect and of meekness," said Carnesecca +serenely, "and I shall say to him: 'Vent thy wrath +upon me, cause me to be crucified, for this is +Jerusalem, thou art Caiaphas, and I am the son of +the Lamb.'"</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio was beside himself.</p> + +<p>"Don't talk rubbish! What you suppose is all +nonsense. There is not a word of truth in it. You +are coming home with me immediately!"</p> + +<p>The "son of the Lamb" was visibly impressed by +Don Aurelio's flushed countenance and angry voice, +and sat gazing fixedly at him.</p> + +<p>"Well, well, well!" said he at last, letting the +words off like pistol shots. "If it is not true, I need +not go. But I had sooner die on that dung-heap +than go back with you. I will ask shelter of the +White Lady of the Roses, who——"</p> + +<p>"Calàpo!" shouted the innkeeper's wife, who was +bringing the hen back in her arms. "Calàpo, +Calàpo! What are you about?"</p> + +<p>Calàpo, a stumpy little man, barefooted and coatless, +who was dragging a cart out of the stable, +shouted, in his turn, that he was going to harness the +donkey to drive to Piovene.</p> + +<p>"You will do nothing of the sort! The donkey +has the colic, you fool!"</p> + +<p>Carnesecca, interrupted in an intended panegyric +upon the White Lady of the Roses, as he called +Donna Fedele, made an effort to rise and go on +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span>his way. Don Aurelio detained him. It had struck +him that it would be better, for many reasons, to +allow the old man to go to the Villino, but he could +not let him go on foot. He begged the woman, if +she would not keep him, at least to allow Calàpo to +take him to the villa in the donkey-cart. But the +woman refused, on the plea of the animal's indisposition. +Calàpo pushed the cart back into the shed, +and Carnesecca declared that he was able to walk. +Don Aurelio had started to interview the innkeeper, +and beg him at least to keep the "Bible-man" till +the evening, when Calàpo came up and offered to +drag the cart as far as the villa. Meanwhile one of +the soldiers had called Checca out into the street, +whither others had followed, and formed a circle +around the flushed and laughing girl. The mistress +shouted to her and she came in, followed by the +soldiers, one of whom, hearing Calàpo renew his +offer, over which Don Aurelio was hesitating, cried +out:</p> + +<p>"Do you want help? I will help you!"</p> + +<p>Scenting fun, his companions quickly volunteered +to help also, and it was arranged that together they +should draw the cart as far as Velo, where a donkey +free from colic might be found. Calàpo took his +place between the shafts, and a couple of soldiers +lifted Carnesecca and placed him in the cart. Then +there was a merry proposal to put Checca in too, but +the girl ran off, while Carnesecca threatened indignantly +to throw himself from the cart if his dignity +were thus compromised. The innkeeper's wife +settled the matter.</p> + +<p>"You want more weight, do you, boys? You shall +have it," she said, and sent Calàpo to fetch two bags +of corn to take to the miller.</p> + +<p>But Carnesecca called Calàpo to his side and inquired +if he really felt able to drag the cart alone +as far as Velo.</p> + +<p>"As far as Velo? As far as Piovene, if you like!" +was the fellow's reply.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span></p> + +<p>Thereupon Carnesecca, who shrank from the +soldiers' noisy escort, turned towards them, giving +them to understand that he could dispense with their +services. Then he bowed his thanks to right and +left, his head bobbing between upraised hands, that +waved on either side like a pair of great ears. He +looked like a pope imparting his blessing from the +chair of state.</p> + +<p>"Let us be off, Calàpo," said Carnesecca gently. +"I give you my blessing," he said, turning to Don +Aurelio, "for your hospitality." And addressing +the woman, he added: "I bless you also for this +cart, for the chair, and ... yes, let us be charitable +... for the coffee also!" At this moment +the innkeeper made an appearance at the side door, +and blustered: "What is all this farce about?" +Carnesecca scrutinised him with the utmost composure. +"I bless you also," he said, "you also, +my good man—because you have a Christian wife, +and a Christian wife may save a heathen husband. +Let us be off, Calàpo."</p> + +<p>The innkeeper was speechless with amazement. +Calàpo, bending beneath the load, turned out at the +gateway into the road, the soldiers following and +jeering at him, "Gee up, Calàpo, gee up!" Don +Aurelio stood for a few seconds watching this strange +procession move towards Velo, and then started in the +direction of Sant' Ubaldo.</p> + + +<h3>II</h3> + +<p>Don Aurelio's mind was now wholly engrossed in +what Signor Marcello had confided to him in the +sacristy after Mass. Without explaining his reasons +for thinking so, further than by alluding to his +seventy-two years, Signor Marcello had spoken as +one who believed he had not long to live. An unusual +gentleness in his bearing confirmed the priest's +suspicion that some physical warning must have come +to him. The substance of his unexpected communication<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span> +was as follows. Uneasy concerning the future +of Leila, whom he looked upon as his daughter, and +anxious lest she should refuse the benefits his will +might offer, lest she should fall once more into the +hands of one or other of her parents, he had thought +that if a union were possible between her and +Massimo Alberti, his poor boy's friend, the second +and more serious of these dangers might be averted. +Probably thereby the other difficulty would be +avoided as well, at least to a certain extent, for +he would then comply in part with Leila's wish, +and leave her the villa only. It was to be hoped +that neither she nor her husband would wish to +offend his memory by refusing this legacy.</p> + +<p>It was unreasonable to expect a girl of two-and-twenty +to mourn for ever, and she must know that +another future was expected and desired for her. +Perhaps as long as he, Marcello, lived she would +hesitate to commit what might seem an outrage +against poor Andrea's memory, but if she were +encouraged and persuaded that Andrea in heaven +would not disapprove of this marriage, she would +surely give way. Signor Marcello was convinced +of this. The unknown quantity in the problem was +Massimo Alberti.</p> + +<p>Signor Marcello had heard much that was good +of him from Don Aurelio, but he did not know +whether he had other ties and affections, whether +or no he intended to marry. This was why he +had confided in Don Aurelio and asked for his advice +and the help that the priest's friendship with Massimo +could give him, first by information and then, if +possible, by influencing the young man in the matter.</p> + +<p>During this conversation the priest's face had +flushed with trouble and embarrassment. Massimo +had no ties of a shameful nature, of this he felt +sure, nor, to his knowledge, was he in love. He +knew him to be of a susceptible nature, and in +writing to him the young man had never tried to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span>hide the fact. As to marriage, he was certainly +not opposed to it, but he was firmly determined +never to bind himself without love, or to tolerate +suggestions concerning his choice. Advice of this +kind had once turned him against a certain alliance +which otherwise very probably would have been +made. In matters like these special tact was required +which Don Aurelio felt that he did not +possess; he wished he did possess it, for he would +have been heartily glad to urge Massimo to marry, +believing him capable of realising the highest ideals +of married life.</p> + +<p>All this he told Signor Marcello, but he said +nothing of what to him presented the thorniest aspect +of the problem. Signorina Leila was a riddle to +him, a closed casket that might contain either rich +jewels or false ones. Signor Marcello persisted, however, +in his request, and showed some impatience. +In the short time he had known him Don Aurelio +had grown to respect this old man, with his warm +heart, his honest and humble soul, with such pure +faith in and love of the Divine Word. He could not +refuse the favour he was now being asked, and +promised to do his best.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>He would do his best, but how was he to set +to work, he wondered as he walked slowly along +the parched road to Sant' Ubaldo. The first step +must be to discover whether Massimo's heart was +free. This was not difficult. And if it were free, +by what means was he to influence his friend in +the right direction without revealing his purpose? +Besides, was there time enough? When he had +talked with Signor Marcello he had not known he +must leave in a fortnight. Would not Massimo also +want to leave? And could a matter of this sort +be arranged in a fortnight? He must take Donna +Fedele into his confidence. She had experience of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span>these things, and would advise him. Although she +went very rarely to the Montanina, she would surely +know more about Signorina Leila than he could +possibly discover. He looked at his watch. It was +half-past ten. There was time for him to go to +the Villino and get back to the Montanina for +luncheon. Opportunities of studying the girl and of +seeing the two young people together were precious. +He hurried along, taking the road that leads down +to Lago without touching Sant' Ubaldo. While +crossing the glade between the slope of Lago and +that on which the Montanina stands he tried to +recollect his few distinct impressions of Signorina +Leila. He had heard her play with great feeling. +He had occasionally seen her coming down the road +from Sant' Ubaldo to the Battery, carrying great +bunches of wild flowers. He could not remember +any but insignificant remarks of hers. Whenever +he said Mass at Santa Maria ad Montes she was +present, seated beside Signor Marcello. Once +when he and Signor Marcello had had a discussion +in her presence concerning the reading of the Gospels +she had shown not the slightest interest. He recollected, +indeed, that he had come away wondering +whether she had ever read them. She was not unattractive-looking, +but she did not seem to him +beautiful enough to captivate Massimo at first sight. +His impression of her face was that it revealed great +intelligence and a character containing much of +reserve and caprice.</p> + +<p>Absorbed in these thoughts, he would probably +have passed Donna Fedele without seeing her had +she not called out, "Don Aurelio!" She and the +girl from Lago were seated upon the fallen trunk +of a great tree, a little above the turn that leads +towards the Montanina.</p> + +<p>"Well? Did you find him?"</p> + +<p>Hearing that Carnesecca was on his way to Villino +delle Rose, she rose to her feet, astonished, but glad +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span>to have him, and anxious to get home. Although +she was still very tired, she dismissed the girl, that +she might be free to discuss Don Aurelio's dismissal +from his benefice. There was little to tell, and +the priest cut short her conjectures, perhaps because +another matter was then uppermost in his mind, or +that he feared an indignant outburst against the +priests of Velo. He made haste to tell her that he +wanted her advice on a very important question. +"More so than this?" Donna Fedele asked. Yes. +This matter was simple enough, but the other was +most complex. Talking thus they had almost +reached the little hired carriage that had come +up as far as the entrance to the Montanina. +The priest stopped, intending to explain the matter +shortly.</p> + +<p>"Don Aurelio," said his companion, "if you do +not mind giving me your arm, I will stop, otherwise +I must go and sit in the carriage." She was very +pale, but her sweet eyes were smiling.</p> + +<p>As it was not yet eleven, Donna Fedele decided +that there was time for Don Aurelio to accompany +her home and then be driven back to the Montanina +by twelve o'clock, and although the driver's presence +would prevent their talking on the way, they would, +nevertheless, have a quiet quarter of an hour at the +Villino.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>At five minutes to twelve Don Aurelio pushed +open the covered gate that leads into the Montanina +grounds, beside Santa Maria ad Montes, feeling much +lighter-hearted than he had felt earlier in the day. +Donna Fedele had promised her aid with such +enthusiastic goodwill that he, ignorant as he was +of the depths of her good nature, was touched and +filled with gratitude, as if that goodwill had been +all on his behalf.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span></p> + + +<h3>III</h3> + +<p>Massimo came down from Sant' Ubaldo with his +heart full of bitterness, believing firmly, with Carnesecca, +that Don Aurelio's dismissal had been +brought about by his championship of the Lutheran +missioner. He wondered anxiously what would +happen to his poor friend. Even if the unfortunate +priest should wander far in search of another diocese, +would not these calumnies follow him? Would he +not be met on all sides with reluctance, diffidence, +and timidity?</p> + +<p>Hardly had his hand touched the Montanina gate +than another anxiety beset him, overruling the first. +He thought of his approaching meeting with the +Signorina, which he desired and yet at the same +time dreaded. The green, flowery loveliness of the +villa's setting seemed to him to distil a subtle sense +of awe-inspiring mystery. Instead of going straight +to the house he turned to the left, past the clump +of poplars and the bridge, overgrown with roses, +and walked along the bank of the Riderella to where +a tiny waterfall sings, almost in the shade of the +walnut-trees. Presently he asked himself impatiently +what was the meaning of this agitation on account +of one whom he had never seen. For answer the +two photographs rose to his mind, and he shrank +from the thought of being confronted by that pale +face and the downcast eyes. He started towards +the villa, trying to steel himself into indifference. +In the distance, by the stables, he saw Teresina +talking to a gentleman, whom he learned from her +later was the village doctor, who had not deemed +it prudent to intrude upon Signor Marcello without +a plausible excuse. Massimo went up to his room +and stood gazing for some time at Andrea's picture. +Then he carefully and almost reverently changed +the water in the glass that held the rose, the rose +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span>that had drooped a little lower and become more +languid, its outside petals already touched by the +first pallor of death. Again he re-read his letters +to his lost friend, letters whose pages were still +more faded than the rose. He was standing at +the window in passive enjoyment of this feast of +sunshine, wind, and living things that exhorted to +life, when he heard a heavy step in the corridor, +and, turning, saw the door slowly pushed open. It +was Signor Marcello, who, on perceiving him, uttered +an exclamation of apology.</p> + +<p>"I did not know you had returned," said he.</p> + +<p>In his hand he carried a fresh rose, a magnificent +white one, like the other. They stood gazing at +each other for a while in silent sympathy; then +Massimo, deeply moved, took the rose, and Signor +Marcello withdrew.</p> + +<p>Towards half-past eleven, while Massimo was +writing letters, Giovanni brought a message from +his master, asking the young man to come down.</p> + +<p>"He is in the drawing-room with the Signorina."</p> + +<p>"Which shall I see?" was the thought that sprang +to Massimo's mind as he went down the wooden +staircase.</p> + +<p>Leila was seated with her back to the stairs at +the writing-table placed crosswise between the +spacious window and the fireplace. She was annoyed +with herself because her heart was beating so +violently; she would not admit, even to herself, +her burning curiosity to see this man who was descending +the stairs; she would not have turned her +head to look at him, either then or later, if she +could have avoided doing so without being set down +as hopelessly discourteous.</p> + +<p>"Leila!" said Signor Marcello gently.</p> + +<p>She laid down her pen, opened the drawer to +place something in it, seemed to be searching in it +for an instant, and finally rose and faced about.</p> + +<p>Signor Marcello introduced her: "My daughter."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span></p> + +<p>She barely inclined her head. Massimo bowed +low, murmuring something incoherent of which the +only word distinguishable was "pleasure."</p> + +<p>Yes, pleasure! Here was neither the one face nor +the other. Here was the serious face of a girl who +receives for the first time a friend of her dead lover. +It was the face of one who had once given everything +to love, and had now consecrated her life to +the memory of that love. Massimo might have been +more critical of the irregularities of this face had +its expression been different. But the irregularities +seemed to him too insignificant to dwell upon, and +he thought her almost beautiful. He could not but +admire her figure, which, though not tall, was perfect +in all its lines, revealed by her simple grey gown, +trimmed with black, and cut slightly low at the +neck. He noticed the splendid, fair hair that +crowned her small head, and the grace of her neck, +which was the colour of old ivory. His bearing +immediately became less constrained.</p> + +<p>But Leila became even more rigid. Signor +Marcello saw, by a slight movement on her part, +that she was about to flee, like a child whose feet +fidget to be off. He tried to detain her by making +her the subject of conversation.</p> + +<p>"She has sacrificed herself for my poor wife and +myself," he began, but obtained the opposite result +to that at which he aimed. Leila cried reproachfully, +"Papa!" and darted off. Signor Marcello +was hurt, and called after her:</p> + +<p>"Leila!"</p> + +<p>She paused on the threshold of the dining-room, +turned towards them, and stood resting her hands +against the door-jambs. Massimo shuddered. It +was the face he had dreaded—the marble sphinx, +with downcast eyes. The vision lasted but an instant. +Then Leila looked up with a forced smile.</p> + +<p>"I must go, Papa," she said—"that is, if you +want any luncheon!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span></p> + +<p>"Oh, very well ..." sighed Signor Marcello, +more displeased than submissive.</p> + +<p>Hardly had she left the room than he began to +sing her praises. She was kind, intelligent, a +musician, a skilful housewife. Massimo listened in +silence. As soon as possible he brought the conversation +round to Don Aurelio's dismissal, of which, +of course, Signor Marcello had not yet heard. +Massimo was as yet unacquainted with the particulars, +but the fact itself was certain.</p> + +<p>Signor Marcello was more disappointed and +grieved than indignant. Four-and-twenty hours +before he would have felt differently. Of Carnesecca, +Massimo only knew that he had fled, and he +greatly doubted whether Don Aurelio would be able +to keep his engagement to luncheon. He also spoke +of Donna Fedele, although he was unaware on what +terms she stood at the Montanina. Signor Marcello +expressed his pleasure at discovering that there was +a link between them, repeating several times how +glad he was, without giving any reason why, and +without any special praise for any of the persons +concerned, and going on to tell how the Vayla di +Breas had come to settle in Arsiero. At this point +Don Aurelio arrived.</p> + +<p>He came in with a bright manner, and answered +Signor Marcello's and Massimo's questions briefly. +Yes, it was quite true that he must leave his benefice +within a fortnight. But it was no one's fault. +Ismaele was only a poor visionary. The rough +time he had had at Posina had made him fancy +there was persecution everywhere. A priest, with +his mother and sister, were coming to Lago. Probably +it was to assist them, poor things—while he, +without any such claims upon him——And he +shrugged his shoulders, as if it would be the easiest +thing in the world for him to earn a livelihood. +Changing the subject, he became eloquent in his +account of Carnesecca's wanderings, saying that, at +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span>the present moment, he was in bed in a comfortable +little room at the Villino, in a state of beatitude. +Well, perhaps not precisely of beatitude, because +the three hundred and fifty-nine bones had begun +to ache again, but, nevertheless——! The footman +here announced that luncheon was served. +Leila was waiting in the dining-room.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>The four seated themselves at the square table, +one on each side. Leila sat facing the glass door +opening into the garden and commanding a view +of the crags of Barco; Massimo was on her left. +On her right sat Don Aurelio, who began talking +to her at once, telling her he had often seen her +coming down the road from the Battery, carrying +wild flowers. He referred to the rhododendrons that +grew luxuriantly where landslides have torn the +slopes of Priaforà. She knew these well, and +admitted that those wild spots were favourites of +hers. Her voice was deeper and not so sweet as +Donna Fedele's, but rich, sympathetic, and soft, +nevertheless, suggesting as far as a woman's voice +can the notes of a violoncello, and rich with +potential feeling. Her answer to Don Aurelio's +question, whether she was fond of solitudes, came +unhesitatingly and in the affirmative, but she added +quickly, fearing she had not understood aright:</p> + +<p>"Solitude, you say?"</p> + +<p>"I really said 'solitudes.'"</p> + +<p>Without looking at Massimo she felt he was about +to speak, and hastened to renew the conversation +with Don Aurelio, asking him if he had seen the +rhododendrons of Priaforà in blossom. Alas! no, +that was impossible! The Signorina forgot that he +had only come to Sant' Ubaldo in October.</p> + +<p>"You will see them in July," she said.</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio smiled.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span></p> + +<p>"I am sorry to say that Don Aurelio is leaving +us," Signor Marcello announced sadly.</p> + +<p>"As a matter of fact it is not he who——" +Massimo began.</p> + +<p>"He is leaving us?" Leila broke in, more +astonished than grieved.</p> + +<p>"They are driving him away," said Massimo, with +some irritation, and determined to conquer the girl's +assumption of indifference towards himself. She +flung him a glance that seemed to say, "What +have you to do with it?" and once more repeated, +"He is giving us up?"</p> + +<p>But when Alberti was determined it was no easy +matter to silence him.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, they are driving him away," he +reiterated, speaking rather to Don Aurelio himself +than to Leila. "The archpriest has dismissed him. +He is sending him away because he has housed a +Protestant! Or it may be perhaps because he +believes him to be a Modernist."</p> + +<p>To Massimo, Don Aurelio's humble meekness +towards his enemies seemed excessive, and sometimes +irritated him, as it had a moment since when he had +alluded to his needy successor. He was burning to +tell him so openly, to make him see the truth clearly. +During his outburst Don Aurelio could only protest +in monosyllables, but when his friend had finished +he expressed the pain such violent language and +these unproved accusations caused him.</p> + +<p>"He is capable of it," murmured Signor Marcello +with bowed head, alluding to the archpriest. +"Quite capable of it—quite!"</p> + +<p>"The archpriest knows perfectly well I am not +a Modernist," Don Aurelio went on with a last protesting +gesture. His superior had, indeed, assured +him of his most complete satisfaction on that point.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" said Signor Marcello. "You a +Modernist indeed!"</p> + +<p>"He certainly is not," Massimo interposed. "At +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span>the most he may be a Modernist only in the way +Antonio Rosmini was. They say I am one also," +he added candidly.</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio laughed heartily.</p> + +<p>"You ... you...!" he cried, with a blankness +that was eloquent.</p> + +<p>Massimo understood, and looking round, met a +glance from Leila's eyes that pierced him like a +shaft of fire. For an instant he felt blinded, and it +was only by an effort that he brought himself to +answer Don Aurelio.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said, "I may be more of a Modernist +than you are, but I am not one, after all."</p> + +<p>What a significant glance from the marble sphinx +that had been!</p> + +<p>Signor Marcello stretched out his hand, and laid +it upon Massimo's, that rested on the table.</p> + +<p>"My dear young friend," said he, "remember +an old man's words: 'There is but one true form +of Modernism, and that is the Modernism of Dante! +Therein is the whole Catholic creed to the last +iota, inspired by ardent faith, bringing the Gospel +in simple language to all men, regardless of the +shades of their opinions. Dante, dear friend, Dante! +And now talk about the rhododendrons again.'"</p> + +<p>But instead Massimo spoke of the room Carnesecca +had left unoccupied at Sant' Ubaldo, saying +there was no longer any excuse for his intruding +upon Signor Marcello. The old man, astonished +and somewhat hurt by this display of formality, protested +that he could not hear of Massimo's leaving. +His friend's speech seemed to upset Don Aurelio +also, who generally found it easier to express his +feelings by certain restless physical movements than +by words. But Massimo persisted. Like Don +Aurelio, he also accompanied broken sentences with +various gestures, that were the visible signs of +unspoken arguments.</p> + +<p>"I assure you," cried his friend, half in jest, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span>half in earnest, "by your presence in my house you +would injure me more than poor Carnesecca did, +and I can't have you! You will have to listen to +Signor Marcello."</p> + +<p>A conviction that he was being encompassed by +some irresistible influence suddenly overwhelmed +Massimo. His brain struggled feebly to send forth +the words "Then I will return to Milan," but +they remained unsaid, and he kept silence.</p> + +<p>Leila had not spoken since meeting the glance +which had said, "Are you interested in me?" She +could not forgive herself her own glance. She perfectly +understood Signor Marcello's displeasure, but +she could not see why Don Aurelio did not wish to +have his friend at Sant' Ubaldo. She encouraged +her forced contempt for Massimo by telling herself +he did not really wish to leave, that if he had wished +it, instead of bringing the matter up at the luncheon-table, +he would have come down later with his luggage +ready strapped, and said to Signor Marcello: +"There is no longer any excuse for my remaining +here, and I am going." But, of course, Signor +Alberti preferred a comfortable room, a nice house, +and a good table to the priest's poor home and +meagre fare.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>So he was a Modernist as well! Of Modernism +Leila knew less than nothing. She disliked the name, +and she disliked her own ignorant interpretation of +it. She had never thought about her own attitude +towards religious observance. A creature of instinct +and of passions rather than of reason, the vagaries +of her fancy and ideas were in no wise checked by +the regular, if mechanical, performance of religious +duties. She looked upon Modernism, not as an effort +to adapt traditional Catholicism to modern conditions, +but rather as a doctrine that sought to substitute +for the ancient religious obligations of Catholic tradition<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span> +new obligations that were more extensive, less +clearly defined, and heavier.</p> + +<p>At times she prayed devoutly, but always with the +traditional forms and never spontaneously. Her +prayers were for definite and immediate objects, and +not for Divine love and for spiritual blessing. Her +impulse, nevertheless, was sincere, and she found a +help in prayer of this kind.</p> + +<p>She imagined, and the thought was odious to her, +that Modernism was incompatible with traditional +prayer. The only aspect of Modernism that could +appeal to her was its element of rebellion, but she +judged it an abortive, half-hearted rebellion at best. +And so Signor Alberti was a Modernist! This +helped her in her determination to despise him.</p> + +<p>The fruit had been placed on the table and Leila +rose.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Her obstinate silence after that fiery glance, from +which Massimo still smarted, was, to his mind, the +necessary complement of that glance, and was +characteristic of his conception of her as a marble +sphinx. In rising with the others when Leila rose, +the young man recalled certain teasing words a friend +had once spoken, the recollection of which often +galled him: "You have not yet experienced it, but +when you do fall in love, it will be sudden and +overwhelming." As he passed into the drawing-room +behind Leila he noticed certain tiny red spots upon +her white neck. He was glad to see these, for they +seemed to diminish somewhat the power of physical +attraction which this strange creature possessed. +Taking Don Aurelio's arm, he scolded him gently +for not wishing to have him at Sant' Ubaldo. But +Don Aurelio had found a useful excuse. "You +would compromise me!" said he, laughing his hearty +laugh that shook his whole frame. "Is it not true, +Signorina?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span></p> + +<p>"It seems to me," she said, without looking at +either of them, "that compromise cannot matter +now." And she busied herself in pouring out the +coffee.</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio, always slow to recognise a thrust, +failed absolutely to recognise this one, which wounded +Massimo more deeply than himself. He murmured +humbly: "I am only in jest, only in jest, you know!" +and added, in his simplicity and inexperience of +<em>double entente</em>:</p> + +<p>"Poor Massimo cannot compromise any one."</p> + +<p>Massimo was somewhat embarrassed, but said +nothing. Leila, however, smiled slightly, thus +making Don Aurelio aware of his blunder.</p> + +<p>"Ah, well ... yes ... of course ... what +nonsense!" he stammered, answering her with a +laugh almost of regret for unspoken words. "I +speak simply, and must be taken simply."</p> + +<p>Signor Marcello called them out to the terrace to +see a fine effect of gathering storm-clouds. On the +north the sun was beating upon the heights of Rotzo +in Val d'Astico, that stood out, brightly gilded, +against the clear blue, while the brow of the same +uplands was lit up towards the east by continuous +summer lightning, flashing out of a sky of turquoise. +Leila hastened to obey the summons, pretending to +have forgotten that she had not given Signor +Alberti his coffee. When, a moment later, he appeared +on the terrace with Don Aurelio, she withdrew, +and slipping into the dining-room, crossed to the +threshold of the garden door. A thunderstorm +always made her nerves tingle with a mad delight, +and she liked to enjoy it alone, drawn to it like a +small cloud saturated with electricity. If there had +been wind, she would have rushed out as she did +sometimes at night, letting her hair blow wild. But +as no leaf stirred, and as she heard Signor Marcello's +voice asking for her, she returned to the terrace.</p> + +<p>"The coffee, dear," said the old man. "Neither +Alberti nor I have had ours."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span></p> + +<p>She murmured some excuse. In helping Massimo +her manner was not precisely rude, but there was +something ungracious both in her face and bearing. +Don Aurelio, who noted everything, with meekness +indeed, but with keenness as well, reflected in his +artless optimism that the memory of her lover could +no longer be very vivid in her heart, if she could +treat his dearest friend thus coldly.</p> + +<p>"Where was it," said Signor Marcello suddenly +to Massimo, "that you met that Benedetto from +Subiaco?"</p> + +<p>"At Jenne."</p> + +<p>"And what was he like?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I will not say that I adored him, for I +object to the word, but I loved him better than I +have ever loved any one in this world, except my +mother."</p> + +<p>Massimo had no idea the sphinx would speak.</p> + +<p>"Was he indeed a saint, then?" said she.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, Signorina," he retorted, "but +I have never felt the necessity for saintliness in those +I love."</p> + +<p>"But is it true he performed miracles?"</p> + +<p>"No, he performed no miracles."</p> + +<p>"Did he really die in a woman's arms?"</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio, amazed that a young girl should ask +such a question, could not suppress an exclamation +of protest.</p> + +<p>"Leila!" Signor Marcello ejaculated severely.</p> + +<p>With flaming face Massimo exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"It is a vile calumny! I never heard it before!"</p> + +<p>"I read it somewhere," said Leila calmly.</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio intervened.</p> + +<p>"I would have you know, Signorina, that the man +of whom you speak may have erred in matters of +doctrine; on that point I can express no opinion. +But, had the Church pointed out his errors to him, +he would have been the first to recognise them. +As to his private life, after his conversion it was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span>one of perfect purity. I can answer for that, at +least."</p> + +<p>Signor Marcello, who was following the discussion +with a nervous twitching of every line of his +expressive face, now cut it short in a voice of +authority. Saying that he wanted to speak privately +with Don Aurelio, he proposed that Leila should take +Alberti for a walk in the garden. Leila cast him +a half-dazed glance, and then looked towards +Massimo as if beseeching his support.</p> + +<p>"It is too hot," she objected.</p> + +<p>The young man protested that he was quite ready +to go alone, but Signor Marcello would listen to no +excuses. A heavy bank of clouds was rapidly darkening +the villa's green surroundings, and the rain was +more to be feared than the heat.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>"You know the Montanina well?" said Leila, as +she passed out by the south door that opens upon +the green slope, studded with pines and mountain-oaks, +and crowned, far above, with chestnuts. "You +have seen the sun-dial, and Blessed Alberto Magno, +and the goat's head, through whose mouth flow the +waters of the Riderella?" All this she delivered like +a tiresome and oft-repeated lesson, and, walking in +front of him, did not appear to notice that he made +no answer. She took the path leading upwards, +on one side of the villa. "Do you know the Fonte +Modesta also?" she inquired, as they passed near +the small cave, filled with the spring's soft murmuring. +On she went, pointing out this feature and that, +regardless of Alberti's silence, and with all the +perfunctoriness of a professional guide.</p> + +<p>While she was speaking the words "the source +of the Riderella" he interrupted her. He had been +waiting to speak only until they should have reached +a sufficient distance from the house.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span></p> + +<p>"Signorina," said he, "I did not insist with Signor +Marcello because I saw that I should cause him pain, +but I wish you to understand that you need not put +yourself out for me. If you will allow me, I will +finish the walk alone."</p> + +<p>Leila answered coldly: "As you like."</p> + +<p>The path being narrow, she stepped aside to let +him pass, standing with downcast eyes, like a statue +of marble.</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said the young man, quivering with +indignation, and he passed her without a look. Why +had this girl taken it into her head to treat him +thus? Did she think he was going to make love +to her? He could not fancy any other reason. And +those foolish questions concerning Benedetto had +simply been a piece of pointed impudence. Make +love to her indeed!</p> + +<p>But that fiery glance! In thinking of it Massimo +recalled the music he had heard in the night. What +lay concealed in the soul of this mysterious creature? +Her stiffness and indifference, her silent discourtesy, +and her insolent words were not only intentional +but incomprehensible as well. What reason had +she to suppose he intended making love to her? +What sign had he given? A suspicion flashed upon +him. Don Aurelio had taken it into his head that +his friend should marry young. Was it possible +he had chosen this girl for him, that some inkling +of his plan had reached her? No, it was impossible, +and that for a hundred reasons, and if on account of +nothing else, at least for the friendship between Don +Aurelio and Signor Marcello. The conclusion, then? +The conclusion was that one thing only was clear—the +girl's pointed hostility. This he might have +regarded as armour against budding affection had +affection had time to bud. But as it was...?</p> + +<p>He sat down to rest upon a rustic bench beneath +the chestnut-tree. The great clouds were veiling +Torraro, the shadows of the trees swayed in the wind +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span>on the flower-strewn banks, the white villa was smiling +brightly down below in the sunshine, and the dull +roar of the torrent and of the whirlpools of Perale +rose through the silence of chestnut-groves. But +Massimo could enjoy neither the shade nor the fresh +breeze, nor the grand and gentle beauty of all things. +He felt that beauty was a stranger to the bitterness +of his heart, felt himself a stranger to beauty. He +wondered what course he should pursue. He would +not go back to the Montanina, and he must either +persuade Don Aurelio to take him in or he must +return to Milan. He took pleasure in recalling all +the bitterness of his heart, mingling that which +lay at the bottom, almost outside the bounds of +memory, with the bitterness of the present hour. +He tried to concentrate his thoughts on Don Aurelio's +sad plight, for Signorina Leila's discourtesy was +really not worth worrying about. But Don Aurelio! +The old temptation rose up again, grim and violent. +Would it not be better to break away at once and +for all from the people who persecute such men as +Don Aurelio, the very salt of the earth? But immediately +he felt the grave eyes of Don Aurelio himself +fixed upon him, the eyes of the victim who +was all meekness towards his persecutors; and the +impulse of rebellion was defeated. But to cease fighting +the enemies of the Church for the Church's own +sake, to stand by and watch the struggle—this was no +temptation, but a wise counsel. But what should he +do in the world, then? Ignore the world, obtain an +appointment as parish doctor—why not? In some +village, among the hills, would it not be happiness to +taste something of the joys of love? Presently he saw +Don Aurelio come out of the villa, look upwards, +and start in his direction, and he went down to meet +him. Don Aurelio appeared astonished to see him +alone.</p> + +<p>"And the Signorina?"</p> + +<p>Massimo said he had begged her not to put herself<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span> +out for him, and hastened to add that, being +alone, he had had time to think of his own plans. +He was resolved to leave the Montanina that very +evening, and still hoped to occupy Carnesecca's +room. Don Aurelio answered firmly, and at the same +time regretfully, that he had just now promised +Signor Marcello that Massimo would stay at least +a fortnight at the Montanina, if not all the time he +had arranged to spend at Lago di Velo. Massimo +repeated that this was out of the question. If Don +Aurelio would not have him as his guest during the +few days that remained of his ministry, he would +go back to Milan. Don Aurelio seized this favourable +opportunity.</p> + +<p>"Is it an interest in any special person that calls +you back to Milan?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Massimo answered promptly in the negative and +smiled.</p> + +<p>"Really, no? You can assure me of that?"</p> + +<p>"Really, no! My hand upon it!" cried the +young man, extending his hand, which Don Aurelio +pressed.</p> + +<p>"In that case," he said, "you must not disappoint +this old man so cruelly."</p> + +<p>But Massimo was so determined that the priest +was forced to conclude something unpleasant had +happened. He asked if the Signorina's questions +about Benedetto had offended him. No, she had +spoken in ignorance, repeating newspaper gossip. +Perhaps there had been further discussion in the +garden? No, there had not. But Don Aurelio +pressed him so hard that at last Massimo confessed +the real reason. The girl could not bear him, and +had let him see it. This Don Aurelio refused to +believe, and made him describe all Leila's hostile +actions, which appeared insignificant enough in the +telling; but the priest admitted that certain things +that might almost pass unobserved may be keenly +felt. It was only with difficulty that he extracted +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span>a promise from Massimo to postpone his departure +until the morrow. He should be free to leave the +next night if his impressions were confirmed. He +advised him, at all events, to pay a farewell visit to +the Villino delle Rose immediately, and pointed out +the little house, showing like a red berry on the +edge of the plain of Arsiero, that looks towards +Seghe. Don Aurelio urged his friend to start at +once, that he might be sure of finding Donna Fedele +at home.</p> + +<p>When Massimo had gone the priest returned to +Signor Marcello, with whom he had a long talk. +Then he left him to go back to Sant' Ubaldo. Signor +Marcello sent for Leila. He told her how dear +Alberti was to him, and said she must surely understand +why. He wished him to remain some time at +the Montanina, and he therefore begged her to be +gracious to him. The old man spoke in low tones +and with great gentleness, as one who wishes his +manner to convey the seriousness of unspoken words. +Leila, who had stood listening, pale and motionless, +murmured that she had not been conscious of ungraciousness +towards Signor Alberti. Signor Marcello +looked at her, but did not answer. Presently +he said, with the same gentleness as before:</p> + +<p>"I ask it as a favour."</p> + +<p>Hardly above a whisper she answered, "Yes, +Papa."</p> + +<p>Then going to her room, she locked the door +and burst into a violent fit of weeping.</p> + + +<h3>IV</h3> + +<p>Massimo returned from the Villino delle Rose +shortly before the dinner-hour. Signor Marcello +came out to meet him, and drawing his arm through +his own, repeated lovingly to him how delighted he +was to have him at the Montanina. He meant to show +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span>him many treasured old letters, wherein he, Massimo, +was mentioned. A few days ago he would not have +believed himself able to do this, but now, largely +owing to Massimo's presence at the Montanina, he +felt quite strong. The young man, who was both +touched and troubled, was at a loss how to introduce +the painful but necessary question of his departure. +He was still casting about in his mind for a suggestion +when the bell rang for dinner. Then it was +too late to speak, and he postponed the difficult +announcement until later.</p> + +<p>Leila was late for dinner. She was dressed in +black and wore a bunch of pansies in her belt. +She was very pale, and ate scarcely anything. With +a visible effort she forced herself to put some questions +to Massimo as to how he had spent the afternoon, +paying but slight attention to his answers. +Signor Marcello glanced frequently at the black +gown and at the flowers she wore, with a look +half tender, half regretful. He talked a great deal +and with affectionate admiration of Donna Fedele, +speaking of her former beauty, the youth that still +shone in her brown eyes, and sweet voice. Looking +at Leila, he said how sorry he was that the lady no +longer came to the Montanina as before.</p> + +<p>"To tell the truth," said Leila, "it is for us to +go to see her."</p> + +<p>Signor Marcello's face beamed with satisfaction +and gratitude, and taking the hand that she allowed +to rest limply in his, he pressed it tenderly.</p> + +<p>Then the conversation turned upon Don Aurelio's +dismissal. "Who is this archpriest?" Massimo +inquired.</p> + +<p>"Gèsummaria!" cried Signor Marcello, covering +his eyes with his big, thin hands, a gesture that spoke +volumes. And "Gèsummaria!" was all he would +say, nor did Massimo press him. Leila's eyes were +downcast, but her face was not sphinx-like; it wore +rather the expression of one who disapproves and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span>is grieved. This expression of hers goaded Massimo +into saying that Don Aurelio was a priest whom the +most uncompromising conservatives, even the <em>intransigenti</em>, +had no excuse for persecuting. He was a +follower of Rosmini, and had never been suspected +of Modernism even in Rome, when he was living +there. A few questions from Signor Marcello easily +led the young man to speak of his own life in +Rome, of Subiaco, and of Jenne; how he had come +to know Don Aurelio, Dom Clemente, and Benedetto, +and the adventures of his dead friend from +the time he disappeared from his house at Oria, +in Valsolda, in order that he might dedicate himself +to God, to his death in Rome, in the gardener's +cottage at Villa Mayda. He told the story of his +last hours, and placed in its true light the part +Jeanne Dessalle had played. It was almost dark +when he finished his story. Coffee and lights had +been forgotten, and Signor Marcello and Leila remained +silent. Presently Giovanni entered, and +asked if he should light the lamps.</p> + +<p>"No," said Leila promptly, in a hushed voice. +Then she asked Massimo if he had known Jeanne +Dessalle. He replied that he had seen her that night +at Villa Mayda.</p> + +<p>Was she beautiful? He really could not say. +She had simply passed him in one of the ante-rooms. +It was not yet dark, but, as it was raining +hard, there was little light in the room. Her figure +had struck him as graceful. Leila then inquired +what had become of her. No one knew. And +where was Benedetto buried? Massimo hesitated +an instant.</p> + +<p>"At Campo Verano ... for the time being," he +said.</p> + +<p>"For the time being?"</p> + +<p>The same astonished question fell from the lips +of both his listeners. Massimo did not answer.</p> + +<p>"And what will Don Aurelio do?" Leila asked. +"Where will he go?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span></p> + +<p>"I do not know."</p> + +<p>The room was full of shadows, and the three rose +from the table in silence.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Giovanni having been ordered to light the drawing-room, +had lighted a large lamp near the fireplace. +Signor Marcello begged Leila to play for their guest, +and at the same time he rang the bell, intending +to have the lamp by the piano lighted. Leila +hastened to prevent this.</p> + +<p>"No, Papa, please not!"</p> + +<p>She preferred this dim light, and Signor Marcello +did not insist, but went out to the terrace, with +stooping shoulders, to watch the darkness over in +the west that was dotted with the lights of Arsiero.</p> + +<p>"What sort of music would you like?" said Leila. +"Serious or light?"</p> + +<p>"Signorina," Massimo said, "you must not put +yourself out for me."</p> + +<p>Remembering their conversation in the garden, +Leila said to herself: "He evidently has no other +expression."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you are not fond of music?" she said.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not."</p> + +<p>He smiled slightly as he spoke, and his smile +hurt her like a blow upon the cheek. Without a +word, she opened the piano and began playing something +from Schumann's "Carnival" from memory.</p> + +<p>She played it too nervously and without sweetness. +When she had finished Massimo thanked her dryly. +That would have been the moment to go to Signor +Marcello and press the question of departure, but +he hesitated. The girl's conduct was beginning to +strike him in a new light. The black dress and +the pansies had jarred upon him as a sort of unnecessary +hint to himself, but her questions during +dinner, the interest she had shown in his story, and +now her way of answering his "perhaps not," showing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span> +that she had understood his feelings and his +irony, her choice of the author and of the passionate +music, the very nervousness of the execution, and +the immobility that followed it, gave him the impression +of a state of mind that was neither hostile +nor indifferent. He could not help thinking it a +little strange of Signor Marcello to leave them +together as he had done. For a minute or so Leila +let the fingers of her right hand run softly along +the high notes, and then she inquired carelessly if +he wished to hear something else.</p> + +<p>He remembered that melody by Bellini he had +heard in the night.</p> + +<p>"Will you play 'Sola, furtiva al tempio'?"</p> + +<p>"'Norma'?"</p> + +<p>She sought the beginning, but after the first notes +struck a wrong one, tried others at random, and +murmuring, "I don't know it," took her hands from +the keyboard. Massimo was tempted to say, "You +knew it well enough in the night!" But meanwhile +the girl had tried again in an absent-minded +way, and again had failed. Then, almost in a +whisper, and studying the palm of her hand, she +said:</p> + +<p>"Was not your Benedetto a heretic?"</p> + +<p>"No!" cried Massimo. "His teaching may +sometimes have erred, but he lived in obedience +to the Church, and preached that obedience always."</p> + +<p>"Then would you mind explaining to me why +they persecuted him as a heretic?"</p> + +<p>The tone of the question was hostile, but Massimo +answered, nevertheless.</p> + +<p>"Willingly. Now, if you like!"</p> + +<p>"No, no! To-morrow or the day after. Now +I am going to play for Papa."</p> + +<p>With a scale of chords Leila put an end to the +dialogue that had been carried on softly and rapidly. +Then she began an <em>Étude</em> by Heller, and Massimo +concluded that the Signorina did not really wish +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span>to hear his explanations, but, at any rate, it would +be impossible to interrupt her now, and tell her the +day after to-morrow would be too late.</p> + +<p>"This is for Papa, you know," she said, still +playing. "I don't care for it."</p> + +<p>Massimo listened for some time, and then rose +to go to Signor Marcello. He paused before the +fireplace, where the light fell full upon the frieze +of marguerites interwoven with the motto, <em>Forse che +si, forse che no</em> ("Perhaps yes, perhaps no").⁠<a id="FNanchor_2_2" href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> +The motto was so entirely in harmony with his own +uncertainty that he looked curiously to see how it +ended. He said to himself: "If it is cut short at +<em>yes</em>, I will go. If it is not cut short, and ends in +<em>no</em>, I will remain." He was conscious of reflecting +that, according to all probability, it would end in +<em>no</em>. The motto finished with <em>perhaps</em>!</p> + +<p>Massimo stood gazing upon it, somewhat baffled, +but presently he saw that there was another test +he could apply. The marguerites in the frieze were +all losing their leaves, but the one where the motto +ended still retained a few. He might pluck these +in imagination, and see if the answer were <em>yes</em> +or <em>no</em>.</p> + +<p>A soft voice whispered close behind him:</p> + +<p>"Are you consulting the oracle?"</p> + +<p>The young man turned quickly. Donna Fedele +stood smiling at him, her finger at her lips, for +Heller's <em>Étude</em> was not yet finished. She had arrived +while Leila was playing Schumann, and had been +chatting with Signor Marcello until, seeing Massimo +contemplating the frieze, she had come behind him.</p> + +<p>"I am really here on your account," she said, +still smiling. The music ceased, and she turned +from the fireplace towards Leila, who had risen. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span>She kissed her affectionately, as if no shadow had +ever touched her friendship for the girl. Congratulating +her on her playing, she took her arm and +returned with her to the fireside. Signor Marcello +stood looking into the drawing-room.</p> + +<p>"Did you know," Donna Fedele began, addressing +Leila, "that Signor Alberti's mother and I were +friends? He is going to dine with me to-morrow, +for we must have a long talk about his mother. +She was such a dear, poor thing!"</p> + +<p>Massimo, who was both troubled and surprised, +could only murmur:</p> + +<p>"Thank you, but——"</p> + +<p>"Just fancy," she went on, as if she had not +heard his <em>but</em>, "Signor Alberti was kind enough to +come and see me to-day, and I, who ever since last +night have been meaning to invite him, entirely forgot +to do so. I am so absent-minded! I came myself +this evening instead of writing, because I had to go +to Arsiero any way, and so had the carriage. But +now it is late, and I must be off."</p> + +<p>She kissed Leila again, pressed Signor Marcello's +hand, and holding out her own to Massimo, said, +with her charming smile, and a slight dropping of +her chin towards her breast:</p> + +<p>"At seven, then."</p> + +<p>"We will let him go for once," said Signor +Marcello, in a tone of satisfaction.</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele went out with Leila, who walked +with her as far as the carriage, that she had left +at the main entrance.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Massimo resigned himself to postponing his departure, +at least for a day, and persuaded himself that +he was glad to do so only because it would please +Don Aurelio. Signor Marcello made him sit with +him on the terrace, and put his hand on the young +man's shoulder.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span></p> + +<p>"Dear Alberti," he said with a sigh. Massimo +took his other hand in both of his and answered:</p> + +<p>"I do not forget, sir."</p> + +<p>The old hand pressed the young one convulsively, +and a long silence followed. They could hear +no steps on the gravel. Signor Marcello glanced into +the drawing-room, but there was no one there.</p> + +<p>"Did he ever speak to you of Leila's family?" he +said in an undertone.</p> + +<p>At first Massimo did not understand the allusion. +Then, suddenly enlightened, he exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes—several times!"</p> + +<p>"How much did he tell you?"</p> + +<p>"He said it was just on account of the family +that you opposed his wishes, but that he was sure +of the girl, and would find a means of keeping her +parents at a distance after his marriage."</p> + +<p>"Did he really know her parents well? I +ask because, in talking with me, he did not +appear to."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes; he knew them perfectly well. He told +me the father, who carefully hid his evildoings, was +quite as corrupt as the mother, whose evil reputation +is a matter of public knowledge."</p> + +<p>Signor Marcello listened again, and then began +talking of Leila, who, he said, was a living confutation +of the theories of heredity. He praised her +virtue, which was as adamant, her warm heart, which +often led her to commit acts of charitable folly, and +made her the idol of all the servants, in spite of +certain sudden outbursts of temper. He told of a +little child whose mother was dead, and whom Leila +had one day brought home with her to save it from +a drunken father's brutality, and whom she proposed +taking care of herself, although, poor girl! she had +not the slightest idea how to set to work. He +admitted certain peculiarities in her character that, +he said, were more apparent than real, and pleaded +her early and sad experience of life in her childhood<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span> +as an excuse for language that was at times +more bold, perhaps, than was seemly in a young +girl.</p> + +<p>And now, in thinking of the future and of those +parents, the idea of leaving Leila unprotected caused +him the greatest anxiety. His only hope was in God, +and the only blessing for which he now asked was +a worthy protector for her who was dearer to him +than a daughter.</p> + +<p>"You will live a long time yet," said Massimo.</p> + +<p>"Dear Alberti, do you think it is kind to wish +that for me? And, besides...."</p> + +<p>The old man paused.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, sir," Said Massimo. "Besides +what?"</p> + +<p>"And, besides, my dear young friend, I am aware +of something I do not speak of."</p> + +<p>There were steps upon the gravel, coming from +the Riderella bridge. The bell above a door +announced Leila, who was entering the drawing-room +from the open verandah. She came out to the +terrace, kissed Signor Marcello good-night, saluted +Massimo graciously enough, and withdrew.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>It was after ten o'clock, and Giovanni brought +Signor Marcello his coffee and the brass lamp. After +the billiard-room door had closed upon him, Massimo +still lingered on the terrace, contemplating the huge +shadows of the mountains, breathing in the cool night +air, and thinking how strangely confidential Signor +Marcello's communications had been. He had doubtless +failed to reflect that they might convey precisely +that meaning which was most repugnant to his +fatherly heart. At the same time Massimo confessed +to himself that something had indeed stirred within +him at the sound of Leila's step upon the gravel, and +that her friendly good-night had caused him at once +displeasure and delight. He had better not dwell +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span>upon all this, he thought, as he passed into the +drawing-room on his way to bed.</p> + +<p>On reaching the fireplace he raised his eyes almost +mechanically to the frieze of marguerites and the +mysterious <em>perhaps</em>. There was no longer any need +to question the marguerites concerning his departure. +He was tempted to consult them on another subject +now, but he refrained. He stepped back from the +fireplace and turned unconsciously to the piano. +Awakening to a sense of his movement, he asked +himself wonderingly what had prompted it, and +stooped to examine the volume of Heller on the +music-rack as if he had come there for that especial +purpose. But he was possessed by the sense of +Leila's presence and personality that breathed from +objects, like a perfume perceptible only to the spirit. +Upon the chair he saw a pansy that must have fallen +from her belt, and he stooped to pick it up, but drew +back his hand, and, turning, started upstairs, resisting +a strong temptation to go down again. Hearing +steps in the drawing-room, Giovanni appeared on the +threshold, inquiring if he might put out the lights, +and, having received permission, proceeded to do +so. At the moment Massimo was glad of this interruption. +When he reached his room he told himself +that, had he picked up the pansy, he would have +placed it beside his dead friend's picture, and he +regretted that he had not done so.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Regardless of Teresina's protests, Leila had filled +her room for the night with roses, honeysuckle, and +acacia. It was a weakness of hers. She had as many +flowers as possible brought to her room unknown +to Signor Marcello, and she delighted in the strongest +scents. That night she had a sea of flowers. She +stuck several bunches of acacia between the bedhead +and the wall, and a bunch of roses between the +wall and a holy picture. She loved to lie in bed and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span>feel the petals falling upon her face. Teresina +begged her to leave all three windows open, and to +this she agreed. As soon as Teresina had left the +room she put out the light, turned upon her side, +indulging her consciousness of fragrance as if she +were listening to some caressing language, and +gazing through the window at the black, crescent-shaped +crown of woods, at the sharp dolomitic peaks +against the dark sky, and neither thinking nor wishing +to think.</p> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="footnotes"> +<p class="center p2 big2">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_1_1" href="#FNanchor_1_1" class="label">[1]</a> Black and red insults: black from the clericals, and red from +Socialists and free-thinkers.—<span class="smcap">Translator's Note.</span></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_2_2" href="#FNanchor_2_2" class="label">[2]</a> This strange motto, which Gabriele d'Annunzio has chosen for +the title of his latest novel, may be found running through the rich +decorations of the wooden ceiling of a room near Isabella d'Este's +boudoir in the ducal palace at Mantua.—<span class="smcap">Translator's Note.</span></p></div> +</div> +</div> + + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" > + CHAPTER III<br> + <small>THE WOOF</small> </h2> +</div> + + +<h3>I</h3> + +<p>Don Tita Fantuzzo, archpriest of Velo d'Astico, +said Mass as usual at half-past seven; and, after +some lengthy prayers in the sacristy, proceeded down +the stairs leading from the church to the parsonage, +where he met his sister-in-law, Signora Bettina Pagan, +<em>veuve</em> Fantuzzo, and the chaplain, Don Emanuele +Costi de Villata. These two were going down +together, or, rather, not together, for the chaplain +was a few steps ahead; but his progress was +impeded by the sense of the presence behind him, +while Signora Bettina was hindered by a feeling of +obsequiousness towards the presence before, and also +somewhat by the mere knowledge of her position as +rear-guard.</p> + +<p>"What are you marching in single file for, like +a pair of cart-horses?" inquired the jovial archpriest, +pausing close behind his sister-in-law. "'Se +casco mi, Caschemo tuti tri!' ('Tumble me, Tumble +all three!'). Lines by the poet Zanella," he quoted +merrily.</p> + +<p>Behind her black veil Signora Bettina's vermilion +nose took on a deeper hue, while a fleeting smile +lit up Don Emanuele's watery eyes, a sign rather +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span>of deference for a superior's wit than of any appreciation +of it.</p> + +<p>"Cape!" muttered Signora Bettina. This invocation +in dialect of a favourite crustacean inhabitant +of the sea was an ejaculation that was often upon +her lips, and, in the present case, expressed a +gentle self-justification and the fitting reverence +that had forbidden her advancing at the chaplain's +side. On reaching the parsonage door the latter +stepped aside to the right and Signora Bettina to +the left, while the archpriest, hastening his steps +and murmuring, "Here I am! Here I am!" +passed in in triumph, with a great flapping of +priestly robes.</p> + +<p>They assembled in the little dining-room of the +parsonage, where coffee stood ready for the archpriest +and for Signora Bettina, who was in the habit +of going to Communion every day. Don Emanuele +had said his Mass at five, and now sought permission +to withdraw under pretext of studying. The archpriest +detained him.</p> + +<p>"Don't study so much. You will only muddle +your brain," said he.</p> + +<p>The other, who was clever at feigning, appeared +to yield simply from a sense of deference, whereas, in +reality, this little formality had been privately +arranged with his superior, and he began talking +of a certain sick person he had visited that morning. +The archpriest, meanwhile, was taking his coffee and +milk in an old chipped basin, and dipping into it +some broken bits of yesterday's bread. Signora +Bettina was having her coffee in a similar basin, +but with some of those Pandoli for which the town +of Schio is famous.</p> + +<p>"I am ashamed to be eating these biscuits, Don +Tita," said she, raising one to her mouth.</p> + +<p>"Be ashamed, then, to your heart's content," +replied the excellent Don Tita, laughing. "Shame +is a virtuous sentiment." And as she still hesitated, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span>in red-faced silence, to bite off the top of the biscuit, +he added, laughing still: "Go ahead! Go ahead! +Aren't you a native of Dolo, and is that not Dolo +bread?"</p> + +<p>"Poor Dolo!" cried Signora Bettina, turning with +a smile to Don Emanuele, and speaking in Italian +now. "What ever am I to do? The archpriest +cannot forgive me for having been born there."</p> + +<p>"Just as he cannot forgive me for having been +born at Udine," the chaplain replied, smiling also.</p> + +<p>"I should think not!" Don Tita exclaimed. +"Udine indeed! Fountains without water and an +aristocracy without manners!"</p> + +<p>Now, Don Emanuele was not only a native of +Udine but came of a noble family as well; but Don +Tita, of course, was only jesting. His face, his +person, his bearing, and his language, all pointed to +the young chaplain's gentle birth and education. In +appearance he was in all things the reverse of Don +Tita. Don Tita, short and rubicund, with a merry +face, as heavy as his own witticisms, and eyes that +twinkled, despite his honest piety, inspired rather +by worldly shrewdness than by celestial yearnings, +was most careless in his dress, anything but scrupulous +as regards cleanliness, and familiar and +simple in manner, sometimes even to the point of +rudeness.</p> + +<p>In Don Emanuele, tall and slender, one saw the +future prelate. He had the face of an ascetic—a +lofty brow beneath a delicate and perfect arch of +light hair, thin cheeks, deep-sunk eyes under bushy +brows; the eyes themselves of a pale blue, with +mysterious pupils and irises moist, as it were, with +meekness, and, like windows of painted glass, open to +light but closed upon the soul. In his bearing and +gestures there was a precocious dignity and sense +of just measure. His language also was studied +and cautious. He spoke softly, in a cold, slightly +nasal voice and with aristocratic enunciation. It was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span>said that in his early youth he had wished to join a +religious Order, but that his bishop, for some reason +unknown, had dissuaded him. It was also said that +his family had strongly desired him to seek an +appointment in connection with the <em>curia</em> in Rome, +but that it had been his own ardent wish to devote +himself, for a time at least, to the cure of souls, +at a distance from his family and in a different +diocese.</p> + +<p>Inwardly, also, Don Tita and Don Emanuele were +dissimilar, but less so than outwardly. Don Tita was +more complex. Don Tita's spirit might be compared +to his face, whose fundamental hardness was concealed +by flexible muscles and soft flesh; or, less +gruesomely, to a green, flowery field, where the rock +is not a hand's breadth below the surface; or to +certain small, soft mountain peaches, in which the +teeth are quickly brought into contact with the uncompromising +stone. On the surface he was all +good nature, verbal acquiescence, and willingness to +accommodate; but his heart was hard and cold +with a religious conscience that was stereotyped +by antiquated doctrines and dominated by tradition, +the letter of the law, and the authority of the +hierarchy. It was a conscience full of conviction, +and a slave to the desire to perform his religious duty +everywhere, at all times, and at whatever cost. But +to Don Tita charity towards his neighbour was merely +a duty imposed by a stern external law. Obedient +to the gospel, he was generous in bestowing alms, +but he neither loved nor esteemed the poor. The +most grievous sins of his flock, above all, any public +exhibition of disrespect for the sacerdotal office, +irritated rather than grieved him, and made his hands +itch—his heavy hands, that were not unskilled in a +certain form of oratory. As to his morals, they +were of a scrupulous, almost mistrustful purity. A +man of many prayers, he despised mysticism, which +he looked upon as sentimentality, except when met +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span>with in the saints or in their writings; for to +him the saints were especial beings, men born with +the nimbus decreed to them by canonisation after +death.</p> + +<p>He had a fair knowledge of theology, and was not +entirely destitute of literary culture; he had been +Professor of Classics in the seminary, although, +indeed, he knew no Greek. His reading consisted +exclusively of newspapers, magazines, and Catholic +books. Only Italian printed matter came to the +parsonage for him, but for Don Emanuele there +came the <em>Stimmen aus Maria Laach</em>, and other foreign +publications, principally German. This strong food +was not for the excellent Don Tita, but nevertheless +filled him with admiration for Don Emanuele's +powers of mastication. Admiration, not envy, for +Don Tita was not ambitious, and was satisfied with +his lot, his only desire being, perhaps, promotion to +a parish in the city, that he might escape from the +mountains that oppressed him, and where he might +enjoy the society of old friends and colleagues. This +was the height of his ambition. But as to Don +Emanuele, nephew of a cardinal, son of a privy-chamberlain +to his Holiness, and brother of one of +the noble-guardsmen, Don Tita believed him destined +to great things. If the humble chaplain of Riese had +become Sovereign Pontiff, why should not a chaplain, +favoured by fortune as was Don Emanuele, achieve +the same greatness? The archpriest's bearing towards +the younger man was difficult to define. He really +stood somewhat in awe of him, but he sought to hide +this sentiment beneath a display of jocose familiarity. +He felt Don Emanuele's superiority, and was never +entirely at his ease with him. He believed him to be +a tower of knowledge because he spoke German, +nevertheless he was convinced that, as a preacher, he, +Don Tita, surpassed him. His vanity was flattered +by the fact that he had such a chaplain, but there +were times when he could not help thinking that the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span>parsonage would be a pleasanter place without Don +Emanuele.</p> + +<p>Don Tita would perhaps have been happier without +his chaplain, because Don Emanuele did not speak +the dialect, because his manners were refined, and +because he was the living negation of all that is +jovial. But in the main both were hewn from the +same stone. In Don Tita, however, there was need +of much scraping before the natural rock was reached, +whereas Don Emanuele was a smooth and highly-polished +monolith. Notwithstanding his knowledge +of the diabolical German language, he was far less +clever than the archpriest. The son of an Austrian +woman of rank, he had learnt French and English +from his sisters' <em>bonnes</em> and governesses. It was +said that his progress in theology was slow, notwithstanding +his persistent application. But many visits +to Rome, where he had been the guest of his uncle the +Cardinal—a man of genius, extremely sociable, and +surrounded by friends—had done for him what long +immersion in good Bordeaux may do for certain +insipid biscuits. This great personage, the family +divinity, had been a sun to his asteroid of a nephew, +and, all unconsciously and unintentionally, had +attracted him to his own orbit from the time that the +asteroid was still studying grammar. It is true the +lad already displayed, both in face and character, a +singular predisposition for high ecclesiastical office. +At ten he was a little man fully equipped with all the +manners and graces of the best society, a stranger +to all games and boyish friendships, orderly, respectful, +quaintly discreet in his infrequent discourses, +measured in his expressions of affection towards his +relatives, regulating such expressions according to +their different degrees of relationship, devout, and +self-contained. His mother, the Cardinal's sister, +and a very pious woman, was at once proud of +this son and disappointed in him. It was a joy +to her to know that he was sincerely religious, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span>an anxiety to know nothing further concerning him. +The Cardinal had never been like this—his was an +open nature. When little Emanuele was between +six and eight, to all who asked him what he was going +to be when he grew up he would answer promptly, +"A bishop"; between eight and twelve the answer +was, "A priest," but between twelve and fourteen +he would only repeat obstinately, "I don't know, +I don't know!" The honest answer at that time +would have been, "A cardinal." Still, he was no +hypocrite nor was he consciously ambitious. He +honestly felt himself called to enter the Church, +and he persuaded himself that his birth and connections +providentially predisposed him to rise to +dignity and power in her service, and that this lofty +sentiment sanctified certain ambitious longings whose +voices he had heard within him in early days, +not without certain pricks of conscience. By degrees +these longings had become so enveloped in the mantle +of pious yearnings as to be completely hidden from +his conscience. The mantle was both wide and +heavy. Don Emanuele's religious zeal was not +inferior to that of Don Aurelio, his religious convictions +were no less deep, his life and thoughts no +less pure, no less free from any stain of concession +to lustful tendencies. But his conception of God, +and, above all, his conception of the Church was +different. Divine paternity was to him rather a +formula in which he believed than a truth which he +felt and which was precious to him. With his lips +he called Him Father, while in his heart he felt +Him to be a monarch. Don Emanuele's grandfather +had been the imperious and formidable tyrant +of his noble family, upon which he had forced his +own austere asceticism, and a fear of God that in +his children and grandchildren was irrevocably confused +with a fear of himself. In Don Emanuele's +mind the idea of God had shaped itself in accordance +with his grandfather's imperiousness and piety. His +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span>God was a species of infinite grandfather, holy and +terrible. For him the Church was the only hierarchy, +and was, in a way, his grandfather's house, where +there was perpetual entertainment of priests and +friars, as celestial beings superior to poor humanity.</p> + +<p>The archpriest alone in all the countryside knew +exactly under what circumstances Don Emanuele had +come from Udine to be chaplain of Val d'Astico. It +had been the will of the Cardinal that his nephew +should devote himself, not to the career of the +prelacy, but to the cure of souls, at a distance from +his family and his aristocratic connections, in a +diocese where his name was completely unknown. +The archpriest had heard this from the Bishop of +Vicenza. Don Emanuele himself had never mentioned +it to him; indeed, he never spoke either of +himself, his family, or his future plans. He even +seemed unwilling to speak of the Cardinal. By +dint of much effort, the archpriest had succeeded +in eliciting from him some information concerning +the Cardinal, and had concluded that the nephew +had more reverence than affection for his uncle. +He therefore refrained from mentioning the Most +Eminent, save at Christmas, New Year, Easter, +and on the eve of the festival of St. John, his +Eminence's patron saint. On these occasions he +would say: "By the way, Don Emanuele ... when +you write to Rome, if you think best ... you +understand ... my most humble...." Or +sometimes his words would be only: "By the way, +when you write...." And he would complete the +phrase with a respectful bending of head and body, +and an obsequious spreading of hands.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span></p> + + +<h3>II</h3> + +<p>"Madre Santa! How he talks!" cried Signora +Bettina, turning a very red face to the chaplain, +upon the archpriest's outburst concerning the aristocracy +of Udine. The unruly member of Don Tita's +flock had made a mistake when he fastened upon +Signora Bettina the title of the "female Holy Ghost." +She had not the slightest ambition to inspire either +her brother-in-law or Don Emanuele, and was intent +only upon her own sanctification. At the age of +fifty-two she had become the widow of Dr. Fantuzzo, +and being childless and well provided for, had +arranged to occupy an apartment in the spacious +parsonage at Velo d'Astico from the end of April to +the beginning of November of each year, for which +apartment she paid rent to the archpriest. She had +her own kitchen, and took only her morning coffee +with Don Tita. She was of a good family of Dolo, +and had remained faithful to certain habits of life +differing somewhat from those of the archpriest, and +notwithstanding her profound respect for the clergy, +she was jealous of her liberty. That she might be +preserved from her neighbour was, indeed, one of the +fundamental characteristics of her extremely fervent +piety. Signora Bettina desired and prayed that, for +the greater glory of God, her good neighbour might +be encouraged in the path of righteousness, and that +her bad neighbour might be converted, but she would +have neither of them hanging about the house—she +would have no "bother"! She would look after +her own soul, let others look after theirs. When +her right hand succoured the poor her left hand +remained in ignorance of the fact, but so also did +her heart. Her heart was eager only to acquire mortgages +on celestial estates, and on these terms, and +through the agency of her brother-in-law, she was +more willing to allow her loans to the Almighty to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span>take the form of surplices, copes, altar-clothes, +sacred vessels, Masses, and Requiems than that of +deeds of charity. But her heart had not always been +thus. In her early youth it had been a heart full +of secret and dangerous vagaries. The late Dr. +Fantuzzo, however—a good-natured creature enough, +but coarse and pleasantish and an inveterate drinker—had +disillusioned her. Sprung from a deeply +religious family, she had one day been terrified by +being brought face to face with a temptation such as +she had never dreamed of. She took refuge in +fervent asceticism, and in all such external practices +as were best adapted to surround her with an +invulnerable reputation. Aided by an uncompromising +theologian, who was mistrustful of all +mysticism, her wavering earthly flames were gradually +transformed into one great blaze, nominally +the love of God, but really the desire for her +own salvation. The world, always severe in its judgment +of pious persons, might easily have set her +down as a born egotist. But is the world capable of +judging? Different social surroundings and a +simpler spiritual training might not have smothered +those harmless affections that had gladdened childhood +and youth. In this imperviousness to friendship +she resembled the chaplain rather than Don Tita. +The merry Don Tita was quick to make friends, +and found it easy to adapt himself to every one. +Don Emanuele had never had a friend; in the +midst of a merry crowd he seemed like a crow, dazed +by the noise of a flock of cocks and hens. But Don +Emanuele had not yet found his peace, and Signora +Fantuzzo had. She had no other temptations save of +eating three biscuits with her morning coffee, instead +of two, of telling the archpriest to stop wiping his +pen on his hair, now that it was white, and of praying +that the Lord might see fit to destroy the cobbler's +scandalous cat. She was more like Don Emanuele +than Don Tita, and in fact, without drawing any +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span>comparisons, which she would have scrupled to do, +she felt for Don Emanuele a respect and admiration +she would have shrunk from uttering, and cherished +a secret reverence for him, whereas her open demonstrations +of reverence were directed mainly towards +the archpriest. In speaking of the latter, Signora +Bettina might sometimes smile; in speaking of Don +Emanuele, never.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>When she had finished her coffee Signora Fantuzzo +reached for her black veil which lay on the table.</p> + +<p>"Well," said she, "Don Tita——"</p> + +<p>This was her usual formula of departure. Don +Tita stretched out his hand, with fingers widespread.</p> + +<p>But the archpriest had no intention of letting her +go, and burst into a long string of "No, no, no," and +"Sit down, sit down!"</p> + +<p>The servant entering at that moment to remove +the tray, Don Tita ordered her to be gone, and as +a greater precaution against interruption, he withdrew +to the study beyond, followed by the chaplain +and Signora Bettina, who was in great trepidation +in case she were about to be involved in some +"bother."</p> + +<p>The archpriest's joke led her to suppose that it +was simply a matter of advice, but even this would +be a "bother." In fact, not even to herself did she +confess her horror of "bother," believing that this +horror was only for such doubts as her conscience +might inspire, and, after all, every "bother," be it +in advice or deed, must bring with it some scruple +of conscience. In the past one of her spiritual +directors had recommended a certain book, well +calculated to further the progress in her soul of an +incipient paralysis of all scruple.</p> + +<p>"The fact of the matter is, my dear Bettina," +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span>the archpriest began, "that, were it not for the +glory of God and the good of our neighbour, we +would not trouble you. Is not that so, Don +Emanuele?"</p> + +<p>Don Emanuele, who had kept his eyes fixed upon +the archpriest as if to control and direct his language, +into which there frequently crept expressions that +were ill-advised and good-naturedly imprudent, +showed both in his glance and bearing so evident +a desire to help, that the archpriest immediately took +advantage of it.</p> + +<p>"Do you wish to explain?" he asked. "Then +do."</p> + +<p>Promptly withdrawing once more into his cold +shell of prelatical composure, Don Emanuele spoke, +confident of not spoiling, as the archpriest might have +done, a certain piece of delicate machinery which +had been set in motion, perhaps not over much for +their neighbour's good, but certainly, from the chaplain's +point of view at least, very much for the +glory of God. He believed himself more clever than +the archpriest, because he had studied the grammar +of subtleties, but he was mistaken. The archpriest +was clever by nature, unconsciously clever, and his +purposes were served by the very imprudence and +carelessness of his language. It made him appear +a simple creature to such as had but slight knowledge +of him, and there was perhaps no one in all +the countryside who really knew him well, save +Signor Marcello and Donna Fedele, who had the +power of reading character in a very short space of +time.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Don Emanuele, "it is a question of +saving a poor girl."</p> + +<p>"Ah! yes, I can fancy what it is then," said +Signora Bettina, her face lighting up with satisfaction +beneath a veneer of compunction. "I can +fancy."</p> + +<p>The subject, indeed, was a thorny one and painful +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span>to handle, but the "bother" would be but slight. +Her servant's younger sister was undergoing siege +by a private of the Royal Foot Artillery.</p> + +<p>"Ah, I know!" she went on with a sigh. "I +am sorry to say I know. I heard only yesterday, +and had, indeed, intended to speak to the archpriest +about it."</p> + +<p>"You are on the wrong scent—the wrong scent, +my girl!" muttered Don Tita, his deep and serious +tones saying plainly, "This is quite another +matter."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps she does know. She may perhaps +know," observed Don Emanuele sweetly, addressing +the archpriest. "The matter has to do with +the young person—the young lady who lives with +Signor Trento, and who was to have married his +son."</p> + +<p>The archpriest had his eyes fixed upon his sister-in-law +to see what her expression would be. It was +not promising.</p> + +<p>"Good gracious! I don't know her!" said she.</p> + +<p>If she supposed she had found a safe refuge +through her declaration of ignorance, her illusion +was short-lived.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" said the archpriest.</p> + +<p>"It would be easier if you were acquainted with +her," Don Emanuele observed thoughtfully. "Do +you not know her at all? Not even slightly?"</p> + +<p>"By sight. Oh yes, by sight!" Signora Fantuzzo +replied with flushed cheeks. But Don Emanuele, who +was well informed, held his peace, as one who deems +it better policy to insist by silence.</p> + +<p>"I may have spoken to her once," Signora +Bettina conceded, her face aflame.</p> + +<p>"That is good," said the archpriest.</p> + +<p>"But I shall not speak to her again—not again—certainly +not again!"</p> + +<p>Poor Bettina appeared terrified, and kept repeating, +"Ah, no, no, no!" until the archpriest demanded +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span>impatiently: "Why not? What has she done to +you?" She replied that the person in question +made her feel timid, terribly timid. But this was +far from being the true reason. Leila had found herself +seated beside her one day in church, when poor +Bettina was sporting a headgear of such an outlandish +description as to excite the mirth of a group +of summer visitors, consisting of eight or ten young +girls, each one more flighty than the other. Seeing +this, Leila immediately took poor Signora Fantuzzo +under her protection. She offered her own seat, recaptured +a whole flight of saints that had escaped +from the Signora's prayer-book, left the church when +she did, and found an opportunity of saying a few +pleasant words concerning the archpriest's sermon. +For some unknown reason the young girl's courtesy +completely upset poor Bettina. It was as if, together +with a wave of strong attraction, there flowed over her +once more those vague emotions of her youth that +had once filled her with terror. To become the +Signorina's friend, to come in contact with a youthful +spirit, a spirit well versed in love and the ways of +the world, to taste of both once more, even though +it be through another—such was the temptation that +had spoken faintly within Signora Bettina's bosom. +But it had been sufficiently strong to send her +hastening into the parsonage crying, "Enough, +enough, enough!" her throat a cavern overflowing +with ejaculations expressive of her firm determination +never again to approach that most dangerous +person.</p> + +<p>"It would of course be better if she could speak +to her," said Don Emanuele, looking at the archpriest, +"but it does not seem to me to be essential."</p> + +<p>"No so po!—I don't know!" The three truly +masterly monosyllables seemed to signify that he +saw no way of reaching the desired goal if his sister-in-law +persisted in refusing to approach the Signorina. +As a matter of fact neither the archpriest +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span>nor the chaplain really intended to bring about an +interview. Their tactics were to lead up skilfully to a +proposal that should appear and be agreed to as a +compromise. But Don Emanuele had gone too fast, +and the archpriest's <em>No so po</em> had been a delicate +and artistic turn of the brake. Don Emanuele saw +this and retreated with a <em>Perhaps</em>, that was charged +with doubt and with regret as well as with suggestions +of yielding and exhortation.</p> + +<p>As both lapsed into silence after this, Signora +Bettina, hoping that the hour of her release had now +come, straightened her shoulders as if about to rise, +and uttered another:</p> + +<p>"Well."</p> + +<p>"Wait, my girl," said the archpriest, stopping her +by a gesture, and turning to Don Emanuele, he +added:</p> + +<p>"We may as well tell her everything. Then she +can make up her mind what to do. Do you agree?"</p> + +<p>Don Emanuele, remembering the lesson he had +just received from one he looked upon as having +more to learn than to teach, raised his two hands +that rested on his knees, spreading them like a pair +of fans, and murmured in his turn:</p> + +<p>"I don't know."</p> + +<p>Don Tita's tone now became decided.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes! Tell her," he said. "Tell her."</p> + +<p>Then Don Emanuele drew his tunic about his +legs with an almost feminine gesture, and began:</p> + +<p>"It is a very simple matter."</p> + +<p>But it was evidently a very complex matter, and +he did not know where to begin.</p> + +<p>"The Signorina's parents are still living," said +he. "Her father, you know——"</p> + +<p>And the chaplain drew a long and soft breath +in a manner as if to signify that of the father there +was good to be said and evil as well, and that, +having added the two together, the sum total was +that—it would be best to say nothing.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span></p> + +<p>"The mother, on the other hand——" he went +on.</p> + +<p>"Ah! the mother," Don Tita put in in a deep bass +voice laden with satisfaction, and wagging his head +as if silently denying that anything evil could be +said of her.</p> + +<p>"Mercy on us, Don Tita!" Signora Bettina +gasped in utter amazement, fixing her eyes on her +brother-in-law, for in the past she had heard accounts +of a very different nature.</p> + +<p>The chaplain hastened to pacify her.</p> + +<p>"No," he began. "In times past, indeed, there +may have been room for comment. Yes, indeed, +there were certain indiscretions.... Now she is +a woman who is making amends, a woman whose +one thought is for pious works and deeds of charity, +who lives in Milan, leading a most edifying life, +and who is well known to many excellent men among +the clergy. It is true she is separated from her +husband, but there may be some good reason for +that, or perhaps some misunderstanding. After God +and the Church her one thought is for her daughter. +She can have no direct communication with her +because Signor Trento, a hard-hearted man who may +or may not be truly religious, will not allow it. At +this moment she is trembling for her daughter. I +heard of this in a letter I received the other day +from a priest, a most worthy priest, who comes +in contact with her."</p> + +<p>"Have you the letter about you?" the archpriest +broke in. "You had better read it."</p> + +<p>Don Emanuele glanced apologetically at his +superior.</p> + +<p>"To tell the truth," said he, "it is a letter of +a very private——"</p> + +<p>"Well, well!" cried Don Tita. "Never mind, +then, never mind."</p> + +<p>The chaplain continued:</p> + +<p>"This priest writes that Signora da Camin has +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span>discovered that a young man from Milan, who is +well known there, and who bears a notorious reputation, +has been staying at Signor Trento's for some +days and is still there."</p> + +<p>"An unhappy creature!" murmured Don Tita. +"A most unenviable individual!"</p> + +<p>He said this in the tone of one who registers an +irreparable and unhappy fact.</p> + +<p>Signora Bettina struck in timidly to say she +thought she had seen the young man in church on +the preceding Sunday. Don Emanuele sighed, but +did not speak.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," said the archpriest, "very likely you +did see him. He goes to church, but he is worse +than those who do not. Headstrong, my girl, and +a friend of that other headstrong fellow the priest +of Lago. He is one of those who want to change +everything in our religion."</p> + +<p>Signor Bettina emitted a whistling sound, sucking +the air in sharply as if she had burnt her tongue. +Once more Don Emanuele sighed.</p> + +<p>"Alas! yes," said he. "And this mother is +living in agony lest her child should become interested +in the young man, and lest the young man—the girl +being good-looking and possessed of great expectations——"</p> + +<p>"The Lord save us!" Don Tita exclaimed. "If +he should worm himself in here——"</p> + +<p>Signora Bettina repeated her whistling noise.</p> + +<p>"Now," Don Emanuele went on, "the priest who +writes to me has been able to discover, through +what seems to me a special dispensation of Divine +providence, that——"</p> + +<p>There was a pause.</p> + +<p>"Out with it, out with it!" cried Don Tita. +"Courage! Very well, then, I will go on. It seems +there is some sort of a mess between this fellow +and a woman in Milan—a married woman, mind +you."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span></p> + +<p>Signora Bettina here indulged in repeated +whistlings.</p> + +<p>"The other night Don Emanuele and I were +talking this over," Don Tita continued, "and wondering +how we could get this piece of information to +the girl. We thought and thought, but could find +no way. But yesterday we came to the conclusion +that the only way would be through you."</p> + +<p>"Good Lord, Don Tita!"</p> + +<p>The accent with which she pronounced this ejaculation +was heartrending.</p> + +<p>There was silence.</p> + +<p>"We will say no more about it," the archpriest +declared. "The girl will be ruined, but it will +be through no fault of mine."</p> + +<p>Signora Fantuzzo, who was seated beside the archpriest's +writing-table, reached out for a book that +lay upon it, and drawing it towards her, pretended +to study it. She was the colour of a lobster.</p> + +<p>"I really believe," Don Tita exclaimed, "that +this sly puss knows more than she will tell!"</p> + +<p>Signora Fantuzzo protested that she knew nothing +at all, but the archpriest had little trouble in eliciting +from her the information that the Trentos' cook, +who was a friend of her servant's, had talked of +the goings on at home since the arrival of the young +man from Milan. She had spoken of the master's +apparent uneasiness, of Teresina, the maid's, ill-humour, +and of fits of weeping on the part of the +Signorina. One morning the maid had rushed into +the kitchen calling for very strong coffee, her eyes +standing out of her head with fright, because the +young lady had been foolish enough to shut the +windows, with all the flowers she kept in her room +at night, and was almost dead with the headache. +The cook had said at the time:</p> + +<p>"The girl wants to kill herself!" and the +maid had answered, her eyes full of tears, "Who +can say!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span></p> + +<p>"I believe," added the excellent Bettina, "that +all this is because the young man was such a friend +of her lover's, and reminds her of him."</p> + +<p>"My good creature," said Don Tita, "you are +a simpleton."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Don Emanuele was reflecting with a +grateful heart how visibly favourable Providence was +to his aims and to those of the archpriest. To tell the +truth, neither the one nor the other had proposed +making Signora Bettina the only and direct instrument +of Providence in this matter. In their satisfaction +at possessing a weapon against Don Aurelio's +friend, the famous Alberti, they had planned that +Signora Bettina should confide the story of Alberti's +intrigue with the woman in Milan to her servant, +who, as they well knew, was a friend of the Trentos' +cook, and the cook, they hoped, would pass the +scandal on to the maid. And here were their hopes +being realised; here was the machinery already acting +in the service of similar confidential reports.</p> + +<p>"Then I understand," the future prelate began, +with a guileless air, "that between your servant +and the Trentos' cook——"</p> + +<p>There was a knock at the door.</p> + +<p>"Come in!" cried good-natured Don Tita.</p> + +<p>The chaplain relapsed into silence, dropping his +watery eyes, but otherwise giving no sign of his +dissatisfaction at the interruption sanctioned by his +superior. It was Signora Fantuzzo's servant, who +had come to look for her mistress. Don Tita, his +mind flooded with the light of a sudden inspiration, +begged her to wait outside. "One moment, one +moment only!" he cried. He himself rose and +closed the door with a bang that—left it open! Then +he began declaiming, confronted by the bewildered +faces of the chaplain and Signora Bettina.</p> + +<p>"Listen, sister-in-law, and you also, chaplain. +You must not mention it, but I will tell you something. +That young fellow from Milan who is at +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span>the Montanina and who is so intimate with the priest +of Lago—do you know what a precious pearl he is? +He is entangled with a woman in Milan, I tell you, +and I know—a woman with a husband, children——"</p> + +<p>"Goodness!" Bettina ejaculated. "Children +also?"</p> + +<p>"Well?" Don Tita retorted in a low tone. "She +is married, isn't she?" And he resumed in a loud +voice: "Let us hope the rascal has no designs +upon that young girl who lives with old Trento! +Supposing her mother should hear of this, poor +woman!"</p> + +<p>Hereupon Don Tita rose, and added softly, +"That's done!" Casting at Don Emanuele the +glance of a colleague in art who has proved himself +a master, he crept to the door on tiptoe and +flung it suddenly open, shouting, "Where is she +... ah! excuse me." For there the woman stood +before him, half stunned by the sudden opening of +the door. Signora Bettina rose, thankful to be free +at last. The chaplain, not entirely convinced of the +success of this brilliant strategy, was still pondering +the matter, when the archpriest's servant rushed in, +in a state of great excitement.</p> + +<p>"The Fedele woman is here!"</p> + +<p>Signora Vayla's Christian name was often mistaken +among the peasants for her surname.</p> + +<p>"What Fedele woman?" the dazed archpriest +demanded.</p> + +<p>"Don't you know? The one from Arsiero—the +one with white hair."</p> + +<p>Signora Bettina scurried away, the archpriest +closed his eyes and puffed, as if he had been offered +a glass of castor-oil, the chaplain murmured, "Archpriest!" +and stood before his superior with clasped +hands and eyes raised heavenward, which attitude +signified an exhortation to the man to stand firm, +and a prayer to the Lord to keep the man standing +firm. Then, with bowed head, he also hastened +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span>away. The archpriest requested that Donna Fedele +should be ushered in. He was convinced she had +come to talk to him about Don Aurelio and of the +people of Lago's determination to appeal, if need +be, to his Holiness himself against the priest's +dismissal.</p> + + +<h3>III</h3> + +<p>Donna Fedele had driven over from the Villino +delle Rose in the usual little hired carriage. Near +the Posina Bridge she had met Massimo, and had +said to him, laughing, "I am going to see the archpriest +about the 'den.'" By a similar channel of +communication to that which lay between the +parsonage and the Montanina, certain interesting bits +of news had reached her, and also, amongst others, +the fact that at the parsonage her house had been +labelled a "den" on account of Carnesecca's +presence. She had answered Massimo's exhortation +to "give him a piece of her mind" with a smile, +a smile as sweet as her voice. But when the little +carriage had turned to the left on the steep rise, the +noble lines of her face assumed an expression of +melancholy, which the meeting with Massimo had +not a little to do with. She was worried as to the +position of affairs at the Montanina. She saw, +indeed, that Massimo was daily becoming more +strongly attached, but she recognised too that Signor +Marcello was anxious and Leila startlingly enigmatical. +Leila impressed the older woman as a +creature at war with herself, and withal so proud that +nothing good could come from any attempt to influence +her. Donna Fedele had won Teresina's confidence, +and had heard from her about the flowers +and the closed windows, which incident she felt +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span>should neither be made too much of nor entirely +ignored. Teresina's idea was that the girl was in +love, and was ashamed of her state of mind, feeling +bound in honour to the memory of poor Signor +Andrea and by Signor Marcello's trust in her. It +was at present impossible to see clearly in the +matter, and Donna Fedele could not rid herself +of innumerable doubts, anxieties, and presentiments.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Waiting in the little salon of the parsonage, Signora +Bettina and Don Emanuele strongly reminded the +visitor of two frightened chickens, as they scurried +past, hugging the wall, and she recalled so vividly +a certain red wart above the archpriest's left eye, +that always became inflamed when he was worried, +that a laugh clutched her throat, and she had barely +time to straighten her face before entering the study.</p> + +<p>The wart was scarlet indeed, but her welcome +was of the warmest. Worthy Don Tita appeared +incapable of suppressing within himself—and he was, +in truth, no weak vessel—a certain effervescent +mixture of surprise, pleasure, and obsequiousness. +But at this moment Don Tita was no hypocrite. +Rising, he approached his visitor, crying eagerly, +"Well, well, well! Who do I see, who do I see? +Your servant, your very humble servant!" And +this cordiality was not the result of any calculation. +There was an unconquerable officiousness in his +blood that instantly rendered him cordial and ceremonious +in the presence of any person worthy of +consideration. On such occasions he felt any differences +of opinion that might separate him from such +a person shrivel within him, as by a miracle, and +in spite of himself he was bound to convey to that +person, by means of words, gestures, and play of +feature, that he was really much more of his or +her opinion than that person might be inclined to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span>think. Secretly, Donna Fedele was highly amused +by the reception she had of course expected, +especially when she reflected how different would +be the scene that must follow. She also took a +mischievous delight in accepting the archpriest's big +chair, and in imagining herself a bishop in her violet +skirt, and she longed to reach out her hand to the +snuffbox that lay open on the table before her.</p> + +<p>"I have come," she began, in that gentle, indolent +manner of hers, "to show you that I try to be a +Christian, if not a good Christian, at least a passable +one."</p> + +<p>The archpriest gave a loud laugh.</p> + +<p>"That is good! That is good! But who doubts +it, Signora? Tut, tut, tut! Who doubts it?"</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele smiled, but while her lips were +smiling her eyes widened and flashed with a vivid +light.</p> + +<p>"Ah! that is the question," said she, and there +was a flash in her voice also.</p> + +<p>Don Tita pretended not to understand, to have +forgotten a certain occasion when Donna Fedele +lent her grounds for a peasants' merry-making that +had ended in some rather wild dancing, to have +forgotten, too, a certain unwise sermon of his of +which the lady had unnecessarily reminded him.</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut, tut!" he repeated.</p> + +<p>The sweet voice went on:</p> + +<p>"You yourself have not always considered me +such, and you do not at present, now that I have +taken Pestagran into my house."</p> + +<p>Don Tita became the colour of a raspberry.</p> + +<p>"I?" he cried. "Quite the contrary! It is +pure charity, Signora! Charity, charity! A priest's +house was one thing, you see, but the house of a +layman is another."</p> + +<p>"It is a lay 'den,' then," Donna Fedele murmured +under her breath.</p> + +<p>The archpriest did not hear, and she went on to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span>say, still blandly, that she had not known the clergy +were less bound to perform deeds of charity than +the laity. Don Tita's protests she met with a fixed +stare and in silence.</p> + +<p>Poor Don Tita, remembering that he had said +that this lean lady was more of a <em>Carnesecca</em> (a +piece of dry flesh) than Gran Peste himself, and +who was far from realising that had she known +this Donna Fedele's amusement would have tempered +her severity towards himself, was as one seated upon +hot coals.</p> + +<p>"But I am not here," she continued, "to discuss +Pestagran, or anything connected with Pestagran."</p> + +<p>"<em>Ben</em>, Signora! Good, good!"</p> + +<p>The archpriest said "<em>Ben!</em>" relieving his feelings +by a lapse into dialect, but in his heart he thought, +"<em>Male</em>, Signora! Bad, very bad!" for although that +first pill was swallowed, who could say what Madame +Carnesecca might have in reserve?</p> + +<p>"As you and I are both interested in the same +person, I have come to ask you for some information +that might perhaps, under certain circumstances, +affect that person indirectly."</p> + +<p>This time Donna Fedele spoke in a clear and +rather loud voice, articulating her words carefully +and looking resolutely at Don Tita. His face was +filled with bewilderment. Who could this person +be? Bettina? No, no—nor the chaplain either. +Could it be Don Aurelio, after all?"</p> + +<p>"It is true, is it not," Donna Fedele went on, +"that you are much interested in the young girl +who lives with Signor Trento?"</p> + +<p>Don Tita, greatly relieved that Don Aurelio had +not been sprung upon him, rubbed his hands together +softly.</p> + +<p>"I, Signora ... I interested...? No, no, +Signora. Not at all, not at all."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by 'not at all,' when you +are anxious to have her warned against a certain +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span>Alberti because he is carrying on an intrigue with +a married woman?"</p> + +<p>The archpriest made up his mind that Donna +Fedele was indeed an incarnation of the evil one. +He muttered, "What, what, what!" and, gathering +his scattered wits together, whispered to himself, +"The monster!" these words referring to his own +servant, who alone could have listened, have heard, +and have gossiped. But meanwhile he found no +answer. Donna Fedele waited for a time, and then +asked, with her gentle but pitilessly apathetic air, +if he were going to admit or deny the accusation.</p> + +<p>"I deny it," said Don Tita, recovering from the +blow. "I can safely deny it, Signora. I deny +having had any hand in the matter. I was already +acquainted with the fact, Signora, but the secret +was not my own."</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele inwardly regretted having omitted +to count the archpriest's "Signoras." Once before +she had counted, or said she had counted, one +hundred and one in half an hour. Presently she +went on with her cold-blooded torture.</p> + +<p>"You see, archpriest," she said, "as so much +is known here concerning what is said and done +in my house, it is only fair that I should know +something of what is said and done here."</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele was convinced that the archpriest's +servant had orders to worm out of her gardener's +wife all she could about her mistress, Don Aurelio, +Carnesecca, and Massimo Alberti. The servant, on +the other hand, had parted with some parsonage +gossip in exchange. Then the gardener's wife told +the story to the housemaid, and although Donna +Fedele invariably scolded her maids for listening +to gossip, she had not been able to stop her own +ears, and, as a matter of fact, had opened them +rather wide this time.</p> + +<p>The colour of the wart spread over the whole +surface of Don Tita's face.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span></p> + +<p>"Ah! you must really excuse me, Signora," said +he in an injured tone, "but as to that—that—oh! +oh!——"</p> + +<p>And he wagged his head as if it had been on a +pivot, and knit his brows.</p> + +<p>A timid "Con permesso" was heard, the door +opened slowly, and there stood the culprit herself +with coffee and biscuits for Donna Fedele. She +was a little, fat old woman, with the voice of a +goat and a cunning expression. She placed the tray +upon the writing-table and glanced at her master, +expecting him to rise, as usual, brandish the spoon, +and vociferate, "How many lumps, Signora? How +many lumps?" Her master did rise, but slowly and +not at once, and he gave her a glance that made her +tremble lest she had done wrong to bring the coffee. +"Cape!" muttered the poor woman, who, like +Signora Fantuzzo, was in the habit of appealing to +that distant and invisible crustacean. The sight of +this bewildered woman, ignorant of her position of +<em>lupus in fabula</em>, and of Don Tita's face at being +obliged to administer coffee and biscuits to an odious +creature who had dared to be insolent to him, the +thought of the scene that was bound to take place +between master and servant as soon as she should +have left—all this put the little demon of comedy +that had his home in Donna Fedele's brain into such +extreme good-humour, that instead of refusing the +coffee, or at least the biscuits as her first impulse +had prompted her to do, she partook of both, that +she might better enjoy her laugh at Don Tita's sad +plight and smile at her own part of it.</p> + +<p>After the coffee and biscuits, however, she ceased +tormenting the poor man. Donna Fedele, who was +capable of fierce dislikes, felt only indifference for the +archpriest. She believed him to be rather weak than +deceitful, rather spoiled by an insufficient and unwholesome +education than base by nature, possessing +cunning indeed, but cunning of a coarse sort, that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span>it was easy to fathom; and she recognised his good +qualities, his disinterestedness, his sincere desire to +serve God. When the servant had left the room +she told him, very calmly, that she had serious +reasons for wishing to know the truth concerning +the accusations against young Alberti. Don Tita, +who was quickly appeased, at first barricaded himself +behind the assurance that the secret was +another's; but he soon yielded to the temptation +to gratify his interlocutress, and admitted that it +was the chaplain's secret, and it would be terrible +should the chaplain suspect that his secret was not +well guarded. "He is my master, you see! A +future cardinal! One centime's worth of cardinal +already!" The archpriest often alluded to Don +Emanuele in this way, when he believed he was +addressing one not friendly disposed towards the +chaplain. And this time, indeed, he was not mistaken, +for there was no one in the world more uncongenial +to Donna Fedele than the chaplain of Velo +d'Astico. She asked at once to speak with him, +and Don Tita hastened away to fetch him. Donna +Fedele felt quite sure he would not be forthcoming, +and, in fact, Don Tita returned, after a long enough +absence, with a hang-dog expression, stammering +that the chaplain was out.</p> + +<p>"He will come back," said Donna Fedele, rising. +Yes, Don Emanuele would Certainly come back, but +hardly before noon. It was then half-past nine. +Donna Fedele could not wait two hours and a half, +and so, without explaining what she intended to do, +she left the parsonage. She made inquiries of a +peasant woman seated in the door of a cottage close +by if she had seen Don Emanuele. "He has just +gone past, Signora," the woman answered. "He went +into the church."</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele turned quickly, and was sure she saw +the archpriest's tunic whisk into the parsonage, he +very probably having been watching her movements +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span>from the doorway. Mounting the steps, she entered +the church and saw the chaplain kneeling in the +first row of benches, in front of the high altar, and +praying fervently. Instinctively she raised her hand +to the holy-water font, but before her fingers had +touched the water she repented of her action and +withdrew her hand, for her feelings at that moment +were all too unchristian. That man, kneeling there +with his face buried in his hands, filled her with +wrath. For him to play the saint, he, the hard-hearted, +malevolent creature! He was the secret +enemy and denouncer of Don Aurelio, of that she had +no doubt, now that she had discovered him plotting +maliciously against Alberti, because he suspected him +of heresy! Donna Fedele was ready to swear to +this also, although she really knew nothing about it, +and had come for the express purpose of discovering +whether there was any solid foundation for the +accusations against Alberti. She sat down on a +bench in the shadow near the side door, and after +a moment's hesitation, sank upon her knees. The +ancient traditions of her house had made her an +earnest believer. Her faith was simple; she did +not trouble herself with religious contentions and +often declared, like her father before her, she preferred +the famous <em>foi de charbonnier</em>. But she detested +everything that seemed to her deceit, hypocrisy, +or perfidy, and at this moment a capricious impulse +suggested to her to pray against the prayers of the +priest bending low before the high altar. Kneeling +down, she prayed, "O Lord! Listen to me, and +not to him"; but hardly had she placed her arms +upon the bench before her than she thought, +"Perhaps he is not praying at all." He seemed +to her a Pharisee, and she did not realise that she +was putting herself in the position of the Pharisee +of the parable and that, like him, she deserved condemnation. +Her suspicion, moreover, was unjust. +Don Emanuele was praying with all the strength of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span>his soul, according to his nature and education, in +the only way possible to him. In his own home +no one had ever dared to ask the terrible grandfather +for anything in the usual, direct way. A +priest, or a favourite steward, or an old nurse had +been made the go-between. Thus Don Emanuele +prayed rather to His servants than to the Infinite +Grandfather Himself. At the present moment he +was praying to St. Louis Gonzaga as to a deified +prince, who, standing upon the throne in all the pomp +of state, surrounded by flowers and winged cherubims, +should graciously bend his head in the suppliant's +direction and command the demon to depart. Thus +prayed poor Don Emanuele as best he might, horrified +at the fierceness of unexpected temptation. And +it may be that the Almighty, to whom all causes +and all origins are known, judged him far less severely +than did Donna Fedele, who would have brought +about a rare muddle had her prayers for the confusion +of the chaplain been answered. Soon afterwards, +hearing some one enter the church, Don Emanuele, +feigning to look around to see if his chair was empty, +and having thereby caught sight of Donna Fedele, +sat down and began to read his breviary. In his +own way he heartily reciprocated Donna Fedele's +dislike. The outspoken frankness, which her soft +voice only rendered more irritating, offended him. +Besides, he knew her to be the friend of Don +Aurelio and of young Alberti, two persons whom +he fervently abhorred, convinced, however, that it +was their opinions and not themselves that he detested. +Conscious of an ill-defined but profound +antagonism between himself and Don Aurelio, and +instinctively averse to him, he was naturally and +conscientiously inclined to attribute to him ideas and +opinions unworthy of any Catholic, to say nothing +of a priest. The irreprehensibleness both of his +words and actions was another source of irritation, +for he believed Don Aurelio to be a hypocrite. As +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span>to Alberti, what he had read in the newspapers, +together with what had been communicated to him +from Milan, filled him with a sort of loathing for +the man. Donna Fedele, the friend of both, could +not differ from them to any great extent.</p> + +<p>Upon hearing her announced by the archpriest's +servant the chaplain had concluded that she had +come to plead Don Aurelio's cause. Now, however, +he was aware that she had come about Alberti, that +the archpriest's servant had been eavesdropping and +gossiping, and that that wretched man had been true +to himself and compromised him, the chaplain, +instead. As soon as he caught sight of Donna +Fedele he guessed her intentions, and as he read +his breviary he was enveloping himself in an +imaginary armour, plated with steel and bristling +with points.</p> + +<p>But as the placid lady showed no intention of +raising the siege, he knelt down once more, buried +his face in his hands, and having pictured to himself +the moment of the attack, and decided upon his line +of defence, he withdrew to the sacristy. Immediately, +and as he had foreseen, Donna Fedele rose and +followed him. Being unable to avoid the interview, +the chaplain preferred that it should take place in +the sacristy rather than at the parsonage or in the +street.</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele inquired icily if she might speak +with him, her eyes veiled with haughty indifference. +His equally cold answer was a silent bow of +assent.</p> + +<p>"I should prefer some other place," said she. +He hesitated for an instant, and then proposed +that she should wait for him in the church. They +would go out together. He remained in the sacristy +at least ten minutes longer, and then made a +genuflection before the high altar that lasted two +minutes more.</p> + +<p>"I wish you to give me a piece of reliable information,"<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span> +said Donna Fedele, coming out of the +church with him, and trembling with impatience.</p> + +<p>"If I can," Don Emanuele answered gently but +firmly—"if I can."</p> + +<p>The Signora found it difficult to check an angry +outburst.</p> + +<p>"If you can, of course. But I know you can, +and, being able to, you must."</p> + +<p>"If I can," the chaplain repeated, still more gently +and firmly—"if I can. What is it?"</p> + +<p>Very red in the face, Donna Fedele observed that +it was a delicate matter, and one not fit to be handled +in the public square. Hereupon the priest pulled out +his watch.</p> + +<p>"I have to go to Mea," said he, with that air of +gravity, impenetrability, and of compunction, and that +<em>Dominus vobiscum</em> tone which were unbearable to +Donna Fedele. Once more she fumed.</p> + +<p>"Very well. I will take you there. I have a +carriage."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry, Signora. I must go on foot."</p> + +<p>It seemed to Donna Fedele that his short words, +his knitted brow, and downcast eyes spoke of a +shrinking, prompted by modesty, of a fear of giving +scandal. She was on the point of calling him a +fool to his face, but checked herself.</p> + +<p>"I will walk also," said she. "The carriage +can follow us."</p> + +<p>Don Emanuele continued to wriggle for a while, +but said no more. Two minutes ago Donna Fedele +would not have believed herself capable of walking +half a kilometre, but now her nerves were braced +with sufficient energy to carry her all the way to +Vicenza. At the Albergo del Sole she picked up her +driver, who, immediately upon his arrival at Velo, had +tied his horse to an iron railing, that he might be +free to begin an imprudent struggle with a wine +that was stronger than himself. As soon as they +had crossed the square, the carriage following slowly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span>at a short distance, the conversation began. The +priest walked as if the soil burnt his feet, as if +he were striving to tire out this woman who was +persecuting him.</p> + +<p>She told him openly and simply that, for particular +reasons, she was very fond of young Alberti. She knew +that he was said to hold unorthodox religious views. +She hoped that this was not so, but, after all, his +religious opinions were not a matter that concerned +her. But now they were accusing him of immorality. +This was a question upon which she could give an +opinion, and, before judging, she wished and was +determined to know the truth. The archpriest had +told her that the chaplain was the one who knew. +At this point the chaplain made a movement of +acquiescence.</p> + +<p>"Then you do know?" Donna Fedele exclaimed, +stopping short. Don Emanuele stopped also. He +hoped that, having had her answer, this terrible +woman would turn back.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to say I do know," said he. "It +is very serious. Immoral dealings with a person +who is not free. Unfortunately, this is true, only +too true!"</p> + +<p>"But what authority have you for saying this?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, my source of information is—is—is——"</p> + +<p>He appeared unable to find an epithet sufficiently +superlative to qualify the excellence of this source.</p> + +<p>"Well? And the source—the source——!" +Donna Fedele exclaimed impatiently.</p> + +<p>"The thing is a fact," the chaplain retorted +gravely and positively. "The thing is a fact, but +I am not at liberty to reveal the source of my knowledge."</p> + +<p>"At least tell me the name of this married +woman."</p> + +<p>"I cannot."</p> + +<p>This, indeed, he was not able to do, and his +words naturally were more full of conviction than +ever. But Donna Fedele's patience was at an end.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span></p> + +<p>"Do you know what I think?" said she. "That +there is no source at all, and that this is a pure +invention!"</p> + +<p>"Think what you will," said the chaplain, who +had grown very pale; and, touching his hat in sign +of salutation, he started off rapidly along the road +to Mea.</p> + +<p>"Don Emanuele!" called the Signora. The +driver, who was half tipsy, and who was standing +near, his hand upon his horse's bridle, dropped the +bridle and flew past Donna Fedele, shouting as he +ran:</p> + +<p>"Shall I catch him for you?"</p> + +<p>"Stop!" cried Donna Fedele, but the drunken +man already had the chaplain by the arm.</p> + +<p>"Stop, my lad!" he commanded.</p> + +<p>"No! Shame upon you!" cried Donna Fedele, +coming up with the pair and ordering the driver +back to his horse in a tone so peremptory that he +obeyed at once.</p> + +<p>"Now go!" said she, turning to the bewildered +chaplain with such a disdainful air, with so much +energy and such fire in her bearing that she seemed +almost to have recovered the brilliancy of her youth. +"Go on serving God by slandering your neighbour! +Treat Alberti as you have treated the priest of Lago! +Triumph! I am going back to my house, which you +have called a 'den,' and I am better satisfied with +myself and my 'den' than you will ever be with +yourself and your palace when you are a cardinal." +And she turned her back upon him.</p> + +<p>"Siora!" (Signora) the driver declared tragically, +placing his left hand on his breast, and waving +his right, in which he clasped the whip. "If you +say the word, priest or no priest, Gèsummaria! I +will twist his neck!"</p> + +<p>Where can Donna Fedele's little demon have +been dozing? She did not even smile, but ordered +the carriage to turn round, and got in, heedless +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span>of the driver's condition. She could not possibly +have walked another step. All her strength was +deserting her in a tremor that shook her from head +to foot. The gentle wind of Val d'Astico, so pure +and fresh, that made the trees sway and the shadows +wave upon the white road, revived her somewhat. +Having had a chance to relieve her feelings, she now +felt a sort of pity for the chaplain. But presently +she banished him from her mind, and fixed her +thoughts on the Montanina, on her old friend's last, +melancholy desire of a union between Leila and +Alberti, of the inscrutability of these two young +people, and of what the future might have in store.</p> + + + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" > + CHAPTER IV + <br> + <small>SHEARS</small></h2> +</div> + + +<h3>I</h3> + +<p>At Lago di Velo the news of the priest's impending +departure had greatly distressed the inhabitants. +Many, indeed, had been displeased that he had taken +Carnesecca into his house, but after he had explained +his action from the altar, condemning the pedlar's +doctrines, and yet reminding them of the teachings +of the gospel, no one had dared raise his voice in +censure. The news that Carnesecca was gone and +that the curate must leave spread simultaneously.</p> + +<p>The "Chief" of the countryside, as he to whom +his fellow-peasants freely entrust the handling of all +matters of common interest is here called, summoned +a meeting of the heads of families, and spoke sensibly +and in a religious spirit. There was to be no rioting, +no disorder, no inciting of the priest to resist. A +priest is a priest, and must obey his superiors. It +is to these superiors petition should be made. But +these were not the views of all. The women +were already declaring that the priest should not +leave; that an appeal must be made, if necessary, +to the Pope. The Chief persuaded them to be calm, +and await the result of the first protests. He himself +headed a deputation to the archpriest. But the archpriest +repulsed them, giving these honest souls to +understand that they were but fools, ignorant countrymen, +and bullies. They went home cowed, and the +general dissatisfaction grew rapidly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span></p> + +<p>Don Aurelio, after halving in vain endeavoured +privately to dissuade his flock from any attempt to +retain him, repeated his exhortations from the altar +in language that was both affectionate and firm. +Several of the summer visitors, people of position, +also went to the archpriest in the name of the inhabitants +of Lago, begging him to intercede with the +<em>Curia</em>. For these the excellent Don Tita had pleasant +words, saying that he had had nothing to do with the +much-to-be-regretted measure, praising Don Aurelio, +and promising to act, to speak, and to write. His flock +listened respectfully to Don Aurelio, without the +slightest intention of obeying him, and they listened +to the report of the second deputation without the +slightest faith in the archpriest's promises. The +Chief called another meeting, and it was decided that +all those present should go in a body to the bishop +and seek to obtain at least a postponement. On +hearing this Don Aurelio begged them first to listen +to something he had to tell them. This was on +Friday, and there were five days more before the +date upon which he must resign his benefice. The +peasants intended going in to Vicenza to the bishop +on Sunday morning. But they promised to come +to Don Aurelio the next day, Saturday, at noon. On +Friday evening Don Aurelio went down to the Villino +delle Rose, stopping at the Montanina on the way +back. It was nearly eight o'clock, and Giovanni +having informed him that the family were still at +dinner, he would not allow them to be disturbed, +and waited in the drawing-room, examining a small +collection of books near the fireplace. They were +all works on botany and gardening and belonged to +Signor Marcello. Don Aurelio knew little concerning +Leila's taste in literature, and would gladly have +known more. To a direct question he had asked +some days before, the girl had said that her favourite +reading was the works of foreign poets. Don +Aurelio, who knew little of foreign poets, had not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span>ventured to press her with questions, but later Donna +Fedele had confided to him that the two foreign +poets preferred by Leila were Shelley and Heine. +He knew nothing of the first, but the name of the +second conveyed a suggestion of fatal scepticism. +The suspicion that Leila's soul contained some bitter +dregs of scepticism had been forced upon him by +several remarks of hers which Donna Fedele had repeated, +wherein she had maintained that the acts +of men, even those apparently of a most generous +nature, were prompted only by a spirit of egotism, +and her words had seemed to point indirectly to +Signor Marcello's action, in taking into, his house a +living memory of his dead son.</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio had been greatly incensed, and his +more indulgent friend had found it difficult to pacify +him by placing before him the surroundings amongst +which Leila had dwelt and the painful origin of her +scepticism. Donna Fedele was less uneasy than he +concerning Massimo's future should this marriage +take place. The girl's eccentricities did not impress +her so painfully as they did Don Aurelio. She +remembered that her own girlhood had been fanciful +and passionate also, and understood so much that to +Don Aurelio was incomprehensible.</p> + +<p>Having examined all the books, Don Aurelio +caught sight of the maid Teresina at a door at the +further end of the room. She came silently towards +him, advancing on tiptoe, and he went forward to +meet her. Teresina had a secret message for Donna +Fedele, who, having been less well than usual after +her raid upon the parsonage, had not appeared for +two days, whereas usually a day rarely passed now +without a visit from her.</p> + +<p>"If you see her," the woman whispered, "tell her +things are worse!"</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio failing to understand, Teresina explained. +After the affair of the closed bedroom +windows she had promised to tell Donna Fedele +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span>everything that she considered important concerning +Leila.</p> + +<p>"And now," said she, "she has got hold of the +key of the Velo Park, and, for the last two nights, +after dark, she has been there all alone, spending +hours there. What she does in the Park I cannot say. +She makes me tell lies to the master, and say she +is in bed with a headache when he asks for her. Of +course he always asks. Then I must go and wait for +her at the park gate, at eleven, and, to tell the truth, +I am rather afraid. But she won't listen to anything. +Last night she was not in until midnight. Please +ask Donna Fedele what I am to do. What would you +yourself advise, Don Aurelio?"</p> + +<p>"First of all I must inform you that I shall not +be able to tell Donna Fedele anything," said the +priest.</p> + +<p>Teresina was astonished and asked the reason of +his refusal.</p> + +<p>"Never mind the reason," Don Aurelio answered, +and added: "You have done very wrong not to +speak. You must do so, and at once."</p> + +<p>At that moment the dining-room door was thrown +open and Signor Marcello himself appeared, protesting +against so much ceremony on the part of +his friend, who had refused to have his presence +announced. Taking him by the arm, he led him into +the dining-room.</p> + +<p>Leila's greeting was so slight that Signor Marcello +spoke to her.</p> + +<p>"You absent-minded puss!" said he. "Here is +Don Aurelio."</p> + +<p>For some days past the priest had thought that +her usual coldness towards him had grown. Now +he was sure of it. Massimo also seemed to be in +a gloomy mood. Don Aurelio told of his call at the +Villino and of Donna Fedele's condition, which was +far from satisfactory, judging from her look and some +vague hints that had escaped her. Leila, who had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span>been won over by Signora Vayla's charm and affection, +listened attentively.</p> + +<p>"She is a woman who will break down entirely, +if she does not have something done for her health, +and that at once. You are her friends, and it is your +duty to make her take care of herself."</p> + +<p>Signor Marcello, more impressed by the tone in +which the words were spoken than by the words +themselves, asked what they could do, and what the +nature of Signora Vayla's disease really was. Don +Aurelio replied that he did not know, but that a +suspicion had been aroused in his mind by the very, +unwillingness of the sufferer to call in a consulting +physician, and he believed a consultation to be +absolutely necessary.</p> + +<p>A painful silence ensued, and then Don Aurelio +rose to go. Massimo rose with the intention of +accompanying him as far as Sant' Ubaldo. The +curate turned to Leila and said impressively:</p> + +<p>"Signorina, Donna Fedele is very fond of you. +I recommend her particularly to your care. Hers +is a life that is useful to many."</p> + +<p>Signor Marcello had risen also.</p> + +<p>"And so, Don Aurelio," he began, "you are going +to have this meeting to-morrow. Will you be able +to bring us some good news afterwards?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot say, my friend," Don Aurelio replied in +his fine Roman accent and rich voice. "I cannot +say whether it would be well to remain. But the +Lord tells me that obedience is good."</p> + +<p>There ensued a short struggle between them, for +Signor Marcello would have kissed the hand the +priest sought to withdraw in dismay. Then they +embraced, and Don Aurelio felt tears upon the old +man's face, and went out murmuring "Poor fellow! +Poor fellow!"</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>As they left, Don Aurelio told Massimo that had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span>he not offered to accompany him to Sant' Ubaldo, he +himself would have asked him to do so. The young +man did not answer, and Don Aurelio, glancing at +him, saw that he appeared not to have heard. It +was growing dark, and there was no other sound in +the air but the gentle voice of Riderella and the +deep one of Posina. All Nature seemed filled with +a sense of the mystery of that shining city whose +myriad portals opened tremblingly, one by one, in +the splendid space above. Beyond the gate Don +Aurelio paused, and silently put his hand upon his +friend's shoulder. In his eyes there shone a new +expression which Massimo failed to see, for he was +insensible to everything save his own feelings. +Perhaps the poetry of the evening increased his fever, +but he felt the fever only, not the poetry. Every +pulse in him responded to a burning passion that had +grown during these last ten days, and had discovered +itself in divine moments of contact by a glance or +other fleeting, involuntary revelations in spite of the +coldness and gloom with which he had to contend. +Things that Donna Fedele and Signor Marcello himself +had said seemed to breathe a vague encouragement +of his hopes, and he could not rid himself of +the apparently inexplicable idea that he moved among +accomplices. He was bewildered by doubts, and his +love for Leila alone radiated the darkness wherein +she, too, stood, a dark and half incomprehensible +figure. When Don Aurelio placed his hand upon his +shoulder the fact that during dinner Leila had neither +looked at him nor addressed him was weighing upon +his heart. He took his friend's gesture as a warning.</p> + +<p>"You have seen?" said he. "Do I give myself +away so quickly?"</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio's astonished silence revealed to him +that it had been only at that moment that he had +given himself away.</p> + +<p>"Then why," he exclaimed excitedly—"why did +you put your hand on my shoulder?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span></p> + +<p>"Poor Massimo!" Don Aurelio answered smiling, +and perceiving that now he did really understand his +friend. "And so this time it is serious?"</p> + +<p>"Dio! and you can laugh!" cried Alberti.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, yes! Come, we will talk it over!"</p> + +<p>So this man, who was being unjustly driven from +his humble pastorship, and who saw the moment +rapidly approaching when he would not know where +to lay his head, set himself to the task of comforting +his friend, whom the egotism of love had made +oblivious to the other's sorrows.</p> + +<p>"You see, this is something that pleases me and +will please others as well," he said, as they passed +into the deep shadow of the great chestnuts. +Massimo stopped short.</p> + +<p>"Signor Marcello also? Will it really please +him? Really?"</p> + +<p>The shadows were so dark that Don Aurelio did not +venture to answer, for on the road itself, or within the +Montanina grounds, some one might easily overhear +them without being seen. It was not until they had +reached the point where the road, issuing from the +grove and turning to the left, winds along the open +hillside of the hollow of Lago, that Don Aurelio +revealed Signor Marcello's secret to his trembling +friend.</p> + +<p>Massimo embraced him impetuously.</p> + +<p>"What is all this? What is all this?" the priest +exclaimed, freeing himself with difficulty.</p> + +<p>"But Signorina Leila?" Massimo panted. +"What are Signorina Leila's feelings?"</p> + +<p>"Ah! that I really cannot say!" Don Aurelio +replied. "I really don't know. I don't understand +such matters, but it seems to me that you yourself +ought to know."</p> + +<p>"But you can see for yourself I don't know. +I am completely in the dark."</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio was at a loss to know what to say. +He told Massimo that he believed he was justified +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span>in hoping, for this was also Donna Fedele's opinion. +Massimo's joy flamed forth once more, and without +pausing to ask how and why Donna Fedele and Don +Aurelio had come to discuss this, he inquired what +reasons, what signs had led Donna Fedele to form +this opinion. But as to that she alone could enlighten +him.</p> + +<p>"I am going to her now!" the young man cried. +But Don Aurelio would not allow it.</p> + +<p>"No, my dear fellow, I want you with me now."</p> + +<p>Massimo demanded why, but the priest replied +that he would tell him when they reached home. +A few steps farther on the young man again stopped, +begging and praying to be allowed to go on to +Villino delle Rose at once. It was then that Don +Aurelio asked him sadly if there was really no one +else in all the world for him but Leila. His sorrow-laden +accents were as a fiery touch to Massimo. +With both hands he seized his friend's arm, and +would not be appeased until Don Aurelio had embraced +him as a sign of pardon. They walked +through Lago without speaking, but beyond the +village, on the road that winds upwards round the +steep, grassy hill on which stands the church of Sant' +Ubaldo, Massimo opened his heart to his friend. +He told him of the impression he had received from +Leila's photograph while poor Andrea was still alive; +he spoke of his impression of her on the occasion +of their first meeting, of the strange and alluring +changes in her mood, of the fascination of the depths +which he believed existed in her soul, of the dawn of +passion in himself, of his remorse, of Signor +Marcello's inexplicable attitude, of the growth of his +own infatuation, of the one dream of his days and +nights—to turn his back upon the world and forget +it, spending his days with her in some mountain +solitude, fulfilling the duties of his profession, serving +man, and practising religion with that quiet freedom +of soul which no despotism may overcome.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span></p> + +<p>Don Aurelio listened in silence. When they +reached the church he opened the side door and +went in to pray. Massimo followed him, but did not +pray—he thought of Leila instead. That same +morning, after having treated him with almost contemptuous +indifference, she had suddenly sat down +at the piano and played Schumann's "Aveu." He +had followed the music with keen delight, gazing +upwards through the opening in the gallery at a +slender, dolomitic peak, swathed in the blue mists +like the tremulous outline of a dream. And now, +within the little church, he was trying to recall that +indescribable moment, that sweet music, and the +mountain peak, cleaving the blue ether like a shaft of +passion shot skyward.</p> + +<p>Lúzia, hearing her master coming, had placed a +light in the little room on the ground floor. Don +Aurelio took the lamp, and climbed the wooden stairs, +followed by Massimo.</p> + +<p>"First, we will talk of your affairs," said he, +when he had placed the lamp on the writing-table in +the study. He motioned Massimo to a chair opposite +his own with a certain air of solemnity that startled +the young man.</p> + +<p>"You must answer a question I am going to +ask you. And think well before you answer."</p> + +<p>He looked steadily and in silence at his friend's +astonished eyes, and saw that they were questioning +him.</p> + +<p>"It is this," said he. "Do you know whether there +was ever any gossip in Milan about yourself and a +married woman? Think well."</p> + +<p>Massimo's brow cleared, and he smiled at the +saintly simplicity of this man, who had lived so far +away from the world.</p> + +<p>"Certainly there may have been," he answered, +"and not with one alone, but with two or perhaps +even three. You don't know what Milan is. But +did you believe the gossip? Did you doubt me?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span></p> + +<p>Don Aurelio hastened to declare that he had not +doubted, but nevertheless he seemed perplexed. +Then Massimo guessed there was something serious, +and cried anxiously:</p> + +<p>"Ah! now I understand! Signorina Leila believes +in it."</p> + +<p>No, Don Aurelio did not think that the subject +had been mentioned at the Montanina. It had been +discussed at the Villino, and though Donna Fedele +did not doubt him, Massimo himself must reassure +her. Massimo thought it would be better for Don +Aurelio to undertake to do this.</p> + +<p>"I! my dear boy?"</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio thought for a moment, and then +added in a low tone:</p> + +<p>"I am leaving to-night."</p> + +<p>Massimo started from his chair.</p> + +<p>"What! you are leaving? What do you +mean?"</p> + +<p>His first thought was, "He is forsaking me at +this time!" His second was, "Why does he leave +when there is still hope that he may be allowed to +remain? And why to-night? Where will he go?" +And he burst into a string of questions.</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio checked him at once, and placed his +finger upon his lips. Lúzia might hear! No one +knew, and no one must know. There was no hope +that his superiors would allow him to remain at Lago, +and there was danger that the inhabitants might +resort to violent measures to prevent his departure. +His duty, his positive and absolute duty, was to leave +at once, and secretly. He would start on foot during +the night, and take the train at Schio at five in the +morning for Vicenza. Once there he would go to +the Bishop, acquit himself of the accusations he believed +had been lodged against him, and then ... +place himself in the hands of Divine Providence. +He was sure the Bishop would help him to find a +living in some other diocese, where he could be +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span>even more out of the world than he had been at +Sant' Ubaldo.</p> + +<p>"Whatever happens," he said, "the Lord will +not forsake me." And when Massimo gave vent +to his indignation against his supposed persecutors, +he checked him. "They think they are doing right. +Can you look into their hearts? Can you see into +their consciences? We must pray for them. +Promise to do so."</p> + +<p>So saying, he held out his hand, which the young +man seized with both his own, and pressed to his +lips.</p> + +<p>"And now you must help me," said Don Aurelio, +rising.</p> + +<p>Together they sorted the books, dividing the ones +to be returned to Donna Fedele and to Signor +Marcello from those that belonged to Don Aurelio, +which Massimo undertook to send wheresoever +destiny might determine. The priest could take with +him only his breviary, a small pocket Bible, and the +"Imitation of Christ." As he handled and laid +aside the precious volumes, his hands trembled, but +not a single word of complaint escaped him. Only +once, on handing a fine edition of the "Confessions of +St. Augustine" to Massimo, a book that reminded +him of many hours of reading and religious meditation +in the shady solitudes of the Velo Park, near the +gentle murmur of running water, did he lack strength +to say, "This is for Signor Marcello." Massimo, +catching a glimpse of his face, guessed the truth, +and instead of taking the book, seized his hand, pressing +it in sympathy. "For Signor Marcello!" Don +Aurelio quickly exclaimed, but he did so with an +effort, as if his wandering thoughts alone and not +emotion had prevented his speaking before. Not +another moment of weakness did he have, and even +had a reproof ready for Massimo, who, towards the +end, found the strain too severe, and tried to make +one last effort to shake his friend's decision. They +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span>had scarcely finished when Lúzia appeared, on the +pretext of seeing that the shutters were closed. Don +Aurelio bade her go to bed.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir," said the woman gratefully, and +withdrew.</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio thought for a moment. He must +remunerate Lúzia in some way beyond her monthly +salary, which he had already put aside for her. +Donna Fedele had once given him an alarm-clock +that was much too fine for him.</p> + +<p>"It is handsome, is it not?" he said to Massimo. +"Please sell it for me and give the money to Lúzia."</p> + +<p>Ah! Massimo had not considered that the poor +priest had perhaps not enough in his pocket to support +him for two days away from home. He offered him +fifty lire which he had by him. Don Aurelio himself +had three lire, and it was with a simplicity truly +Franciscan that he accepted twelve more for the +journey to Vicenza, and, if necessary, from Vicenza +to Milan, where, if the worst came to the worst, he +could seek the hospitality which a brother priest had +frequently offered to him. Massimo could not make +him accept more.</p> + +<p>"I should have asked you for those twelve lire any +way," he said. Then, with burning cheeks he showed +Massimo the drawer in which he kept his linen, a +silent witness to his saintly poverty. He would write +from Vicenza saying where his few belongings were +to be sent. As to the books, the best plan would +be to pack them in a case, and get Donna Fedele to +keep them for him. His few bits of furniture must +also be packed up. Then it came into his mind that +Lúzia once said, "If you go away, Don Aurelio, you +will leave me the bed, will you not?" After all, +it would be better to leave her the bed and not sell +the clock. Poor Lúzia! She had never lost an +opportunity of saying that her own bed was a +wretched, shaky thing, only fit to be burnt.</p> + +<p>"But, my dear friend!" Massimo cried, as if +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span>suddenly realising the fact, "how can I remain if +you go? Ah! why did I not think of this before? I +will go with you!"</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio embraced him tenderly.</p> + +<p>"Can you forgive me," the young man cried, +"for not having thought of this at once?"</p> + +<p>But Don Aurelio only pressed him closer without +speaking. Presently he thrust him gently from him, +and kissed him on the brow.</p> + +<p>"I do not want you."</p> + +<p>"You do not want me? Why not? Well, I shall +come even if I am not wanted."</p> + +<p>The small petroleum lamp was threatening to go +out. Don Aurelio extinguished it.</p> + +<p>"We shall need it later," he said, "and I don't +know whether there is any more oil in the house. At +any rate, I should not be able to find it. Let us +sit down."</p> + +<p>Dark masses of cloud in a moonless sky loomed +dimly through one of the windows. Don Aurelio, +whom the darkness hid from Massimo, began talking +in a low voice and with the earnestness of a +father.</p> + +<p>"It is I, dear lad, who will be with you. I have +never told you, but I have prayed so hard that God +might give you what He is now giving you, a strong +and mighty love, rich and holy. You are not made +for celibacy, you are made for a union ideally human, +ideally Christian, ideally beautiful. You are made +to raise up a strong and pure progeny. The tradition +of great families, heroically devoted to kings, is at an +end. We must found families that shall be heroically +devoted to God, in which devotion to God shall be +handed down as a title of nobility, as the just and +traditional sentiment of nobility. You must found +such a family. It is my dream for you. It was the +dream of——"</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio's voice whispered a name and then +was silent.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span></p> + +<p>"Was that indeed so?" Massimo cried.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it was poor Benedetto's dream for you."</p> + +<p>The vision of a dear, suffering face, with great +speaking eyes, flashed across Massimo's brain amidst +the darkness of the room. Benedetto had dreamed +of happiness in love for him! Once more he saw, +for an instant, the face upon the pillow, lifeless and +waxen. Tears welled up in his heart, but he forced +them back.</p> + +<p>"You cannot go away," Don Aurelio went on. +"You must see Donna Fedele early to-morrow +morning, and reassure her on the point we have +discussed. She does not doubt you, but as she is +charged with a mission, she wishes to receive this +assurance from you. Then she will speak to +Signorina Leila at once, to-morrow; she will question +her in Signor Marcello's name, for, through me, +he has requested her to do so. To-morrow night +you will know. Donna Fedele is sure of a favourable +answer. Then you yourself can speak."</p> + +<p>The table upon which Massimo was leaning, his +hands pressed to his temples, shook like a living +thing.</p> + +<p>"If all goes well," Don Aurelio went on, "send +me a telegram to Vicenza, to be called for at the +office.... Are you afraid?" he added, for the +table still vibrated. "Donna Fedele says the +girl's is a self-contained nature difficult to penetrate, +but she does not believe her to be bound to a +memory; she thinks that she feels the need of love, +and of a future. She believes her also to be a +very storehouse of moral energies, a little embittered +perhaps by her sad experience of life; this Donna +Fedele has to admit. But she is sure that certain +peculiarities will disappear when these energies are +properly ordered and guided by one in whom she +has confidence."</p> + +<p>Massimo was silent. He, too, looked upon her +as a closed paradise, darkened by the shadow of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span>a tree of knowledge of good and evil, which was all +too wide-spreading. When Don Aurelio asked him +if he had really been unable to discover any clear +sign as to her feelings towards himself, he answered, +with a sigh:</p> + +<p>"I am inclined to think that something in me +attracts her, while something else repels her."</p> + +<p>"What is it that repels her?"</p> + +<p>"Benedetto."</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio was amazed. What did this girl know +of Benedetto? Massimo hastened to explain. +Surely Don Aurelio remembered the conversation +at the dinner-table on that first day, and Signorina +Leila's words concerning Benedetto, that had offended +him? Soon afterwards she had brought up the +subject again, speaking in the same hostile tone. She +believed him to have been a heretic. She had +seemed disposed at the time to listen to Massimo's +defence of him, but later she had always openly +avoided the subject.</p> + +<p>"Well, well!" said Don Aurelio. "But if that +is all——"</p> + +<p>He could not bring himself to believe that this +girl could be so influenced by religious questions +as to be willing to sacrifice her future for them. +He realised at once that this scepticism, apparently +tinged with but slight esteem, had hurt Massimo. +He felt for his friend's hands amidst the darkness, +and did not mention Leila again.</p> + +<p>"It is of Benedetto that I want to speak to you," +he said. "I had a letter from Elia Viterbo to-day. +He would have written to you, but no one in Rome +knows where you are. They take for granted, however, +that I know. It was even rumoured in Rome +that you had taken refuge at Praglia. Fancy that!"</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio could not restrain a short laugh of +comment.</p> + +<p>"A nice sort of Praglia indeed! He wishes me +to tell you that your friends have decided to accept +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span>your proposal concerning Benedetto's poor remains, +and they beg you to communicate with them. It +seems that as you live in the neighbourhood of Oria, +they rely on you to help to carry out their intentions."</p> + +<p>A few of Benedetto's disciples had proposed some +months before to erect a simple monument to his +memory in Campo Verano, and had opened a subscription +for this purpose. Others among his +followers had disapproved of this proposal, both +because they foresaw that the sum subscribed would +be but small, and because the proposal itself was +not in harmony with the Master's spirit. Much dissatisfaction +had resulted, and Massimo, who was +opposed to the proposal, had sought a peaceful way +out of the difficulty, suggested by certain words of +Benedetto's on the occasion of a visit they had once +paid together to Campo Verano. Benedetto had +said: "I shall surely end here, but I should like +to rest in the cemetery at Oria. However, that is +a vain hope." Massimo had proposed that the idea +of a monument should be given up, and that instead +this touching desire should be carried out. A small +piece of ground, far removed from worldly strife, +in the cemetery where Piero Maironi's parents lay +sleeping, and where his wife had wished to rest—that +would be the most fitting monument. And now +it was decided and Benedetto's wish was about to be +fulfilled.</p> + +<p>"Will you come to Oria on that day?" Massimo +asked.</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio could not promise this. He did not +know whence or how far he might be obliged to +travel to reach Oria. But he would come only if +the ceremony were free from all unseemly religious +manifestations. Then he rose and relighted the lamp.</p> + +<p>"It is late," said he, "and you must return to +the Montanina." He opened a drawer of the writing-table +and drew from it two letters, which he asked +Massimo to forward on the following day, after +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span>having read them himself. One was for the archpriest, +the other for the village Chief. The dying +lamp flickered and went out.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" Don Aurelio exclaimed. "And I wanted +to write a few lines more!"</p> + +<p>Massimo struck a match.</p> + +<p>"You can do so," said he.</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio took a sheet of paper and wrote a +few words, while Massimo struck match after match. +Presently the priest handed him the paper. "That +is for Signorina Leila when she has said 'yes.'"</p> + +<p>Massimo read the words, quivering with emotion.</p> + + +<p>"Allow a poor priest to bless your love in the +name of that Infinite Love, from whence may it +derive eternal life.</p> + + +<p class="right" style="padding-right: 2em;">"<span class="smcap">Don Aurelio.</span>"</p> + + +<p class="p1">At that moment they heard a knocking at the +street door. Don Aurelio released himself from +Massimo, who had flung his arms about him, and +hurried to the window. It was Giovanni from the +Montanina. Signor Marcello had sent him to see +if anything had happened to Signor Alberti.</p> + +<p>"No, no, he will come directly!" Don Aurelio +replied. He turned from the window and felt +Massimo's arms clasping his knees. The young man +was kneeling at his feet.</p> + +<p>"Go, go!" he whispered, "and may God bless +you!" Their parting was perforce a sharp one. +Massimo started to his feet, flung himself out of the +door and down the stairs, and soon disappeared into +the night. Don Aurelio withdrew to his bedroom, +and, kneeling before the crucifix, prayed with a keen +sense of oppression, and almost as if struggling to +overcome an inward enemy, for the two priests of +Velo and for all his superiors, who wished to see +him shamed, a wanderer, and hungry. "Father, +Father, they believe they are serving Thee. They +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span>believe they are serving Thee! Forgive them, +forgive them!"</p> + +<p>Signor Marcello, who was really anxious, imagined +all sorts of reasons for Massimo's absence, for at +ten o'clock he had not returned, although he could +not but be aware that this was the curfew hour +at the Montanina. The old man even grew rather +annoyed with Leila, because she would not admit +that anything had happened.</p> + +<p>"He is always in the clouds," said she. "He +may have gone to the Villino delle Rose under the +impression that he was walking here."</p> + +<p>It seemed almost as if Massimo's liking for Donna +Fedele were distasteful to the girl. Signor Marcello +noticed this, and the allusion to the Villino displeased +him. He asked her if she blamed Massimo for liking +to go there. She protested hotly. On the contrary! +She said no more, but in her heart she was blaming +Donna Fedele for her partiality towards Massimo, +although she would have been unable to explain +the reason why. She dreaded further questions, and +so withdrew.</p> + +<p>She went to her room determined not to give up +her evening walk in the park, and although it was +already late, she meant to await the rising of the +moon there. The moon would rise at midnight that +evening. Signor Marcello would go to bed immediately +on Alberti's return, and then she could go +downstairs. She did not light the lamp, but flung +herself into an easy-chair opposite the wide casement +window that looked out upon the upper slopes +of the dark forest below the jagged crags of Summano. +Once more she turned over in her mind +Signor Marcello's words. Did she blame him? +And so it would displease Signor Marcello should +she even so much as touch his Alberti with the +slightest censure. It was not the first time since +his reproof to her on a certain day that Signor +Marcello had taken up the cudgels for Alberti and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span>against her on matters of trivial importance. And +he was so determined to keep him at the Montanina! +Was it possible that the poor old man thought him +so devoted to the memory of his son that he might +not even be tempted to be disloyal to him?</p> + +<p>At this point there suddenly flashed across her +mind the idea that she was the centre of a comedy. +What if all had been pre-arranged, the invitation +to Alberti sent through Don Aurelio, and his reception +at the Montanina? What if Donna Fedele's +sudden change of attitude and her daily visits were +all directed towards the same secret end? What +if Signor Marcello had been talked over by the +priest of Sant' Ubaldo and the mistress of the Villino, +and what if they had succeeded in persuading him +to accept their plan, who knew by means of what +arguments? In a flash all seemed clear to her. +Signor Alberti, invited by people who had themselves +arranged the part she, Leila, was to play, +had come to make the acquaintance of and captivate +Signor Trento's heir. In her wrath she grasped +the arms of her chair firmly and bit her lip that +she might not cry. And she did not cry, but the +flood of tears she held in check made her bosom +heave and heave again. How maddening it would +be if the tears should fall! Contempt, contempt, +only contempt!</p> + +<p>She lighted the lamp and rang the bell for +Teresina, telling her to let her know when Massimo +returned. He was not back yet, the woman said. +It was with horror that she learned that the +Signorina was determined to go down to the park +again that night. She begged and implored her +not to do so, and even threatened to speak, but +a sharp scolding was the only result, and she ended +by consoling herself with the hope that this would +be the last time. The following morning she was +to go to Schio. From the drawer of her writing-desk +Leila took a sealed letter that lay there beside +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</span>the one she had crushed in her hand on the evening +of Massimo's arrival.</p> + +<p>"The usual thing," she said, handing it to the +maid. It contained money that Leila was sending +to her father. She was in the habit of sending +it through Teresina and from Schio, fearing that +some indiscretion on the part of the postal officials +of Velo d'Astico might reveal her secret to Signor +Marcello. Teresina delighted in this mark of confidence +which enabled her to rise somewhat from +devotion towards friendship. To-night's act of confidence +helped her to start by slow degrees a small +rivulet of talk that, like the little rivulets in nature, +bend and twist amidst obstacles, and always find +a way to the great stream for which they are bound. +She began cautiously by alluding to the Signorina's +very scanty wardrobe, and by saying she spent too +little on her clothes. Even the master had noticed +this and reproached her, Teresina, for it. But what +could she do? She could only mention it to the +Signorina, and so now she had done so. Not +extravagance, certainly not. Too much dress would +be out of place at the Montanina; but she might +dress more elegantly. The master thought she had +better get Donna Fedele to help her to choose a +good dressmaker. It was true Donna Fedele got +her clothes in Turin, but Teresina was quite sure +she went only to some fourth-rate house. Leila, +who got her clothes in Vicenza, inquired whether +Teresina could recommend a good dressmaker in +Schio, whereupon the maid protested. Was there +not Milan? And which one of Milan's great houses +would the all-wise Teresina recommend? At this +point the rivulet could find no outlet, and formed a +little pool. The pool filled rapidly, and the rivulet +presently began to trickle out on one side.</p> + +<p>"No, Signorina—I don't know anything about +them," the woman at last made answer. "But +there are plenty of people who do."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</span></p> + +<p>"Now, who would be likely to know?"</p> + +<p>This time the rivulet was forced to overflow.</p> + +<p>"I suppose Signor Alberti must have some ladies +in his family."</p> + +<p>This speech formed a very waterfall!</p> + +<p>"Let Signor Alberti alone!" exclaimed Leila.</p> + +<p>It had been through no confidence on Donna +Fedele's part, but rather through a vague undercurrent +in her remarks concerning the Signorina, +and through a new manner in Signor Marcello's +speech and gesture that the clever maid had recognised +an unspoken support of the sentiments she +had early read in Massimo's expression. She did +not know what to make of the Signorina. At one +moment she thought one thing, at the next another, +and now that she had thrown out the sounding-line, +having struck against something unresponsive, she +tried again.</p> + +<p>"I, Signorina!" said she. "I let him alone? I +can see well enough the master is wrapped up in +that young man. It is a beautiful sight, I tell +you!"</p> + +<p>Leila cut her short, and sent her to see if Massimo +had returned. She assured herself it was plain that +Teresina would not have spoken as she had done +without having been prompted. Evidently she was +in the conspiracy also. "Ah, no, my friends! No, +master fortune-hunter, no, no, no!" She seized an +old photograph of Signor Marcello that stood upon +the table and tore it across. Here was another +bargainer like Alberti, disloyal to a whole religion +of memories in order that his Montanina might not +fall into the hands of her parents, or into other +similar hands. "No, Signor Marcello! Ah, no, all +of you!" But where was Teresina? Was it possible +that Alberti had already returned, and that the +treacherous creature would not come to tell her in +order to prevent her going to the park? She stepped +into the corridor in a state of great irritation. It +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</span>was nearly half-past eleven! She listened and heard +Teresina's step in the corridor below.</p> + +<p>"Well?" She flung the question at her from +above.</p> + +<p>"Now, Signorina," the other answered softly. +"This very minute."</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>A quarter of an hour later, feeling sure that Signor +Marcello and Alberti had gone to their rooms, Leila +left the villa and the garden and started towards +the wooden gate that opens into the park from the +high-road just below the little church of Santa Maria +ad Montes. With fierce contempt in her heart for +this man, who had come from Milan with a fine plan +for a rich marriage ready in his pocket, she said +to herself that, had her father and mother been +upright people, she would have taken refuge with +one or other of them at this time. But she could +not live in the same house with her father's mistress, +nor could she allow her mother to support her on +the old Austrian's money. A thought came to her +that had first attracted her when she was but fourteen, +and that had persistently haunted her ever since +except during the time of Andrea's courtship—the +thought of escaping from the world. Yet this +morbid idea had never assumed the intensity of a +purpose. Even on the evening when she had closed +the windows of her room, which was full of lilies and +tuberoses, she had not meant to do more than indulge +her delight in recklessly facing danger and risk. +As a matter of fact, on waking the next morning, +with her limbs like lead, her brow tightly clasped +as by a band of iron, her nostrils, her mouth, and +her throat saturated with the acrid perfume, her +first impulse had been to open the window. Neither +was she moved by any tragic purpose in visiting +the park to-night, although there was a pond in it +that in some places was more than two metres deep. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</span>She was satisfied with the knowledge that there was +a place of refuge for her should she wish to seek +it. Nevertheless, her hand trembled a little as she +pushed open the small gate and closed it behind +her again. She advanced across the open space to +where giant trees guard the entrance to the kingdom +of Silence. She had trembled lest her step, light +as it was, should be heard as she came over the +gravel of the garden paths and across the road. +Now that she was moving silently and like a spirit +across the grass all sense of fear left her, and +that all-silent darkness seemed to offer her protection. +She listened to the murmur of streams in secret +dells, or in the mountains' open ravines; her foot +sank often into soft, marshy ground. There was a +cool, still air, smelling of dampness, in the shady +hollows, but warm upon the sloping banks, and all +alive with a wild fragrance. She flung herself upon +her back on one of these slopes, as if overcome +by all this warm sweetness. Night was indeed a +tender mother to all things, and their appealing influence +filled Leila with a sense of sweet fellowship +with Nature. She lay without thinking, revelling in +vague yearnings, as at times in her own bed, when +the petals of flowers rained upon her hair and pillow. +The voluptuous spirit of the warm, fragrant earth +took possession of her, and softened the pride that +held her back from love. She tore up a handful of +grass and bit it.</p> + +<p>Presently she rose, though loth to leave the +fragrant spot, and wandered towards the long, dark +avenue of horn-beams, whose entrance glimmered +faintly on her right. On her left the shadows were +unbroken, and rang with the noise of falling water. +She turned this way, knowing of a path that led +from the avenue to some acacia-trees by the rivulet, +the same rivulet that splashes and sings farther on. +She found the path and paused among the acacias +on the bank of the stream, which she could hear but +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</span>not see. Instinctively she began to undress herself, +at the invitation of that soft voice, then, awaking +to a sense of her actions, she dipped her hand in +the water. It was cold. All the better; it would +do her the more good. And she went on undressing, +never heeding where she flung her garments, +removing them all except the last. She put her +foot into the running water and shivered. She tested +the bottom—pebbles beneath a couple of feet of +water. She put her other foot in and, her heart +gripped by the chill, let herself sink slowly into +the water with closed eyes and parted lips, uttering +little sighs the while. The water covered her with +icy caresses and rippled gently about her neck and +heaving bosom. Other sweet voices sounded in the air. +Leila opened her eyes and raised herself in amazement. +She seemed clothed in light, which shone +upon the trembling waters and wrapped the banks and +her clothes lying beneath the swaying, whispering +trees in a silver radiance. It was the rising of +the moon, a mysterious awakening of all things in +the dead of night. Flowers were raining from the +acacias upon the stream and its banks. The girl +pressed her folded arms against her breast, and, +under the gathering moonlight, amidst the odours +of the woods and the rain of flowers, some indefinable +emotion filled her heart with welling tears, +which fell hot and silent into the quivering water.</p> + +<p>Presently she climbed the bank, dressed herself +as best she could, and then, with throbbing heart, +with never a glance at the moon shining amongst +billowing clouds upon the brow of Monte Paù, fled +back along the same path and passed out at the +wooden gate, feeling like a castaway who suddenly +finds himself safe. Teresina, who was waiting for +her beneath the little porch sheltering the entrance +to the garden, and who had been trembling with a +thousand fears, received her with the same sense +of relief.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</span></p> + +<p>"Even you, Signorina, were frightened this +time!" she said, seeing Leila shudder, and being +unaware of the dripping under-garment she wore.</p> + +<p>"No, no!" said Leila; "but I shall not go there +again."</p> + + +<h3>II</h3> + +<p>At half-past seven the next morning Massimo was +already at the Villino delle Rose. He knew that +Donna Fedele always rose at six, but this morning +she was still in bed, and the maid confided to him +that her mistress must be feeling very unwell indeed +thus to break away from her habit of early rising. +Donna Fedele could bear much physical pain, and +hardly ever mentioned her sufferings, which were +such as to alarm any one who looked upon death +less fearlessly than she did. But there were times +when she was unable to lead her usual life, which +was one of wonderful activity, taken up with the +care of her house and her roses, visits to the sick and +the poor, correspondence, reading, and a few lessons +that she gave. She was training the gate-keeper's +little girl in composition and arithmetic, and teaching +French to the Arsiero doctor's daughter; for, notwithstanding +her ill-health, she never refused her aid +to those who sought it.</p> + +<p>She heard Massimo talking with the maid in the +garden, and ringing her bell, sent him word to wait +a quarter of an hour for her, if his patience would +allow. Massimo understood the meaning she had +intended to convey by this phrase, "if his patience +would allow," and she entered the drawing-room +presently with a smile that bore out the playful +allusion. She was pale, and there were black circles +under her big eyes, but she was in good spirits, +and nothing about her suggested suffering. Massimo +began by excusing himself for having come at that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</span>hour, but she checked him at once, saying, "Never +mind that; never mind!" Then the smile faded +from her lips.</p> + +<p>"And so he is gone?" she added.</p> + +<p>Massimo replied that he believed so.</p> + +<p>"Ah! then you were not with him when he +started?"</p> + +<p>"It was not possible for me to be."</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele said nothing, but her silence and +her face seemed to say, "It ought to have been +possible."</p> + +<p>"I wished to go away with him," said he, "but +he would not hear of it. I am here this morning +at his wish."</p> + +<p>"I can quite understand that," Donna Fedele +replied, somewhat coldly. She would have liked +Massimo to have stayed with Don Aurelio at any +cost up to the last. But, not knowing the circumstances, +she refrained from passing judgment on his +action. She questioned him as to what the fugitive +had said and done during those last hours, and while +Massimo was talking kept repeating, "Poor Don +Aurelio! Poor Don Aurelio!" Massimo told her all +he could.</p> + +<p>"Now I hope they are satisfied," she said bitterly, +rising from her seat. She looked to see that the +drawing-room doors were all closed, and then returned +to Massimo, saying: "I trust no one. We are living +in the realm of spies, to the greater honour and glory +of honesty and Christian charity!"</p> + +<p>Then she immediately broached the delicate subject, +excusing herself for so doing. More tactful +than Don Aurelio, she began by asking the young +man if she were mistaken in supposing that he was +strongly attracted by Signorina Leila, and upon his +answer, she told him that for the sake of the friendship +between his mother and herself, and also for +his own sake after what Don Aurelio had told her +about him, she would gladly help him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</span></p> + +<p>"As far as Signor Marcello is concerned, I hardly +think you will need my help," she said. "He sees +that it would not be fair to the girl that she should +sacrifice her whole life, and besides, he is very, +attached to you. But how about Leila herself? I +believe she cares for you, but she is struggling with +herself, partly, perhaps, because she wishes to remain +true to a memory, partly, perhaps, not to offend +Signor Marcello——"</p> + +<p>Here Donna Fedele dropped her voice and continued, +smiling:</p> + +<p>"Perhaps because of some fancy, for you must +see that your Leila is just a little strange."</p> + +<p>Massimo smiled also.</p> + +<p>"Do you think so?" said he.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, indeed!" Donna Fedele exclaimed, +laughing outright. "And it is partly for that reason +you have fallen in love with her! I have done the +same, you see. She attracts me, being made much +in the same mould as myself—at least, according to +what many people say of me, the Velo priests +among others, and the goldsmith at Arsiero, to +whom my gate-keeper took a gold coin last +night, believing it to be false because it did +not ring true. What do you think the goldsmith +said to him? 'It is just like your mistress—it +is good, but slightly cracked!' They think my +head is wrong, mainly because I am always going +about without a hat, but also because I keep a pluviometer +and leave my windows open at night. Even +Carnesecca, who has left the 'den' at last, told me +that if the world called me mad, I might comfort +myself with the thought that it called him mad +too! And now will you yourself set me down +as mad if I ask you a very bold question, my dear +Alberti?"</p> + +<p>"I shall only laugh," the young man replied, "and +my worldly friends in Milan would laugh even more +heartily."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</span></p> + +<p>Donna Fedele sat looking at him affectionately for +a time, speaking to him with her eyes.</p> + +<p>"In that case," said she at last, "I will see Leila +this very day, and try to find out how matters stand. +Will that suit you?"</p> + +<p>Massimo was profuse in his thanks, but his restless +manner showed her that he hoped she would +start for the Montanina at once.</p> + +<p>"I have ordered the carriage at half-past nine," +she said, smiling. "Is that early enough? And see +what faith I am placing in the answer you gave +me a moment since, or rather, what faith I have in +you yourself."</p> + +<p>Massimo took her hand and raised it to his lips. +She accepted his homage laughingly, and then rose. +She was expecting a pupil. Massimo might come +back for news about two o'clock. That was too +late? Then he might come to luncheon. She would +tell them at the Montanina that she had invited him. +Meanwhile he could stay or go, as he pleased. If +he wished to read, the Villino had a small library. +If he did not wish to remain, he had four hours +before him for a walk.</p> + +<p>"Take a good long walk, one of those walks +that refresh the soul."</p> + +<p>Having given this piece of advice with her air of +gentle raillery, she held out her hand to her young +friend. He begged her to have patience with him +a moment longer. Did she think the rumour of his +supposed intrigue in Milan had reached the Signorina's +ears? Donna Fedele had no reason to believe she +had heard it. But who had spread this story? Donna +Fedele, by a virtuous effort, remained silent concerning +the Velo priests, and simply alluded to Leila's +mother, without further explanation, nor did Massimo +venture to press her with questions. Before leaving +her, however, he wished her to know of Leila's antipathy +towards his Master—Benedetto. But she cut +his explanation short, demanding how that could +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</span>affect matters. Ignorant alike of Modernism and of +Anti-modernism, content to believe and to live +according to the traditions of her family, Donna +Fedele, knowing that both Leila and Massimo were +not irreligious, could not conceive of any religious +dissension between them. Yet certain words Leila +had uttered had given her the impression that the +girl's faith sprang from habit rather than from real +conviction. It was just for this reason that she +would be glad to see her married to one who, like +Alberti, was strong in religious belief.</p> + +<p>"How can that matter?" she said. "Love will +change all that easily enough. Besides, I do not +suppose that you expect me also, simply because I +am very fond of you, to become an enthusiastic +follower of your Master. It seems to me that we +need no other Master than the One who has guided +us now for some nineteen hundred years."</p> + +<p>Massimo would have liked to reply to this, but +Donna Fedele dismissed him, saying: "Go now, +go!" with her usual sweet smile, wherein there was +just a suspicion of irony.</p> + +<p>Massimo took the road to the upper Val d'Astico, +that led farthest away from the Montanina. Passing +the village of Barcarola, he left the Pedescala bridge +on his right, and went down through the fields to +the banks of the Astico, where for some time he +watched the green water flowing rapidly by, listening +to its even murmur and to the beating of his own +heart. The sky was veiled with grey; the mountains +that guard the stream on either side, enveloped in +heavy mists, looked like silent cloaked mourners.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Shortly after nine o'clock Donna Fedele's unpretentious +carriage was slowly toiling upwards towards +the Montanina. To her great surprise, on turning in +the direction of the candelabrum chestnut, she heard +the querulous tinkling of the bell of Santa Maria ad +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</span>Montes. It was always Don Aurelio who said Mass +there, from time to time, on certain festivals. Was +it possible he had not started? Leaving her carriage +at the chestnut-tree, she went up to the little church +on foot, and entered. It was empty, but some one was +moving in the sacristy. On going to see who it was, +she found herself face to face with Don Emanuele. +She could not check an exclamation of surprise, and +turned quickly away, while the chaplain sank on his +knees upon the prayer-stool, to prepare himself for +the Mass. Presently the little altar-boy told her +that the Mass would be for the repose of the soul +of Signora Trento, this being the anniversary of her +death. The priest's preparation lasted a long time, +and twice again the querulous little bell tinkled. +Donna Fedele, seated near the small stone holy-water +font with its frieze of "alpine-stars," reflected, +not without some pity, how difficult it would +be for the poor chaplain to recover from his unpleasant +surprise. When she thought how furious +he had made her, she experienced a sense of remorse +and humility. Amongst the leaves of the mystic +vine adorning the choir, she noticed the words of +Christ: "<em>Ego sum vitis, vos palmites</em>." The little +demon of sarcasm that dwelt in her brain took his +revenge by suggesting to her that perhaps Don +Emanuele was an unfruitful tendril, but she despised +herself for such thoughts as these, coming to her +in church, even while contemplating the Lord's vine. +"At least," she told herself, "the chaplain would +be a green tendril, while I am but a withered one." +Signor Marcello came in, and not having expected +her to be there, thanked her by a glance, believing +she had come for the anniversary. Leila came in +behind him. Don Emanuele said Mass with all the +gravity of an ascetic and a prelate. Of the three +participants Signor Marcello showed the most devotion, +and having put on his eye-glasses, stood +reading the "Imitation of Christ" from the beginning +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</span>of Mass to the end, without once sitting down. Leila +was not praying, and her glance often wandered +through the little side-door to the green landscape +of the Velo Park and the bright strip of field between +the chestnuts, that she had crossed in the night. +Donna Fedele glanced often and sadly at Signor +Marcello, who seemed to her to have grown even +thinner, while his face was worse than pale, it was +yellow. She also studied Leila, who looked dissatisfied +and sullen. She could not help thinking +of her coming interview with this girl, and although +she reproached herself for her distraction, of poor +Alberti's grief should Leila's answer be a refusal, +and of the mixed feelings of regret and satisfaction +that such an answer would bring to Signor +Marcello. For Don Aurelio had told her that Signor +Marcello would certainly rejoice in her loyalty should +she refuse, but in the event of her consenting he +would feel that in Massimo Alberti he was regaining +some part of his son, and that the danger of Leila's +falling again into her parents' power, or forming +some unfortunate union later on, would be definitely +removed. The soft, persistent murmur of the little +fountain in the small vestibule behind her soothed +her melancholy; all this uncertainty would soon +come to an end, the interview would be a thing of the +past, and its consequences, whatever they might be, +would pass away also; perhaps she herself would +soon be no more. She gave no further thought to +anything but the eternal words the priest was uttering. +The quarter of an hour's drive had sufficed to +increase her suffering. During the Communion she +was obliged to sit down, and she felt that she looked +like a dead woman. The lad who was serving the +Mass stared at her as he stood waiting with the two +flasks for the priest to present the chalice, and she +smiled inwardly on perceiving his look of amazement. +When Mass was over, her indomitable will +helped her to rise and pass out by the side-door, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</span>followed by Leila, while Signor Marcello remained +behind a moment longer. His profuse thanks embarrassed +Donna Fedele, who, however, concluded +it would be wiser to accept them in silence.</p> + +<p>"I came partly because I wanted a walk with +Leila," said she. "And, as I am here I should also +like to ask you for some advice."</p> + +<p>He seemed somewhat surprised.</p> + +<p>"Certainly," he answered, "any advice I can +give."</p> + +<p>Whenever these two talked together there was a +tone of respectful affection in their voices; her voice +was almost timidly affectionate. While they were +on the way up to the Villa, the little altar-boy came +to say that Don Emanuele could not come to take +coffee, as he had an engagement.</p> + +<p>"I am the obstacle," thought Donna Fedele.</p> + +<p>"And what do you think of the news about Don +Aurelio?" said she.</p> + +<p>Signor Marcello's frame was shaken by silent +indignation, the lines on his brow deepened, and +his clear eyes flashed angrily.</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele thought he must have heard the +news from Massimo. No, Alberti had not told him +on his return from Lago, and he had gone out very +early that morning. Don Emanuele had brought +the news. And how had he brought it! He had +simply come without sending any word, and Signor +Marcello to his intense astonishment had found the +chaplain in the sacristy, where he had expected to find +Don Aurelio. Don Emanuele had then said that the +archpriest had ordered him to come as a substitute for +Don Aurelio. It had almost required a corkscrew +to drag from him the information that Don Aurelio +had requested the archpriest to take his place, that +Don Aurelio was not ill, and that he had gone away, +leaving a letter in which he said that he recognised +that it was his duty to go. Donna Fedele's fine +brow became overcast also, and a flash of scorn +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</span>lit up her great dark eyes. Leila knew, too, of what +had happened, for Signor Marcello had returned to +the villa to tell her. She now observed coldly that +Don Aurelio had done quite right, and said no more. +A fleeting cloud passed over Donna Fedele's pale +face. She controlled herself, however, and taking +the girl's arm, told her that after a short talk with +Signor Marcello, she was going to ask her to show +her that special corner of the Velo Park which she, +Leila, had often spoken of as being so beautiful. +Leila consented coldly.</p> + +<p>Signor Marcello asked whether Donna Fedele +would prefer his study or a garden-seat. She +chose the study, and smiled, as if to tell him that the +advice she was seeking was of a delicate and personal +nature. Once there her face assumed a sweet +seriousness which ennobled it with the dignified +beauty which is nearer to immortality than to +youth, and is the inheritance of years spent in doing +good and guided by a pure conscience.</p> + +<p>"My dear friend," said she, addressing him thus +for the first time in her life, "if one to whom you +were bound by ties of respect and affection should +charge you with a mission through a third person, +instructing you also through this person not to speak +to him directly concerning it, and you, having performed +the mission, should find it no longer possible +to communicate with your friend through the intermediary, +would you appeal to him in spite of his +first injunction, or what would you do?"</p> + +<p>While she was speaking very slowly and deliberately, +Signor Marcello's eyes brightened with +a sad smile, for he recognised the instructions he +had given Don Aurelio.</p> + +<p>"I was in the wrong," said he. "I suppose this +walk——"</p> + +<p>She nodded assent, and he went on:</p> + +<p>"We must talk the matter over together. Forgive +me!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</span></p> + +<p>Donna Fedele protested warmly. His desire for +secrecy was quite natural. But Signor Marcello +still persisted.</p> + +<p>"No, no! Forgive me!"</p> + +<p>There were no tears in her eyes, only her lids +trembled slightly. It was the first return, after long +years, to an intimacy which, though it had never +overstepped the bounds of duty, was conscious, nevertheless, +of the sweet secret that each cherished. With +the passing of time the sweet secret had faded. +Only its faint perfume remained, hardly perceptible +in his soul, but stronger in hers. But now, slowly +but irresistibly, the wave of memory was rolling +backwards, bringing great sweetness to Donna +Fedele's heart and great sadness to Signor Marcello, +upon whose mind it was being borne that his was +the fault that her youth had faded without marriage, +without maternity, and for one long moment neither +of them spoke.</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele was the first to break the silence.</p> + +<p>"I so thoroughly understand your feeling in this +matter," said she.</p> + +<p>Signor Marcello took her hand and pressed it, +and she added softly:</p> + +<p>"My poor friend!"</p> + +<p>Still he was silent, and still he pressed her hand. +But presently he spoke with a fair amount of composure. +He told her how the thought of this +marriage had first come to him. He had made Leila +his heir, and on the very night of Alberti's arrival, +in the course of conversation, he had sought to give +her an inkling of this by speaking of the Montanina, +letting her see that the idea that this Montanina his +dear ones had so loved should pass into the hands +of strangers would be most painful to him. She had +thwarted him. Knowing her character, he could only +suppose that pride had prompted this resistance to +what might seem a reward for the loyalty of her +affection. Or perhaps she had acted thus because +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</span>she wished to be free to dispose of herself one day. +All this had deeply grieved him, and in recalling talks +he had had in days gone by with his poor wife, +he had assured himself that the girl, who was passionate +by nature, would certainly end by marrying, +and that it would be wise for him to hasten this +event that he might influence her choice. The accident +that had brought his son's dearest friend to the +Montanina had seemed to him truly providential, and +immediately, indeed the very next morning, he had +taken Don Aurelio into his confidence.</p> + +<p>"My first plan was," he concluded, "that you +should ascertain Leila's feelings. But now, I do not +know why, I have grown very impatient. And so +please tell her straight out that should she consent +to marry Alberti, I should die happy."</p> + +<p>"Do not speak of dying, dear friend!"</p> + +<p>"We will not discuss that," replied the old man +shortly.</p> + +<p>She had wanted to question him about his +health, but she no longer dared to do so. She did +venture, however, to point out to him that, should +Leila refuse to accept his legacy, the Montanina must +go into other hands, notwithstanding the marriage. +He replied that as soon as Leila and Alberti became +engaged he would alter his will and leave the villa +to Alberti.</p> + +<p>"Let us hope that all may end well," said Donna +Fedele, rising and smiling her own smile again. +"Shall I find you here after my talk with Leila?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, you will find me here. I would wager +now you are thinking, 'How that old man clings +to his home! How can he expect to hold it, in a +way, even after——'"</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele checked him. "Don't, don't! Be +quiet! Be quiet!"</p> + +<p>She left the room. Signor Marcello took a Bible +which always lay on his table, and read the eighteenth +chapter of the First Book of Kings, the chapter of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</span>the "knitting together" of the souls of Jonathan +and David. As a child he had wept over the fate +of the noble prince Jonathan, who had been his +favourite hero. Once more he read that vivid, dramatic +story, and reflected that Jonathan, falling in +Mount Gilboa, must have rejoiced in the thought +that henceforth his friend would sit upon the throne +to which he himself had been born.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>In the drawing-room Donna Fedele found Leila +waiting, reclining in an easy-chair, her parasol in +her hand.</p> + +<p>"Are we really going?" said she.</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele seemed to hear in that question all +the sarcasm of one who has discovered what others +are seeking to hide, and would fain publish the +discovery. Leila's voice and her eyes both said: +"This walk is a pretext. You are here to talk to +me. You have just consulted Papa on this same +subject, and perhaps now the talk with me is no +longer necessary."</p> + +<p>"Of course. Why do you ask?"</p> + +<p>"Because," said Leila, rising from her chair, but +lingering near it, "it seems to me you cannot really +want a walk. If you could only see how pale you +are! Look in the glass. If you have something to +tell me, you can say it here."</p> + +<p>Her tone, not her language, was rude.</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear," Donna Fedele answered with a note +of icy command, "I have something to tell you, but +not here."</p> + +<p>Leila started without a word.</p> + +<p>"On the present occasion I have Signor Marcello's +authority to speak to you," Donna Fedele added very +gently, tempering the pressure of her command. +Leila now had no further doubt concerning the existence +of a plot in which her friend had a part. +Massimo's absence, Donna Fedele's determination to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</span>speak to her in a secluded spot, confirmed her +suspicion that Donna Fedele was charged with a +mission from Massimo, and was acting with Signor +Marcello's consent, a consent which she had perhaps +wrested from him but a moment since. She resented +all this ardour for the sake of Massimo, and the moral +force that she imagined to have been used against +Signor Marcello. Frowning and in silence she went +down the garden path in front of her companion, +who could not keep up with her, and was obliged +to ask her to go more slowly. Leila pointed to a +garden-seat beneath the walnuts, near the Riderella. +Would not that do? To her blunt question Donna +Fedele replied with equal bluntness:</p> + +<p>"No, dear."</p> + +<p>Leila said no more. The two women entered the +park by the wooden gate.</p> + +<p>"How beautiful!" said Donna Fedele.</p> + +<p>Leila pouted contemptuously. How could she say +"How beautiful!" when they had only just passed +the gate? The view was just the same from the +high-road. After all, Donna Fedele might be very +clever, but she had little feeling for Nature.</p> + +<p>Leila walked on, and following a rough grass +track, turned to the right between the chestnuts and +a small stream that flowed through the narrow valley. +A little farther on the track lost itself in a flowery +meadow-land between high, shady banks. Donna +Fedele sat down here in the shade of the walnuts and +rested a little, gazing thoughtfully into the dark +waters. Presently she turned to Leila, who was still +standing, and tracing figures in the grass with the +point of her parasol, saying gently:</p> + +<p>"Do you know what Signor Marcello spoke to me +about?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I do," said Leila, still tracing.</p> + +<p>"That is good. What was it?"</p> + +<p>"I shall not say."</p> + +<p>"I can quite understand your not wishing to," +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</span>said Donna Fedele indulgently. "It is a very delicate +and personal question. All the same, it is much +better to discuss it. In any case, you have expressed +your wishes and no one can coerce you."</p> + +<p>"My wishes?" Leila cried with a start. "My +wishes?"</p> + +<p>"Well, did you not tell Signor Marcello you would +never consent to be his heir?"</p> + +<p>Leila's hostile and unwilling manner suddenly +changed, and she stopped tracing with the point of +her parasol.</p> + +<p>"We discussed that and other matters as well. +I want to talk to you about that now. Sit down, +and don't make me twist my neck."</p> + +<p>"It will be of no use," the girl said impatiently.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not, but nevertheless you must listen +to me. Why are you determined to make this poor +old man so unhappy?"</p> + +<p>"Because I am willing to sacrifice everything to +him except my self-respect."</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele raised her voice somewhat and +smiled, to show that she did not take this rude remark +seriously.</p> + +<p>"Do you think I would advise anything that could +wound your self-respect?"</p> + +<p>Leila answered sharply, and with downcast eyes:</p> + +<p>"You see things in one light, and I in +another."</p> + +<p>Then she cast a glance at Donna Fedele, as if +to say, "It is your turn now. What answer have +you to that?"</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele made no answer at all. She waited +a moment and then played her second card.</p> + +<p>"And when Signor Marcello is gone, what will +become of his son's affianced bride?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps she herself may be gone too," the girl +retorted promptly.</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele was unmoved. "Perhaps," said +she. "But if she should still be here?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</span></p> + +<p>Leila played among the grasses with her parasol +for an instant, and then said:</p> + +<p>"It will be soon enough to think of that then."</p> + +<p>"Child, child!"</p> + +<p>"No, woman!" cried Leila. "And I thought +you would understand me better!"</p> + +<p>As she spoke her eyes filled with tears, and Donna +Fedele longed to tell her that she did indeed understand +her only too well, but checked herself in order +not to spoil her plan of action.</p> + +<p>"Think of your future, dear," she said gently.</p> + +<p>"I cannot decide my future," Leila answered +calmly.</p> + +<p>Then Donna Fedele took the third step.</p> + +<p>"Don't you see that all this is a source of anxiety +to Signor Marcello?"</p> + +<p>Silence.</p> + +<p>"It is such a great anxiety to him," Donna Fedele +went on, "that if he could only see you settled, and +that at once, he would be quite happy."</p> + +<p>The word "settled" was a mistake. Leila felt +hot with resentment and cold at the same moment.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" she cried. "And so he wishes to see +me settled. That is just what I thought. And the +means by which I am to be settled, by a strange +coincidence, happens to be ready to hand!"</p> + +<p>The point of the sunshade jabbed the grass +fiercely.</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele felt very angry. She raised her +eyebrows and gazed severely and narrowly at her +companion, who was still stabbing the ground restlessly.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by that?"</p> + +<p>Leila in her turn, threw her a nervous glance, +and then brought her attention back again to the +parasol.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you know well enough!" said she. "A +strange coincidence has provided the means of +settling me. By a strange coincidence also, some +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</span>one who should have gone to Lago came to the +Montanina. By another strange coincidence this +some one is a young man, unmarried, and seeking +to get settled too. He is fairly clever at speculating, +and knows how to play his cards. A series of strange +coincidences—nothing more!"</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele's eyebrows went up higher than +ever, and her voice, which had been trembling, now +sounded icy.</p> + +<p>"Do you know that you are also insulting me?"</p> + +<p>The point of the parasol stopped tracing.</p> + +<p>"No, I am not insulting you. I am only insulting +him—that man who came so accidentally. You, +perhaps, really believe he came by chance."</p> + +<p>"Poor Leila!" sighed Donna Fedele, without +anger and with deep pity.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, no!" said Leila softly. "It is not 'poor +Leila!' at all."</p> + +<p>After this both remained silent for a time, and +sat gazing into the water that was flowing onwards +with a mournful lament. At last Donna Fedele +repeated:</p> + +<p>"Yes. Poor Leila! And you do not know why +I say so. It is because I can read your heart."</p> + +<p>"You cannot read my heart."</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele felt that this denial was an admission. +She waited a moment longer, and then, with +an air of determination, asked the girl if she had +heard any slander concerning Alberti.</p> + +<p>"What do you think I could have heard?" she +answered scornfully. "And in any case do you +suppose I should care?"</p> + +<p>This time Donna Fedele could not contain herself.</p> + +<p>"Oh, but you do care! How can you deny it +in the face of your anger which has been aroused +simply because you believe the stupid calumny that +he is on the look-out for a fortune?" And the poor +invalid rose, not without difficulty.</p> + +<p>"That concerns me!" Leila exclaimed, forgetting +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</span>for an instant to help her friend. She quickly begged +her pardon, however, and offered to fetch the little +carriage that had gone up to the Montanina stables. +Donna Fedele made an effort to do without it, but +when she had taken a few steps she was obliged +to admit, with her brave smile, that she could not +manage to walk. She must see Signor Marcello, +and so Leila went on to send her carriage for her.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Signor Marcello came anxiously to the door of +his study to meet Donna Fedele. She entered the +room quietly, saying the conversation had not been +satisfactory, but she believed that, by careful management, +they might still succeed. Signor Marcello +immediately inquired, with a gentle and pathetic +expectancy, if Leila's old love still burned too warmly +in her heart. Donna Fedele held out her hand to +him, but did not answer. He held it without pressing +it, for he feared a disappointing answer. Silence +alone spoke between them.</p> + +<p>"Then, if that is so——" said he at last.</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele told him that Leila's attitude in the +drawing-room had indicated that she was not only +antagonistic, but also overwhelmed with suspicion, +how she herself had then changed her plan in order +not to risk definite failure, how she had spoken of +Alberti and found the girl fierce against him, so +fierce that her violence could only be explained by +conflicting sentiments. Leila was convinced that he +had come to Velo for the express purpose of +arranging a rich marriage for himself. If they +could persuade her that this was untrue, they might +still carry the day. But of course great prudence +was necessary. Signor Marcello begged her to +advise him. The only advice she could offer, however, +was that he should no longer detain Alberti +at the Montanina, nor even seek to persuade him +to remain, for she had no doubt he would wish to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</span>leave at once. At this point she deemed it prudent +to tell Signor Marcello of the interview she had had +with the young man, who was now awaiting her +return. Then, almost timidly, and with her sweetest +smile, she proffered her help in the delicate and +difficult task that lay before them.</p> + +<p>"It is only natural that I should wish to help. +Don't you see that, dear friend?" she said, realising +his gratitude. They parted without more words, but +with a long handclasp.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>On reaching the Villino, Donna Fedele found that +Massimo had not yet returned, nor did he appear +until nearly noon. At the gate he met the maid, +who informed him that her mistress had returned +at half-past eleven, but had forgotten to leave word +at the Montanina that he would not be there to +lunch, and had therefore dispatched her with a +message. While walking up the short drive Massimo +reflected, with alternate waves of despair and of +hope, first, that the news must be unfavourable, +because if all had gone well Donna Fedele, instead +of sending a message, would surely have sent him +off to the Montanina instead; then, that the news +must be favourable, because if all had not gone +well, she would probably not have forgotten to +mention his absence. The maid had smiled at him; +this was a good sign, but Donna Fedele did not +come out to meet him, and that was a bad sign.</p> + +<p>As a matter of fact she did come to meet him, +but only as far as the verandah that ran in front of the +villa. She had seen him at the gate and now met +him here, neither in the house nor really out of +doors, neither smiling nor downcast. He read his +fate upon her face, and murmured quickly:</p> + +<p>"I knew!"</p> + +<p>She did not at once speak the words of comfort of +which her heart was full, but simply held out her +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</span>hands to him, and although he tried to appear composed, +she saw him turn so pale that she felt she +must give him some encouragement.</p> + +<p>"I cannot deny that things do not look very +bright," she said, "but perhaps they may not be +so bad, after all. I will tell you all about it. Come +with me." And her familiar smile once more illumined +her face. When they were seated in the little +study on the ground-floor, she related all the particulars +of her interview with Leila, omitting nothing and +hiding nothing. Her words were like so many lashes +to him, but he listened without flinching.</p> + +<p>"Very well," said he, when his friend ceased +speaking. "After all, the girl is only very silly!" +As he spoke his face flushed hotly with all the anger +he had held in check.</p> + +<p>"She is not silly," Donna Fedele retorted. "But +I am afraid she was insincere with me. I really +fear some one has been talking to her about that +intrigue you were supposed to have had in Milan. +But I have another idea also."</p> + +<p>Massimo did not ask her what it was. At that +moment he felt he was no longer in love. His one +desire was to get away, and never to return. He +regretted having thought, even for a day, of abandoning +the field of strife for Truth and Righteousness, +and of yielding to a great love. He said to himself +that he was grateful to this girl's petty, foolish pride, +which was setting him free again. He rose to his +feet, and to Donna Fedele he seemed to have grown +taller by several inches.</p> + +<p>"You don't ask what my idea is," said she.</p> + +<p>"I was to have telegraphed to Don Aurelio," +Massimo replied. "But I will go to him instead."</p> + +<p>"You don't ask what I think," his friend repeated, +raising her voice and emphasising her words. +"Well, what is this idea?" he demanded, more to +satisfy her than from any curiosity he felt. Thereupon, +with some hesitation, she gave him her impression<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</span> +of Leila's feelings. Massimo showed himself +bitterly incredulous. During luncheon he hardly +spoke, nor did he eat. His friend having mentioned +Don Aurelio, he remarked that he should see him +that very evening. They took their coffee in the +verandah.</p> + +<p>"I think you are wise to leave at once, at all +events," Donna Fedele whispered when the maid had +withdrawn. "But you must not judge Leila so +hastily. Let me get to the bottom of things first. +I will keep you posted."</p> + +<p>Massimo replied that he was sorry he had called +the Signorina "silly," but that it was no use thinking +any more about her. So slight a thing as the +affected mispronunciation of a word had once +sufficed to cure him of his attachment to another girl, +and between Signorina Leila and himself there was +a lack of sympathy in outlook that was far more +serious than any lack of sympathy in culture.</p> + +<p>"Could I not leave at once?" he demanded suddenly, +looking at his watch. There was a train +at two thirty-seven. Might he not send Signor +Marcello a line, saying he had been unexpectedly +summoned to Milan, and to beg him to forward +his luggage?</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele protested. On the contrary, he +must go to the Montanina immediately, and say that +when Don Aurelio had confided to him his intention +of going away, his first impulse had been not to allow +him to go alone, but that his friend had requested +him to remain and do several things for him after +his departure. At this point Massimo broke in. +Certainly! And this was no pretext, but the truth. +And to think he had forgotten! He must go to +Sant' Ubaldo at all costs. He could not possibly +leave before six o'clock.</p> + +<p>"Go up to Sant' Ubaldo and talk to Lúzia," said +Donna Fedele. "As to the books, I will arrange +to have them brought here, and the furniture also. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</span>You will see—sooner or later you will return to these +parts, and then certain proprieties will make it impossible +for you to stay at the Montanina, and you +will put up at the Villino delle Rose!"</p> + +<p>She smiled as she spoke, and the young man saw +she was alluding to a local custom that forbade a +betrothed couple to dwell under the same roof. "No, +no!" said he. The lady laughed outright.</p> + +<p>"How is that? Don't you wish to come to me? +Are you afraid of compromising me?"</p> + +<p>"You know what I mean!" the young man said. +"You know what I mean!" And he took a hasty +leave, even forgetting his hat, which the maid brought +after him to the garden, while Donna Fedele's silvery +laugh echoed behind her.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>After the unpleasant interview Leila took refuge +in the gallery at the head of the stairs leading +from the drawing-room, and remained there, watching +to see when Donna Fedele would leave Signor +Marcello's study. Sooner than she had expected +she heard Donna Fedele open the door between the +billiard-room and the salon, and saw her enter and +glance about her as if looking for some one. Leila +drew back to avoid being seen, dreading to be summoned, +and remained quiet until the tinkling of the +bell above the door told that Donna Fedele had gone +away without asking for her. And so it was all over. +They would not worry her any more. But still +she was not satisfied. A sense of weariness and discomfort +in all that she tried to do had taken the +place of her previous irritation. Until an hour ago +she had delighted in contemplating herself in the +attitude of repelling love by pride, as by pride she +had repelled riches. And now a cruel doubt was +torturing her. What if, after all, there had been +no plot, and Alberti had really come to the Montanina +by chance? But in any case she was bound +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</span>to despise him for not having spoken openly to her, +and in thinking of him as a fool she thought she +had struck a fatal blow at the passion of which she +was ashamed. She determined to go to Lago to +distract her thoughts, and hear what they were +saying there about Don Aurelio's flight. Thinking +she might meet Alberti if she went by the usual +road, she took the path under the chestnuts, and +sank upon the first seat she came to, trying to quiet +her restlessness by listening to the murmur of the +wind, and by watching the breeze swaying the long +meadow grass. And at last dreams conquered. <em>He</em> +came upon her unawares in the Velo Park at night, +amidst the whispering of the wind, in the wavering +moonlight, beneath the fragrant rain of blossoms +from the acacias. He flung his arm about her, drew +her towards him, and pressed his lips to hers, and +then the vision suddenly faded.</p> + +<p>The luncheon-bell roused her to a sense of painful +reality. At the entrance to the villa she met the +maid who had come with Donna Fedele's message. +At this moment of reaction against the mockery of +her dream the message was a welcome one. She +found Signor Marcello already at the table, and +wearing an expression that promised nothing +pleasant. His greeting was of the slightest, and +his manner made her blood boil, for she attributed +it to her persistent refusal to become his heir rather +than to the other and true reason. Why should he +try to force upon her what he might think a great +favour, but for which she had no desire? She was +obstinately silent. Signor Marcello was the first to +relent, although the thought of the girl's having told +Donna Fedele that her self-respect forbade her acceptance +of his fortune still rankled. Such a remark +betokened much pride and little affection, the old +man had reflected. He observed presently, however, +in a fairly mild tone, that she had eaten nothing. +Leila could hardly bear this display of tenderness, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</span>which always followed any outburst of displeasure +on his part. As soon as she had had her coffee she +withdrew, that she might hide the tears which were +ready to fall, though she could not have explained +exactly what prompted them.</p> + +<p>A moment later Signor Marcello rose and went +into the drawing-room, where he hoped to find Leila. +He stood still for a moment, listening for a voice +or a step, but he heard no sound. Then he sat +down sadly at the piano and began to play. Leila, +who was standing in the upper gallery, gazing fixedly +upon the steep, green slope, crowned with chestnut-trees, +recognised the air by Pergolese on which he had +engrafted his own fancies during the night that had +followed his fit of unconsciousness. And once again +those sensitive fingers were touching the keys in an +inimitable fashion, pouring into them all the bitterness +of a lonely old man, who had lost everything +on earth, and who now felt the icy breath of opposition. +She forgave him his black looks at luncheon, +and came down slowly and noiselessly to the drawing-room, +and sat down near the piano, where Signor +Marcello would be sure to see her. He did so immediately +and at once stopped playing. She wanted +to say, "Go on," but pride held back the words. +He stretched out his hand to a music-stand, drew +forth a piece at random, placed it open upon the +rest, and then sat gazing silently at it, instinctively +waiting for a word from her. This time Leila could +not avoid murmuring, "What is it?" and so reconciliation +began. Signor Marcello turned to replace +the piece of music, which was a manuscript copy of +an air from that old comic opera called "Le Prigioni +di Edimburgo," in the stand, but Leila insisted upon +his playing it, believing her request would please +him. He began to play, in a happier frame of mind, +while Leila sat listening to the music, to which both +were utterly indifferent. But soon he flung the manuscript +aside, and placing a large volume of Clementi +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</span>upon the rest, turned to a page that was thickly strewn +with pencil-marks. Leila knew the volume, but not +this particular page. Signor Marcello leaned +forward, his large hands, their fingers crooked like +the talons of a hawk, resting upon the keys, his +eyes fixed upon the music, and his whole face +wrinkled and quivering with the effort of reading +and interpretation. He surpassed himself. When +he had finished Leila expressed her preference for +Clementi, and took the volume into her hands.</p> + +<p>"Poor Clementi!" said Signor Marcello. "Who +knows where he will end!"</p> + +<p>She did not understand at once.</p> + +<p>"Where do you suppose he will end?" she questioned.</p> + +<p>"Oh, probably in some old book-shop."</p> + +<p>She had not the courage to say that even if she +could not accept his wealth she would gladly take +the book.</p> + +<p>"Ah, dear Lord!" sighed the disheartened old +man, straightening his shoulders and pressing his +face into his hands. Leila, overcome with pity for +him, tried to find something to say that should soften +the bitterness of her refusal. Each would have +gladly welcomed a word of affection from the other, +and yet both were silent—she standing, examining +the volume of Clementi, he sitting, with his eyes +fixed on the empty music-rest and his hands lying +motionless upon his knees. Finally, Signor Marcello +rose, saying, in a tone of tender melancholy, "Goodbye, +dear," and moved on his way to his study. +Leila, who was absorbed in the confusion and turmoil +of her own feelings, did not at once respond to this +exceptionally tender greeting. She roused herself, +however, with a start, and softly followed the old man +to the door, whispering, "Papa!" And when he +turned round in astonishment, she raised her face to +his for a kiss.</p> + +<p>He kissed her brow gently, his face lighting with +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</span>satisfaction, and took her hand, saying, "Come with +me, dear." She saw that her action had been interpreted +as a first sign of yielding to his wishes and +hesitated, but presently followed him with beating +heart.</p> + +<p>They passed into the billiard-room. He closed +the door behind her, and then, returning to where +she stood, placed both hands upon her head and +said, smiling, while his eyes were wet with +tears:</p> + +<p>"Were you thinking of Andrea?"</p> + +<p>At the moment she did not realise the true +meaning of this question, and answered, without +thinking:</p> + +<p>"Yes, Papa."</p> + +<p>Then she trembled lest she had brought about a +misunderstanding, and also with the emotion of +hearing him speak of Andrea.</p> + +<p>"God bless you!" said the old man.</p> + +<p>She shuddered. Why did he bless her? She +longed for him to explain his words, but it was +impossible to say anything. The old man had not +been moved to bless her through any misunderstanding, +but only by her gentle and affectionate action, +which always sufficed to make him forget any displeasure. +At the bottom of his heart, indeed, the +hope was growing that the prayers of one who was +no more might persuade Leila to desist from her +refusal.</p> + +<p>"Goodbye," he repeated. Then, seeing her indecision +whether to go or to stay, whether to speak +or remain silent, he yielded to an impulse and took +her hands again, saying, with a smile: "I saw +Signora Vayla after you had a talk together. I want +you to know that it was I who thought of a certain +plan when a certain person came here, and it was +only because I did not want to sacrifice you to my +own selfishness. I believed that Andrea himself +would approve. But if it be indeed no sacrifice for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</span>you to remain as you are, I can but rejoice in the +thought."</p> + +<p>Leila did not answer, and appeared unwilling to +understand. Her silence made Signor Marcello +regret he had spoken with such openness. But now +he could not unsay his words.</p> + +<p>"Go out and get some air," said he. "You should +go up to Lago and see what is going on there, now +that Don Aurelio has gone."</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>She had no desire to go out. She would have +preferred to shut herself up in her own room and +think over Signor Marcello's words, but she dared not +give way to the idea. It would be better to walk to +Lago. Through the open verandah she passed into +the garden, trying to fix her mind upon Don Aurelio's +flight, and what the people of Lago were saying. +But the very trees she passed seemed to be reminding +her of those thoughts from which she shrank. +She began walking faster to escape their silent +scrutiny, but on the up-hill road, where she was +obliged to go more slowly, the great, spreading +chestnut-trees renewed the tyranny and hung over +her in compassionate lament.</p> + +<p>Defiant, she hurried on; yet a sob quivered in +her throat, and she shook with a strange impulse on +passing the footpath leading to the small lake +whose waters lay quiet and clear in the shadows of +a group of horn-beams.</p> + +<p>No one was to be seen among the huts of Lago, +but an old woman was drawing water at the +fountain in the square. Leila questioned her. Was +it really true that Don Aurelio had fled? Gèsu! of +course it was true! And what did they say about it +up here? "I tell you, Siora, they are all up at +Sant' Ubaldo, making a great to-do. They say they +are going to do for the archpriest. You go up, Siora, +you go up, too! That young gentleman who is staying +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</span>with you has been talking to them. You go up and +talk to them also. You had better go!"</p> + +<p>Leila, very pale, stared vacantly at the old woman, +wondering whether she should not turn back again.</p> + +<p>"Go up! Go up, too!" the other repeated. And +Leila felt ashamed at having shown any hesitation. +She fancied that she must have given herself away.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes!" she exclaimed. "Of course I am +going."</p> + +<p>She took the Sant' Ubaldo path, and at a short +distance from the carriage-road that leads down to +Velo she met two women and a man, who were +talking quietly as they walked. "They are all in the +wrong," the man was saying—"the priest who ran +away like a thief, the archpriest who was bound to +get rid of him because he was a good Christian, and +the women who will not go to church nor receive +the sacraments because the young priest is no longer +there."</p> + +<p>"That is so," said one of the women approvingly. +Then she greeted Leila respectfully.</p> + +<p>Leila stopped them. What had happened? The +Lago priest had run away, and the women of the +village were furious with the archpriest and the +bishop also; they had assembled and, together with +a few men, had sworn that they would not enter the +church again, neither on Sundays nor at Easter, +neither for baptism nor for marriage, until their +priest's return. A gentleman, a fine, handsome +young gentleman, had addressed them wisely and +like a good Christian, but had not succeeded in convincing +them. The women had also written some +words on the doors of the church. And what were +they about now? Now they had all dispersed, having +arranged to reassemble in the evening. And the +young gentleman? He was gone also. "Your +servant, your servant, your servant!" and the trio +started onward again, leaving Leila to proceed alone. +There was no one near the church. She stopped to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</span>read what was written on the low side door: +"Closed until Don <em>Urelio</em> returns."</p> + +<p>She heard steps behind her, and looked round to +see Alberti and Lúzia bringing a basin of water and +a sponge.</p> + +<p>Before Leila caught sight of Massimo he had had +time to adopt a manner of calm, courteous indifference. +He had done all he could to pacify the +turbulent people of Lago. He had sought to exculpate +the archpriest and the bishop by declaring +that they had evidently been misled by slanderous +stories. He had tried in every way to make the +people see that by refusing to go to church they +would not only be grieving Don Aurelio most deeply, +but injuring him with his superiors, for the latter +would not fail to say, "What sort of religion has +this priest been teaching?" Then he had spoken of +the Blessed Sacrament, to which more worship and +respect was due than to any priest. He had not +succeeded in convincing them, but his conscience +was at rest, for he had risen above rancour and +resentment, as Don Aurelio himself would have done. +And this conquest over self filled him with a great +calm that did not desert him even in Leila's presence. +He felt himself out of the reach of her unjust prejudices, +more firm in his new resolve to look upon +the time when love had overcome him as a time of +weakness, more determined to stifle a passion that +clashed with his self-respect, to keep himself for +some other woman who should be more in sympathy +with him.</p> + +<p>"Good afternoon, Signorina," he said, smiling. "I +failed to achieve my purpose in words, and now I am +going to see if a sponge will serve me better."</p> + +<p>He fell to rubbing the writing vigorously. Leila, +who was very pale, asked who had written the words, +as if she knew nothing of what had taken place. +Massimo flung the sponge into the basin and related +everything with the utmost composure. Leila thought +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</span>at first that Donna Fedele could not have told him +of their interview, but it presently struck her that +his easy manner was too unlike his usual bearing +and was not natural. Meanwhile, a peasant who had +come from Masa, catching sight of the basin and +sponge, and of the use to which they had been put, +paused, and, smiling derisively, advised Massimo to +desist, else he might find that trouble was in store +for him.</p> + +<p>"From what quarter? From you?" Massimo demanded +resolutely. The man was somewhat taken +aback, and mumbling, "Ah, no, Signore!" walked +off, still muttering under his breath.</p> + +<p>"Signorina," said Massimo, in the same indifferent +tone as that in which he had first addressed her, +"are you going on or returning home?"</p> + +<p>Leila looked at him in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"I must stay here a little longer," he said, reading +in her face that she dreaded he might offer to +accompany her. A clap of thunder burst from the +heavy clouds hanging over Priaforà. There was no +immediate fear of rain, for the countryside beyond +the foot of the mountain lay in sunshine, and the +points of Summano, flushed with a golden glory, +stood out against a clear sky. But the clap of +thunder helped Leila out of her dilemma.</p> + +<p>"I shall go home," she said.</p> + +<p>"In that case," Massimo replied, "may I ask you +to tell Signor Marcello that I must start for Vicenza, +on my way, possibly, to Milan, by the six o'clock +train. I have one or two things to do here for Don +Aurelio; then I shall come down and say goodbye."</p> + +<p>He raised his hat.</p> + +<p>"I will not offer you my hand," he added. "It is +unfit."</p> + +<p>Leila started violently.</p> + +<p>"I mean that my hand is too dirty!"</p> + +<p>The young man smiled, and exhibited the hand +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</span>that had held the sponge. Leila responded only by +the slightest of bows, and took the short cut that +leads straight downwards from the church. She +could have cried with mortification, for she was sure +he had meant to be sarcastic, and she was, moreover, +furious with herself for having so readily shown her +susceptibility to the sarcasm. At Lago she met +Teresina, who had been sent by the master to meet +Leila and bring her the key to the Velo Park, in case +she might like to come back that way and gather +some flowers for the dinner-table. But Leila preferred +to go straight home. She did not allude to +Alberti's departure, which he had requested her to +announce; but the maid did so, however, in a very +guarded manner, giving it as her opinion that, in +consequence of Don Aurelio's absence, Signor +Massimo would cut short his visit at the Montanina. +Upon learning that he was to leave that same evening, +she gave an exclamation of relief, and, making an +excuse that she really must know about his departure, +because of some clothes the young man had sent +to the wash, she inquired whether Signor Marcello +would not try to induce him to stay longer. "Oh, +no, no!" Leila exclaimed, with so much assurance +that the maid was emboldened to speak out.</p> + +<p>"Well, I am glad of that!" she said. Leila +remained silent, but the woman's ejaculation struck +her as very strange, for heretofore Teresina had +been in the habit of speaking of Alberti in a tone +of poetic admiration. Teresina, indeed, was only +waiting for a word of astonishment or a question, +but as Leila showed no intention of breaking the +silence, she decided to proceed with her explanation. +She remarked with a smile that she had that morning +heard fine things concerning Signor Alberti. She +had gone down to the station with the cook, who +was on her way to the market at Arsiero, and the +cook had repeated to her what the servant of Signora +Bettina Pagan, the archpriest's sister-in-law, had told +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</span>her. They knew all about this Signor Alberti up +at the parsonage of Velo. They knew that, although +he went to church, he was really much worse than +Carnesecca as regards religion. And, moreover, he +led an evil life with a married woman in Milan. +"Indeed!" said Leila, with perfect indifference; and +not another word did she utter. The maid, somewhat +dismayed by this silence, hastened to proffer her +excuses for having spoken of what did not concern +her. A shrug of the shoulders was Leila's only +answer. At that moment they turned in at the Montanina +gate. The maid said no more, and went about +her business. Leila stopped, and, leaning against the +handrail of the Riderella bridge, gazed into the water, +her heart torn between bitter pain and satisfaction. +"He is unworthy, then! He is unworthy!" she +repeated monotonously to herself, standing there like +one turned to stone, while on either side the long, +straggling branches of the rose-bushes pressed +clusters of red roses against her, and the breeze, +laden with the scent of new-mown hay, touched her +softly, urging her to listen to the seductive voices +of the flowers. "There is still love," they were +saying. "There is still life!" But she neither +saw nor heard them. For her the future held no +love, no life.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Signor Marcello received the news of Massimo's +proposed departure with apparent satisfaction. Leila +reflected that he would be still better pleased did +he but know what the Velo priests had learned. It +seemed to her that by telling it she would more +thoroughly confirm her own belief in it, but when the +moment came to speak a forbidding voice vibrated +deep within her. She spoke notwithstanding, her face +aflame, but felt as she did so that she was doing +wrong, very wrong. Signor Marcello listened with +a frown, and when she had finished he observed that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</span>the priests of Velo would have done better to keep +such things to themselves, and that he did not believe +a word of the story. What could those men know +about it? But, he added, things being as they were, +it was useless to discuss the matter. On leaving +the study, Leila crossed the drawing-room, and +glancing at the easy-chair in which she had sat +waiting, parasol in hand, but a few hours since, she +thought of Donna Fedele, and then suddenly remembered +a phrase of hers she had forgotten: "They +have been telling you something evil...." And +the voice deep within her said, "Donna Fedele knows +of this story, and does not believe it."</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Alberti returned to the Montanina towards four +o'clock, and found a telegram from Don Aurelio +awaiting him, which said that the priest was starting +for Milan. There was also a letter from a Milanese +friend, which he saw was too long and not sufficiently +important to demand immediate attention, as +he was pressed for time. He packed his portmanteaux +and then went down to the drawing-room. +There was no one there. He glanced at the piano +and thought of the pansy that had fallen from Leila's +belt and of the music of the "Aveu." Then, suddenly, +he imagined himself holding in his arms the +woman concerning whom he had been so deceived; +but quickly and by a strong effort of his will he +recalled his angry contempt for her.</p> + +<p>"And so you are really going?" the old man +said, with an embarrassment the meaning of which +Massimo could not wholly grasp.</p> + +<p>"I am really going," he replied. He showed Don +Aurelio's telegram, and said that, although the priest +had a friend in Milan, he himself wished to be there, +at least during these first days, to give him all the +help he could. When he came to the conventional +expression of thanks, he declared that his gratitude +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</span>to Signor Marcello was very great, and not for his +hospitality alone. Here he paused, his emotion +getting the better of him.</p> + +<p>Signor Marcello, himself deeply moved, would have +been willing to swear, at this moment, that the Velo +priests were either mistaken or had lied. He longed +to say, "Come back soon!" but restrained himself, +and begged the young man to write and give him +frequent news of himself and of Don Aurelio. When +Massimo looked at his watch and rose to go, Signor +Marcello rose also and followed him into the hall, +arranging for his luggage to be carried to the station. +Then he kissed him twice. "Once for <em>him</em>," he +said, "and once for myself!"</p> + +<p>"I hope you believe I am not unworthy of this," +the young man whispered.</p> + +<p>The answer came with a ring of conviction that +startled him, so charged was it with hidden +meaning.</p> + +<p>"I believe you."</p> + +<p>Massimo had already placed his hand upon the +handle of the door above which hung the bell, but +he hesitated before opening it.</p> + +<p>"Do you wish to say goodbye to Leila?" Signor +Marcello asked.</p> + +<p>"If I might," Massimo answered, bowing slightly.</p> + +<p>Leila was sent for, but she had gone out, taking +the key of the little church with her.</p> + +<p>"Then you will see her in passing," said Signor +Marcello, and silently gave up the idea of walking +with Massimo as far as the church. The young +man went down alone, asking himself whether to +enter the chapel or to pass on, as it was plain the +Signorina wished to avoid seeing him. On reaching +the porch he paused, still hesitating.</p> + +<p>Leila recognised his step, and on hearing him +pause guessed his indecision. Rising from her knees, +she also stood hesitating whether to remain where +she was or to go out and meet him. She hoped he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</span>would pass on, but presently both arrived at the +same conclusion, that it would be best to act with +complete indifference. And so it came about that +she started to leave the church and he to enter it. +They met upon the threshold.</p> + +<p>"You are going?" she said, without offering him +her hand. "I wish you a pleasant journey and <em>au +revoir</em>!"</p> + +<p>"We shall hardly meet again," Massimo +suggested, smiling. "But I shall never forget the +days I have spent under your roof."</p> + +<p>"My roof! Oh, no!" Leila broke in.</p> + +<p>"And I wish you all possible happiness for long +years to come," he went on, disregarding her interruption. +"I do so from my heart, Signorina."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said Leila.</p> + +<p>Massimo bowed, and walked quickly away, glad +to have shown himself less embarrassed and more +haughty than the girl herself, to have spoken as if +he should never see her again, and as if this thought +did not affect him at all.</p> + + +<h3>III</h3> + +<p>Leila had gone to the church in order to avoid, +if possible, taking leave of Alberti. Their short +interview left her dissatisfied with herself, as usual, +and she chafed at the tone of almost contemptuous +indifference he had so successfully assumed. She +twisted her own meaning into it. It was the tone +of one, she thought, who had witnessed the defeat +of his plan rather than of one who had been disappointed +in love. Instead of returning to the house +she followed the path along the Riderella and +presently sank upon a rustic seat under the walnut-trees. +She was mortally weary, and sat listening +half unconsciously and with an aching heart to the +small, soft voice of the little waterfall close by. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</span>Teresina had brought her a letter from her father, +whose habit it was to address his letters to the maid, +"Teresina Scotz, Post-office, Schio." She had already, +read the letter, and had put it in her belt, intending +to throw it into the Riderella, but she had forgotten +its contents, and so proceeded to read it over +again. It contained but a few lines. Her father +inquired if the preceding letter had gone astray, and +asked for an answer, the very answer Teresina had +that day carried to Schio. Leila tore the sheet into +small pieces and threw them into the stream.</p> + +<p>She was accustomed to send her father the greater +part of the allowance Signor Marcello made her +for her personal expenses, accompanying the +enclosures with a few short sentences. She despised +her father, and knew that she was justified in her +contempt of him. She sent him the money as a +contemptible thing flung to a contemptible person. +She knew he was deeply in debt, but nevertheless +she had no belief in the poverty he was always pleading. +Her life at home had convinced her that he +was an adept in the art of cheating his creditors, +and that, while he made a display of poverty, he +carefully concealed his money. But what was this +to her? Had her mother asked her for money, she +would have sent it to her also. But her mother, +who wrote to her from time to time, asked for her +affection only, in terms of religious unction. Leila +never answered her letters, and had, on one occasion, +quickly returned her mother's pious gift of a rosary, +that had been blessed by the Holy Father. "The +Trento fortune would be put to fine purposes should +it come into my hands!" she reflected. Once more +a doubt assailed her concerning the mistaken conclusion +at which Signor Marcello might have arrived +after that kiss of hers. How should she rectify +this? She dismissed the thought, wearily, and sat +motionless, her eyes fixed upon the tiny waterfall. +Amongst other pictures that floated into her tired +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</span>mind, there came a vision of the dark lake, encircled +by, the bending, peering hornbeam-trees.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>It was a great trial to Leila, two hours later, +to come down from her room to dinner. She felt +she could not eat, and she dreaded Signor Marcello's +questions that were always more searching when he +was in an affectionate mood. She knew if she did +not go down he would come up and worry her to +death with endless questions. And so she went +down, and invented a headache as an excuse for +her want of appetite, and, as she had foreseen, Signor +Marcello's innumerable questions forced her to tell +a string of untruths. Partly from shame at her own +deceit and partly from impatience, she was once +on the point of declaring angrily that there was +nothing at all the matter with her. But she restrained +herself, and presently Signor Marcello lapsed +into grieved silence, even more inclined to conclude +that Donna Fedele was right, and that the girl was +indeed suffering on account of Massimo's departure. +He remained silent until the dinner was over. As soon +as Giovanni had withdrawn, and before Leila had +finished her coffee, he inquired if she had seen +Alberti, who had wished to say goodbye to her. +She answered in the affirmative, half indifferently, +half in annoyance, finished her coffee, and, rising, +asked permission to retire.</p> + +<p>"Go, if you like, dear," Signor Marcello replied, +but he called her back again before she had reached +the door.</p> + +<p>"Listen, my child," he said. "I give you my +blessing now, whether you may decide to marry at +some future time or continue to live alone. But if +you choose to live alone, I hope you will not accuse +me of selfishness because I had hoped——"</p> + +<p>And he smiled his pathetic smile, so full of +sadness and tenderness.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</span></p> + +<p>"Thank you, Papa," Leila murmured. And she +could not refrain from adding, as she thought of +the misapprehension under which he was probably +labouring: "I am not sure I deserve your blessing."</p> + +<p>The coldness of her words wounded the poor old +man. Leila felt she had hurt him, and was sorry, +but she could not regret words which were intended +to free him from harmful illusions. She slipped +silently from the room, closing the door softly behind +her.</p> + +<p>Signor Marcello did not move. Not for a long +time had the house seemed so sad and empty. He +drew towards him one of the two glass bowls that +ornamented the table, and contained two cyclamen +plants that had not yet blossomed. This style of +table decoration was one of Leila's fancies, and +Signor Marcello disapproved of it. He gazed with +affectionate compassion upon the little plant, with +its dark leaves, streaked with pale green, that had +been torn from its nest of moss at the foot of some +chestnut-tree and placed in these unnatural surroundings. +He had always greatly loved flowers +and carefully cultivated them, feeling that they returned +a kind of real affection for any care that +he bestowed upon them. This little tortured plant +that sought to please him with its rich greenness +seemed to him to show more affection for him than +Leila. He would have liked to press his lips to +this small, living thing, had he not been ashamed of +what might appear foolish sentimentality.</p> + +<p>A long, dull peal of thunder from Priaforà, which +all day long had worn a threatening aspect, interrupted +his fancyings. He remembered that the large +window in the drawing-room was open, and, in order +not to disturb Giovanni, who was having his dinner, +went to shut it himself. He then made the tour +of the ground-floor, closing all the windows, faithful +to his habit of sparing the servants as much as +possible. Presently he returned to the drawing-room.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</span> +It was rapidly growing dark, although it +was an hour before sunset. There was a flash of +lightning, and more thunder. Giovanni came in to +attend to the windows, and catching sight of his +master as a flash illumined the room, asked if he +would have a light. Signor Marcello did not wish +for a light. He sent the man to close the upstair +windows, and then stood gazing out into the shadows, +cloven repeatedly by the lightning that flashed out +of Val d'Astico. The usual noisy precautions against +thunderstorms sounded above his head—excited +voices, hurried footsteps, and the banging of shutters. +The great, tragic cliffs of Barco gleamed white for +an instant and then were lost again in the darkness. +The poplars along the Riderella, standing transfixed +in the motionless air, like the outposts of a reserve +force, waited in rigid silence for the approach of +the battle that was raging along their line. Suddenly +the rain came pouring down, the flashes ceased, +and all was darkness. Signor Marcello stood gazing +into the sounding shadows until he heard Giovanni +come in again to light the lamps. As usual when +there were no guests, and the Signorina did not +spend the evening in the drawing-room, he ordered +him not to light up. His own brass lamp would be +enough. When the man had brought it Signor Marcello +put on his glasses and began to read the newspaper. +Contrary to his habit, he soon wearied of +it. But it was only half-past nine, and he was not +sleepy, and as he had been suffering recently from +insomnia, he did not wish to go to bed at this early +hour. He felt no desire to play, for his heart was +cold and heavy. He felt physically well, and no +further symptoms had followed his fit of unconsciousness. +Had he perhaps been mistaken about +it? Must he look forward to long years of such a +life as this? At least, if he must live, he would +fain do so to some useful purpose. Some years +ago a friend's advice had made him think of starting +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</span>an agricultural school. Why not take up that plan +again? He might at least write to his friend and +ask his opinion again. And he reflected how to +word his letter. But the idea began to fade from +his mind almost as soon as he had formed it. By +an effort of his will he rose to his feet, determined +to prevent its complete escape by writing immediately; +but still he hesitated, and stood lost in +thought, his lamp in his hand. The sound of the +rain had sunk to an even and melancholy whisper. +The old man set down the lamp and went into +the open verandah to look upon the night.</p> + +<p>There was no wind, but the rain was coming +down persistently, as it does in the autumn, and it +hid the mountains and the lights of Arsiero. This +was the spot where Don Aurelio and he had their +coffee on those occasions when the priest said Mass +at Santa Maria ad Montes. And he was gone also, +dear Don Aurelio! He was gone for ever. He +would never see him again.</p> + +<p>The old man returned to the drawing-room with +a heavy heart. Bitter words against the priests of +Velo rose to his lips, and agitated his face as he +took up his lamp again, meaning to go to bed, for +he had now lost all desire to write. At sight of the +Bible and of the "Imitation of Christ," on his bedside +table, he was immediately filled with remorse +for having yielded to impulse, and for having +harboured uncharitable thoughts. He confessed his +shortcomings in prayer, then, as a castaway clings +to a rope, he clasped the little Bible in both hands +until peace once more encompassed his spirit. As +he laid the Bible down again he determined to go +to confession on the morrow to the archpriest himself. +Quieted by this determination, he proceeded +to enter the day's expenditures in his account-book, +as was his habit. As it was the last day of the +month, and he had forgotten to pay the servants' +wages, he counted the amounts out carefully, placing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</span>them in separate piles on his writing-table. He +also set aside his monthly dole to the poor. The +melancholy patter of the rain reminded him of the +plants of cyclamen in the dining-room. He hunted +in a cupboard until he had found the two pots from +which they had been removed—cruelly, as he thought—to +be placed in the glass bowls. Then he restored +them to the pots, delighting in the kindly action, and +carried them out lovingly, regardless of the rain, +and set them side by side, behind the villa, on the +edge of a grassy slope. As he stood upright again +his head swam, but this did not trouble him. Even +in his youth he had often been seized with giddiness +on resuming an upright posture after bending over +some plant. He waited until the giddiness passed +away, and then returned to his room, said his evening +prayers upon his knees, undressed himself, and got +into bed. At that moment the dizziness returned +with renewed violence. He rested his head against +the head-board. A thunderbolt seemed to tear +through him from his neck downwards. He thought +he cried out, but in reality he made no sound. He +felt his arms becoming as blocks of ice, and he +recognised that this was death. He tried in vain +to move his lips and pronounce the words, <em>In manus +tuas, Domine</em>. Then all was over, and the only life +the room contained was in the heedless flame of the +little lamp that illumined the quiet face of yellow +marble resting against the head-board, and the only +heart that throbbed was the small and heedless one +of the watch upon the bedside table.</p> + + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" > + CHAPTER V + <br> + <small>THE SHADOW OF SIGNOR DA CAMIN</small> </h2> +</div> + + +<h3>I</h3> + +<p>Donna Fedele arrived in her carriage at ten +o'clock. A despairing note from Leila had brought +her the news at nine. She got out at the entrance to +the open verandah in order not to pass the chamber +of death, and Leila came on to the verandah +to meet her. They kissed in silence. Leila's eyes +were full of tears, and Donna Fedele looked ghastly, +but she had no tears. They entered the drawing-room, +and Teresina, who happened to be coming +in from the dining-room at the same moment, began +sobbing at sight of Donna Fedele, and covered her +face with her handkerchief. When she had succeeded +in controlling her feelings she handed Leila a telegram. +While the girl was opening it and reading +it Donna Fedele softly questioned the maid. Had +they noticed anything wrong during the day, or, +perhaps, during the evening.</p> + +<p>Nothing, nothing. He had not been in good +spirits, that she must admit, but, of course, they all +knew that Don Aurelio's flight and Signor Alberti's +departure had upset him. Teresina, whose tongue +was now loosed, evidently had something more to +say, but she checked herself, and fell to sobbing +again.</p> + +<p>And how had they made the discovery?</p> + +<p>It was Leila who answered. Giovanni had gone +in with his coffee at seven and had found him dead. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</span>He was sitting up in bed, his shoulders outside the +covers, and his head resting upon the head-board. +The doctor had assured them that death had been +instantaneous, for the body was composed, the face +calm, and there had evidently been no attempt to +rise or ring the bell. Death had probably taken +place as soon as he got into bed, and before he +had arranged himself for sleep. The lamp was still +burning when Giovanni went in. Teresina now gave +further particulars. Giovanni, who slept on the +ground floor, had heard his master pass his door +twice before he, Giovanni, had gone to bed. He +had heard him open the door of the villa on the +side towards the mountain, and early that morning, +while putting the dining-room to rights, he had +missed certain plants which the Signorina had placed +in two glass bowls. They had been found later, in +ordinary pots, out of doors. No one in the house +knew anything about this change, and it must have +been the master who set them out, that they might +enjoy the rain. At this point the tears welled up in +Donna Fedele's eyes, which seemed at the same time +to be smiling with tender emotion.</p> + +<p>"You will need help," she said to Leila, controlling +her feelings after a moment's struggle. The +girl handed her the telegram that had just arrived. +It was from Signor Marcello's agent, announcing his +speedy arrival from Vicenza with a lawyer.</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele inquired if there were any relatives +who ought to be written to. Teresina knew that there +were some distant cousins, but the master had more +than once said to her, evidently with a motive, that +in case of his death they were not to be troubled.</p> + +<p>Giovanni appeared and summoned the maid, who +presently returned to say that the archpriest and his +chaplain wished to know if the Signorina would +receive them. Leila, much annoyed by this intrusion, +consulted Donna Fedele, who advised her to see +them.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</span></p> + +<p>"Meanwhile," said she, "if I may——"</p> + +<p>Leila understood at once, and murmured, "Of +course, of course!" Donna Fedele crossed the +billiard-room and study to the chamber of death. On +reaching the study her remarkable fortitude almost +forsook her. Only a few hours ago she had sat here +with him. She could see his wrinkled face—his +speaking countenance that was still youthful, his eyes +that so quickly revealed the impulses of his warm +heart—and his frank voice seemed to be still speaking +to her. She felt as if he had only just left the room. +The arm-chair behind the writing-table was pushed +aside, upon the table lay an open account-book, +and the bedroom door stood ajar. Donna Fedele +pushed it open very slowly and very reverently. +Upon the bed, between two lighted candles, lay her +old friend, dressed in black, and clasping a crucifix +in his ivory hands. The gate-keeper's wife, who +was seated opposite the bed, near the window, rose +as Donna Fedele entered. The latter proposed that +she should go out for half an hour. When the +woman had left the room Donna Fedele approached +the bed and stood gazing tenderly upon the waxen +face of the one man whom in her youth she +had really loved. The sad evening of his long day +had drawn to a close, and at last he was with his +loved ones. Had fate decreed differently for him +and for her, had she become his wife, this parting +would have been more terrible. She sighed, almost +as if regretting what might have been. Closing her +eyes, she saw him again as he had been in his youth, +and let her mind dwell upon the secret love of long +ago, which had been so sweet even in its bitter and +restless anxieties. Both had been led astray at that +time; they had been over-heedless of a great +danger. She more than he, indeed, for had he but +spoken, had he but wished it, she would joyously +have sacrificed everything to him. Her father had +been alive then. Good God! if this had really happened,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</span> +how horrible it would have been! She +stooped to kiss the ivory hands, and then, sinking +upon her knees, prayed fervently, promising her dead +friend that she would be as a mother to the woman +his son had loved, and would seek to bring about +the union he had desired. She rose, consoled. +She could hear distinctly the ticking of his watch on +the bedside table. It was as if some part of him +still lived and understood. Many flowers had +been strewn upon the bed. She reflected that another +woman in her place would surely take one to cherish, +but she could not bring herself to do so, nor could +she tell what prevented her. Once more she kissed +the ivory hands and then the crucifix, thus setting +a seal upon her promise.</p> + + +<h3>II</h3> + +<p>On leaving the chamber of death she was greatly +astonished to find Leila in the study. The girl was +quivering with indignation against the archpriest and +the chaplain, especially against the chaplain. She +was so upset, indeed, that she would not tell her +story here, so close to the peaceful dead. Donna +Fedele and she withdrew to the billiard-room. It +appeared that both the archpriest and the chaplain +had greatly deplored Signor Marcello's sudden death, +for reasons of a religious nature, and on her reminding +them of the purity of his life, of his charities, +his great piety, and of the fact that he had received +the Sacraments but a few days since, the archpriest +had answered coldly, "We can only hope for the +best!" and the chaplain had not opened his lips.</p> + +<p>Then the archpriest had taken the liberty of alluding +to the needs of his church, believing he was +addressing an heiress, and at last the chaplain had +asked her, with a great show of humility, if "that +young man" were still at the Montanina. "I said +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</span>'Yes,' Leila went on, "simply because I was so +indignant, and they are nothing but busy-bodies! +I am sure they know Alberti is no longer here, for +the archpriest turned red and the chaplain yellow." +Had Donna Fedele been aware that Leila knew of +the rumour that had started from the parsonage +concerning Alberti's supposed intrigues in Milan, she +would have been better able to understand her extraordinary +indignation, one element of which escaped +the girl's own consciousness. She expressed regret +that she had not done at once what she was now +determined to do—to shut herself up in Signor +Marcello's room and not to leave it again until she was +ready to leave the villa. After all, she was no one +in this house. Her duty was to remain with Signor +Marcello until the end, but once Signor Marcello was +gone there was no room for her at the Montanina. +Donna Fedele sought to bring Leila to look upon +matters in a different light, but seeing that she was +becoming exasperated, she deemed it wiser not to +insist, and so took her leave, saying she would return +in the evening. Leila expressed no pleasure at this +promise, but kissed her in silence, and then withdrew +to the death-chamber. Donna Fedele did not +want to leave until she had seen Teresina, but she +was not feeling strong enough to go in search of her. +She therefore rested in a low chair in the drawing-room +and waited. At last she heard Giovanni and +the cook talking in the dining-room, and the prudent +footman came to the door to see if they were safe +from listeners. So Donna Fedele was able to send +for Teresina and tell her of Leila, who had insisted +upon shutting herself up, and talked of leaving as +soon as the funeral was over.</p> + +<p>"I hope she will come to my house," she said, "at +least for a time. But I really don't know what +she has taken into her head—whether she proposes +going to her father, or what."</p> + +<p>Teresina was unmoved. Go away! Nonsense! +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</span>She was the heiress. Her poor master had given +Tefesina to understand this most clearly. Donna +Fedele expressed a doubt. What if the girl should +refuse the inheritance? Teresina was startled now. +How could she possibly refuse? If for no other +reason she would accept in order to be able to help +her father. And she proceeded to tell of the money +she was in the habit of sending off for the Signorina. +Besides, how would the girl herself get along? "My +good woman," said Donna Fedele, "when it is a +question of pride...." But the maid could not +understand such pride, and the Signora did not +attempt to explain it to her. She requested Teresina +instead to let her driver know that she was ready +to go home. The servant begged her to remain +until the arrival of the agent and the lawyer, when +they would learn something positive concerning the +will. But she could not persuade her. Donna Fedele +replied that she did not wish to intrude, and that +she would not return unless she were sent for.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>She was not sent for, but towards evening she +received the following letter from her dead friend's +agent:</p> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Madam</span>,—The maid Teresina Scotz begs me +to inform you that this morning the notary, Signor +Dr. Camilli, and I went to the office of the Royal +Prefect of Schio, in whose presence my poor +master's holograph will was opened, it having been +in accordance with regulations deposited by him with +the above-named notary. I also take pleasure in +informing you that Signorina Leila Camin is therein +appointed sole legatee, and that the maid, Teresina +Scotz, is to be the recipient of a legacy amounting +to five francs per day, exempt from taxation. Signora +Scotz begs me to inform you, further, that a telegram +has reached me from Padua, signed Girolamo +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</span>da Camin, which contains, besides expressions of condolence, +the declaration that he is Signorina Leila's +father, that she is a minor, and also the announcement +of his intended arrival some time to-day. He will +probably come by the last train this evening. The +heiress admits that she is the above-named gentleman's +daughter, and that her twentieth birthday fell +only a few months since, whereas I am aware that +my lamented master believed her to be older.</p> + + +<p><span style="padding-left: 5em;">"I am, Madam,</span><br> +<span style="padding-left: 8em;">"Your very humble servant,</span></p> +<p class="right" style="padding-right: 2em;"><span class="smcap">"Matteo Carozzi</span>, <em>Agent</em>.</p> + +<p>"Val d'Astico (Vicenza), <em>1 July...</em>."</p> + + + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" > + CHAPTER VI + <br> + <small>IN THE TOWER OF PRIDE</small> + </h2> +</div> + + +<h3>I</h3> + +<p>The engineer Luigi Alberti, Massimo's uncle, +descended from a family of solid and respectable +Milanese burghers, had a small apartment on the +third floor of a house in Via San Spirito. The apartment +was simple, furnished in an old-fashioned style, +with old furniture, pictures, some of which were really +good, and books, but devoid of modern conveniences, +and a faithful reflection of its master's character. +Luigi Alberti often used to say, in his Milanese +dialect: "Sont un andeghee" ("I am an antique—a +man of the past!"), and this with the air of one who +has voluntarily withdrawn from the world, and lives +in a solitary and cherished corner of his own. His +humble spirit, his disregard for this world's goods, +the purity of his life, his unostentatious generosity, +marked him as a Christian of apostolic days. Parsimonious +with himself, he was free-handed with his +nephew Massimo, an orphan of insufficient means, +of whom he was fond from a sense of duty rather +than from any promptings of affection. His heart +was engrossed in a sacred cult, the memory of his +poor wife, who had died some years before, leaving +him childless. She had been a woman of exemplary +Christian virtues, with a keen intellect and gentle +manners, and she had loved her husband devotedly, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</span>despite his few physical attractions, his ineptitude +for social life, certain strange little ways, and his +aversion to a rational modern spirit, to which she +would gladly have opened their doors and adapted +their mode of life. He would not take his nephew +into his home, that he might not be obliged to change +his own old-fashioned habits and those of his old servants, +a man cook and a maid, who were devoted to +him. Instead he set apart for Massimo three rooms on +the second floor of his house, where the cook's +wife waited upon him. In his intercourse with his +nephew the engineer was always somewhat ill at +ease, and kind rather than cordial. Massimo's father +and mother had squandered their fortune by living +beyond their means, and Massimo's refined ways +appeared to fill his uncle with awe. In offering +him, as his nearest relative, his generous assistance, +a comfortable lodging, an allowance, and the hospitality +of his board whenever he felt inclined to accept +it, he had done so almost apologetically, and as if +his offering had been unworthy of Massimo's position. +Massimo himself was painfully conscious of the +distance between his uncle and himself, not only in +externals but in ideas. The engineer was intolerant +in his political opinions to the verge of madness, and +though not a "Clerical," being always guided in +political matters by the <em>Perseveranza</em>, and voting +even when this was forbidden by the ecclesiastical +authorities, he had the fierce Clerical hatred of +Modernism and religious reform. He disapproved +of priests taking part in public life, and of their +associating themselves with the political press. But +in church and sacristy he respected their authority +unquestioningly. So when he heard Massimo spoken +of as a disciple of Benedetto, and Benedetto branded +as a heretic and rebel, he was greatly distressed. +He questioned several priests who he believed could +inform him accurately, for he lacked the courage to +speak openly to his nephew. He found some who +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</span>told him that it was unfortunately true, that his +nephew was identifying himself with those who refused +to admit the fundamental doctrines of Catholicism, +the Sacraments, and the authority of the Pope. +Others assured him that this was not so. He continued +to avoid mentioning the matter to Massimo, +fearing to be dragged into a discussion, and his +simple faith would not admit of discussion. Only +once, in a letter, had he alluded to these fears of his. +The young man's plain and entirely orthodox answer +had reassured him, but only for a time. It was also +a matter of regret to him that Massimo had not +tried to put his medical studies to some use. He +heard much talk of other studies of a theological and +literary nature, of lectures on Science and Faith, and +on Christian Socialism. "Bellissim rob!" ("Fine +nonsense!") he had said to one who praised Massimo's +activity. "Fine unprofitable nonsense!" But +not even on this point would he express himself to +Massimo. He felt it would be useless, and that +he must be resigned to being unable to understand +this specimen of the rising generation, and +to being misunderstood by him. Reason decreed +that Massimo should be his heir, and he fully intended +to dispose of his belongings according to the dictates +of reason, but his mental refrain was ever, "He +will find only what he will find!"</p> + +<p>Since his wife's death the engineer had kept no +account of his expenditure. A very small portion +of his not inconsiderable income sufficed for his own +personal needs, the rest being divided between +Massimo—to whom he made a fixed allowance—such +needy persons as appealed to him, subscriptions to +charitable institutions, and gifts to the small country +town where he and his wife had spent many summers.</p> + +<p>A month before his journey to Val d'Astico, +Massimo had delivered two lectures at the Università +Popolare, on "The Italian Reformers of the +Sixteenth Century," wherein he had put forward the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</span>argument that had these men, many of whom were +distinguished both for genius and virtue, not rebelled +against the authority of the Church, their +views would have been more widely accepted, and +that the Church would have gained thereby. The +engineer was scandalised by these lectures, as were +the majority of Milanese Conservatives, who joined +hands with Radicals and Socialists in crying +anathema upon the lecturer. To the Conservatives +he was a canting heretic, to the Radicals and +Socialists a weakling, almost a coward, and to all +a dreamer. The engineer expressed his opinion +freely to several persons, and, among others, to a +priest, Don Santino Ceresola by name, a warm-hearted +creature, zealous in promoting good works, +who at that very time was cherishing a plan for +the founding of a most admirable institution, quite, +however, beyond his means. He had often obtained +large sums from the engineer for other purposes, +and now he could not help reflecting that, should a +rupture occur between uncle and nephew, his much +dreamed of Home for Grammar School Students might +gain by it. When his mind was taken up with a project +such as this, the good man lost all sense of proportion, +especially of the proportion of their means that +his friends might be expected to subscribe, and his +persistent harping on the one subject exasperated most +people and rendered himself and his special charity +alike odious. But he went on his way, rejoicing in this +easy form of martyrdom, his bearing fully justifying +the nickname of "Beata Ciapasü" ("Blessed Take-what-you-give-her!"), +which he owed to his face, like +that of an aged nun, his squeaking voice, and the +beatitude with which he accepted money and insult +alike. He had several times mentioned the Home +to the engineer, who, having a level head, had always +sought to convince him that he would not succeed in +raising money enough even to buy the land. One +day, after Massimo's departure for Velo d'Astico, the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</span>priest appeared in Via San Spirito in great delight, +and with the news that an old lady had presented +him with two thousand square metres of land at +Porta Vittoria. He inwardly echoed the engineer's +amazed "Is it possible?" and promptly determined +to renew his siege upon the fund that had so often +assisted him before. He began by begging the +engineer to draw him a plan, just a little plan, just +a sketch to begin with, with a rough estimate, just +a few short lines. The engineer saw quite clearly +what he was aiming at with all his diminutives and +at first refused; but at last, yielding to the other's +insistence, he exclaimed: "Well, listen, then! I +will do my best with the plan, but as to +money...!" And his laugh was full of meaning. +The blessed one protested, "The idea!" He had +never thought of asking him for money. Nevertheless +the wedge had entered, and Don Santino's visits +became frequent. The engineer was induced to go to +Porta Vittoria with him on several occasions. Once +the priest failed to find him at home, and so waited +for him, talking the while with the maid, Bigin, +whose confessor he was, and who was as simple at +sixty as she had been at twelve. Don Santino told +her his plans, first swearing her to secrecy, and then +instructed her what to do to further them, almost +going the length of promising her Paradise if she +should manage to get his Home mentioned in her +master's will. He inquired casually concerning the +relations between uncle and nephew, and learned that +on one occasion the uncle had spoken of his nephew's +life as being wasted. Bigin could not promise much, +because: "The Lord preserve me from speaking +to him of his belongings! He will never stand +any meddling on that subject!" However, should +the occasion present itself.... But the occasion +failed to present itself, mainly because it would have +taken the good creature a century to grasp the true +purpose of this <em>Pensionato</em>, this Home, which at first +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</span>she took to be some superannuated and poverty-stricken +clerk or employée whom her master was to +be asked to support. "No, no; that is not it at +all!" cried Don Santino gravely. "That is not +it?" she queried. But after this she contented herself +with committing to memory the five words, +"<em>Il Pensionato</em>—Don Santino's Home," and with repeating +to her master, in season and out, that if she +were rich she would give Don Santino her shirt, +a thing she did not do, but which, after all, she +might have done easily enough, despite her lack of +riches.</p> + + +<h3>II</h3> + +<p>Having left Arsiero at six in the evening, Massimo +reached Milan shortly after six the next morning. +They were not expecting him at San Spirito. The +engineer, who had been not very well for a couple +of days, was still in bed, but the cook and his wife +gave the young master an exceptionally warm +welcome, the reason for which it would have been +difficult to perceive. The pair had soon guessed +the motive of Don Santino's frequent visits ... +it was evidently some plan to get a lot of money out +of their master. "You will see," Peppina had said +to her husband, Togn. "That priest will keep at it +until he has got everything away from him." It was +easy to arrive at the conclusion that the master would +die impoverished, and there would be no comfortable +little pensions to the servants. Togn and Peppina +united in blaming the stupidity of Bigin, who could +not be made to see that, in speaking on behalf of +her confessor, she was working for her own beggary. +The good creature would retort, in horrified accents: +"Aren't you ashamed to think of such things? +Aren't you ashamed?"</p> + +<p>The two, therefore, gave Massimo an unusually +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</span>warm welcome, because they looked upon him as +being equally involved in the threatened danger, +and their only hope lay in his intervention. They +decided to warn him at once, but this, they saw, +must not be done too abruptly, nor before they had +studied the best means of introducing the subject. +Peppina, who was more grasping, more hot-headed +and impatient, than her husband, would have liked to +speak that very morning; but while they were still +arguing, Massimo left the house on his way to Porta +Magenta, where Don Aurelio's friend dwelt, not a +stone's-throw from the Monastero Maggiore.</p> + +<p>He walked slowly, thinking of Velo, of the silence +of the chestnut-groves, of the deep voice of Posina; +thinking also, against his will, of Leila. The vulgar +façades of the houses on either side oppressed him, +and he shrank from the noise and bustle of the city. +He longed to see Don Aurelio again. It would be +like another glimpse of Lago. The stones of Milan +seemed to breathe a spirit of antagonism, the very +spirit of the long letter he had received just before +leaving the Montanina, and which he had read +over and over again on the journey, enjoying the +bitter satisfaction of realising its painfulness to the +utmost. It had been written by a friend whom +Massimo suspected of none too much loyalty either +to himself or to the opinions he professed, and was a +minute recital of hostile acts and words that had been +directed against Massimo from the camps of the most +unyielding Clericals and of the Modernists and from +sceptical Milanese society. The society of St. Vincent +de Paule had decreed the explusion of this member +who had virtually constituted himself the apologist +for the Italian heretics of the sixteenth century. The +sale of his lectures had been prohibited, and there +had been allusions in the Clerical press and in the +pulpits to their insidious nature. In one Clerical +house it had been reported that Massimo had gone to +Velo d'Astico to seek Don Aurelio's assistance in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</span>preparing for the publication of a Modernist +periodical. Moreover, most unedifying reports had +been circulated concerning Massimo's relations with +a certain married woman. This was the only part +of the letter that amused Massimo, for the woman +referred to was a most estimable person, and the +reverse of all that is beautiful, graceful, and fascinating. +In the Modernist camp they despised +Massimo for a poor, priest-ridden, lukewarm, timid +creature, who was incapable of freeing himself from +the fetters of tradition and of rebelling against the +Church's tyranny over the conscience. They looked +upon him as an old young man, twenty years behind +his times, not quite a Clerical, but differing only +slightly from one, and they laughed at him.</p> + +<p>In society the women, with but few exceptions, +were more strongly opposed to him than the men. +The latter set him down as a creature of indecision, +a mediocrity given to half-measures. The women, +even many who went to church regularly, accused him +of pharisaism and of cowardice. His friend wrote +that one evening he alone had defended him against +the goddess major and the goddess minor of a +certain aristocratic house, a mother and a daughter +who were among his most bitter enemies, but the +act was set forth more in the light of a virtue than as +if the writer had really been convinced of the justice +of his arguments.</p> + +<p>None of these details were new to Massimo, who +had left Milan in the midst of the storm; but as +he had the feeling of having been absent a hundred +years, he had been unprepared to find it still raging +so severely on his return. Don Aurelio, in his place, +would have prayed meekly for the malicious +offenders, and would have consoled himself with the +words of the "Imitation of Christ": "<em>Quid sunt +verba nisi verba?</em>" But Massimo merely felt a +supreme contempt for all this uproar; and if, during +the past weeks, he had ever doubted his own faith, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</span>and had ever been tempted to withdraw from all +religious controversy, now, confronted as he was by +this host of hostile, mocking, or compassionate faces, +he burned to show them how unyieldingly he stood +his ground.</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio and his friend had both gone out. +The servant believed they had gone to see the Archbishop, +but they might return at any moment, and +Massimo met them on the stairs as he was going +away. At first Don Aurelio hardly recognised him. +In Milan? How was this? On catching sight of +Massimo the other priest's face darkened. He was +a most excellent man, unbending as regards doctrine, +but just and charitable, incapable of playing the spy +and of hypocrisy. He defended Don Aurelio because +his Rosminian views were known to him, as were his +exemplary life and great piety. But he had disapproved +of Massimo's lectures, and knowing the +young man but slightly, believed a certain amount +of the scandal that had been circulated concerning +him.</p> + +<p>Massimo understood, and instead of detaining Don +Aurelio, asked him to come and see him towards +noon. Then, notwithstanding the early hour—it was +barely ten o'clock—he decided to call upon the very +lady whose name had been so maliciously coupled +with his. She had sent him a note to San Spirito on +the previous day, begging him to come and see her +at any hour, as soon as he reached Milan. Massimo +now went out of courtesy, but not willingly, despite +the affinity in political and religious views that had +once drawn them together in a common effort at +propaganda. The good lady, possessed not only of +a husband to whom his wife's visionary schemes +were a constant trial, but of four big sons as well, +each more badly brought up and ill-mannered than +the others, received Massimo with an embarrassing +outburst of affectionate anxiety. At last! At last! +But, dear Alberti!... What had he been doing? +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</span>Why had he run away? Why had he stayed away so +long? What had he taken into his head? Did he +not know that things had been getting worse and +worse here? Did he not know they were all against +him? Had he been here he might have defended +himself, might have convinced them—but instead he +had disappeared, and no one had known anything +about him. There had even been a rumour that he +had entered a convent, like that master of his—some +said at Subiaco, some at Praglia. And did he know +this and had he heard that? Hereupon the lady +who, in theory, professed a lofty contempt for the +world and its doings, but in practice revelled in +every bit of slightly improper gossip that was brought +to her, related to Massimo more or less the same +things that his friend's letter had contained. On +reaching the most delicate point, she covered her +far from youthful face with both hands and exclaimed, +between groans and laughter: "Dio! Dio! +Alberti! Don't you know you should not be here? +that perhaps I am doing wrong to receive you? +Have you heard what they have dared to say?"</p> + +<p>Now, the lady had a very good-looking parlourmaid, +and Massimo, who was irritated beyond +measure by the torrent of gossip that had spread +in so many directions, and who was also keenly alive +to the ridiculous side of the situation, could not resist +saying:</p> + +<p>"What have they said? That I come here to +make love to your parlourmaid?"</p> + +<p>For a moment his hostess was perplexed, but she +was too simple and good-natured to take offence, and +was even relieved by his mistake, for she believed +Alberti to be incapable of deceit. Not until after +his departure, when she paused to examine the +nature of his mistake, did she ask herself how he +had happened to notice the girl's youth and grace, +and in her simple heart she exclaimed, "Just think +of that, now!" But at the time she promptly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</span>changed the subject, with a hasty, "Enough, enough! +We had better not discuss it!" And she brought +forward a plan about which she was enthusiastic—a +plan for a third lecture. He really must deliver +a third lecture to explain the first and the second, +and correct certain impressions, especially that of +subservient submission to authority.</p> + +<p>She had consulted several of her women friends, +and was in a position to suggest a subject that was at +once most interesting and most appropriate—"From +Döllinger to Loisy." "My dear friend," said +Massimo, "if I take up the pen again, which I +doubt, it will be to use it as a lash."</p> + +<p>On reaching home towards noon he found a +telegram from Donna Fedele announcing Signor +Marcello's death. The news filled him with astonishment, +and grieved him most deeply. He had not +realised how fond he was of the old man. He went +in to greet his uncle with the telegram in his hand, +his face wearing an expression of sorrow. Usually +their meetings were painfully silent, both uncle and +nephew—the younger man especially—racking their +brains to find topics of conversation that would not +lead to an unpleasant clashing of views. On this +occasion the sad news relieved them of the difficulty. +The telegram contained the information that +another would follow, stating the day and hour of +the funeral.</p> + +<p>"Shall you go?" the engineer inquired.</p> + +<p>Massimo hesitated slightly. A "yes" rose to his +lips, but he answered "No" resolutely, in order to +bind himself and to avert all danger of yielding +to a possible weakness. The engineer made no +comment, but his expression said plainly that the +"no" struck him as strange. "You will want to +send a telegram," said he, and offered to send the cook +out with it after luncheon. But Massimo declared +this would be unnecessary. He would send it himself. +He lunched with his uncle and then withdrew +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</span>to his own apartment, his heart full of visions of +Leila alone and in tears in the villa over which +hung the shadow of death. He took up his pen to +write the telegram. Once more the desire assailed +him to go—to see her again. He flung down his +pen, crying aloud in an angry voice:</p> + +<p>"Good God! How weak I am!"</p> + +<p>He glanced anxiously about him, fearful lest some +one might have heard. Once more he seized his +pen and reflected. He sought for unusual words, +words that should adequately express his sentiments +towards the dead man and towards the living woman. +But they would not come. Then he decided that +a telegram, couched in conventional terms, would +be more fitting. And what if, instead of a telegram, +he should send a letter? He decided at last to +telegraph to Donna Fedele and to write to the +Signorina, and rapidly wrote as follows:</p> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Signorina</span>,—I feel sure that you are mourning +for one who has been a father to you. I myself +mourn for him even more deeply perhaps, grateful +above everything for his affection and esteem. I +bless his memory as I do that of his son.</p> + + +<p class="right" style="padding-right: 2em;">"<span class="smcap">Massimo Alberti.</span>"</p> + + +<p class="p1">Peppina announced Don Aurelio. The sad news +that Massimo had to tell him filled him with sorrow, +but did not surprise him. He had foreseen this, but +had not expected it to happen so soon. Poor Signor +Marcello! After his last confession he had spoken +of Signorina Leila, expressing grief that he must +leave her, soon probably, alone and unprotected, exposed +to the danger of falling into her father's +hands again, and to a destiny no one could foresee. +Here Don Aurelio paused and looked +inquiringly at Massimo. Massimo replied without +waiting for further questions.</p> + +<p>"You see, I am here." Don Aurelio gave silent +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</span>sympathy. Presently he asked softly if his friend +were going to the funeral. "No," said the young +man; "I shall write. Or rather, I have already +written. Read this." And he handed him the letter. +Don Aurelio studied it for a while.</p> + +<p>"That is good," he said at last. "I can see why +you have used the word 'affection,' but I cannot +say why you say 'esteem' as well."</p> + +<p>"Believe me," said Massimo, "it is the right +word."</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio returned the letter with a sigh, and +without demanding further explanations, which he +felt would be distressing. Then he told of his visit +to the Archbishop, to whom he had presented a +letter from the Bishop of Vicenza. His Eminence +had received him most kindly, and promised to take +him into his diocese. Naturally, it might be some +time before the right place was found for him, and +meanwhile, in order that he might earn something, +they would get him some pupils. The autumn was +approaching, there were the October examinations +in view, and it was a favourable time. Finally, +assuming a fatherly air, the Archbishop had advised +him to keep much to himself, and then, with a smile, +that was also fatherly, he had alluded to the priests +of Velo d'Astico. "I can fancy what they are like," +he had said. "Good men, but the sort that see +heretics everywhere. I know a priest who came +to me to denounce a colleague of his as a heretic +because he so disliked wine that he made his salad +with lemon instead of vinegar!" In a word, Don +Aurelio was more than satisfied with his visit. And +how about his books? What would become of them? +Massimo reassured him. Donna Fedele would attend +to everything. He was curious to know what Don +Aurelio's friend had said of him, after their meeting +on the stairs.</p> + +<p>"I noticed the face he pulled," said Massimo.</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio smiled.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</span></p> + +<p>"He told me several unpleasant things about you, +but all in perfect good faith, poor man, for he was +only repeating what he had heard! He informed +me that you were a Theosophist, that you did not +believe in the divinity of Christ, in the Resurrection, +in the Real Presence, and so forth and so on. To +tell the truth, I had all I could do to convince +him that he was mistaken. Once convinced, however, +he was greatly relieved. Nevertheless, he +advised me not to see too much of you."</p> + +<p>"We will write to each other," said Massimo. +"Besides, I do not intend to stay long in Milan."</p> + +<p>He proceeded to enlighten his friend concerning +the troubles and vexations that made life in Milan +a burden to him, and then he opened his heart to +him about certain other anxieties that would prevent +his going away again immediately. In his own right +he possessed only forty thousand lire, which sum was +invested in a mortgage that would shortly be paid +off. His uncle, besides the hospitality that was +always open to him, made him an allowance of two +hundred lire a month. The sixteen hundred lire +that his own capital produced represented the small +foundation of his independence. Notwithstanding his +affection and respect for his uncle, Massimo could +not help fearing that the deep-rooted, though unacknowledged, +disparity in their views would one day +bring about a crisis which would make it impossible +for him to continue to accept his uncle's generosity. +Therefore, as he was disinclined to practise medicine, +and his favourite occupations not being of a money-producing +nature, he must find some profitable investment +for his small fortune. He told Don Aurelio +these things with a melancholy smile for having +to consider such matters which harass even the most +fervent idealist. The conditions made it imperative +for him to look out for some one who wished to +borrow capital, to go through formalities with +notaries, and draw up contracts, or he might be +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</span>obliged to make inquiries into the stability of bank +shares, of shares in industrial enterprises, or to +consider other similar undertakings. He could not +think of Government bonds, for at the rate of interest +they were then producing his income would have been +diminished by two hundred lire. "And two hundred +lire," he said, "represents a sum which may mean +much to me."</p> + +<p>The friends went out together, Don Aurelio to +pay a call which he hoped would result in two lessons +a week, and Massimo to post his letter and telegraph +to Donna Fedele.</p> + + +<h3>III</h3> + +<p>The next morning Peppina informed Massimo that +her husband begged for an audience. The man came +in, and Peppina also put in an appearance again, +but remained standing near the door, a few steps +behind her husband, and in an attitude of reinforcement. +Hardly had Togn uttered his introductory, +"Well, you see...." than he began to flounder in +an ocean of excuses for what he was going to say. +"Begging your pardon, sir.... It may not be +my place.... It is not fitting.... I know +that.... But, after all.... Well, there!... +Certain goings on.... It is entirely on your +account.... One can't always hold one's tongue.... +Certain goings on.... Ain't that so, wife?..." +Peppina, thus appealed to, murmured, +"Exactly!" and with a final, "Well, there!" Togn +brought his preamble to a close.</p> + +<p>He began the second part of his oration in +much the same manner, however: "Well, you +see...." And, looking over his shoulder from +time to time to solicit confirmation from his +wife with an "Ain't that so, Peppina?" he +proceeded to relate the manœuvres of Blessed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</span>Take-what-you-give-her! He briefly sketched the +priest's career, dwelling especially upon this last +episode, the institution to be erected at Porta +Vittoria, the gift of land, and the frequent, almost +daily visits to the engineer. Thus he prepared +a final effect in which his language became somewhat +stronger, and was coloured by that special +form of cant, the prophecy of evil: "Well, I +can solemnly assure you that this Ciapasü will +be the ruin of this house! I warn you because +it is my duty to do so—which is the wife's +opinion also—ain't it, Peppina? And you can +trust us. Now I had better tell you exactly how +matters stand."</p> + +<p>But Massimo did not hear the prophetic recital +of the machinations that threatened the engineer's +"pile," because he promptly interrupted the orator +as soon as he had grasped the true meaning of +the discourse. How was this? Was the engineer +not master of his own money? What right had +they to complain if he spent it in one way rather +than another? Seeing the evil turn matters had +taken, the couple protested that they had dared this +step solely in Massimo's interest, whereupon the +young man became so furious that the unfortunate +pair made a hasty exit, leaving behind them a string +of frightened excuses.</p> + +<p>Later in the day Massimo went to see his notary. +On his way home he met the friend who had written +him the famous letter, and who had been to San +Spirito in search of him, wishing to carry him off +to lunch at the house of a certain lady with whom +both were acquainted. Massimo declined the invitation, +but his friend insisted. He had received a +note from the lady, couched in terms of Napoleonic +firmness. "I know that Alberti is in Milan. Bring +him to lunch to-morrow, dead or alive." Massimo's +friend himself had had his invitation three days +before, and believed it was going to be a large gathering.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</span> +This hostess, who was clever, selfish, sentimental, +and cultured, sometimes indulged in the amusement +of inviting a lot of people of the most opposite +tendencies, demanding only, if they were stupid, that +they be either rich or titled; if intellectual, that they +have a clean shirt, but even accepting certain celebrities +with a dirty one. Some few objected to these +gatherings, and never went a second time, but most +of her guests were glad to come again, some because +of her chef's skill, or the quality of her wines, some +because of their hostess's clever conversation and +the splendour of her house, so that they might boast +of their invitation and either praise or abuse everything. +Massimo was convinced that the lady wished +to have him simply in order to play him off against +his enemies. He could already imagine her self-justification: +"I asked you out of pure friendship, +in order that you might have an opportunity of explaining +your position." Whereas, in reality, her +sole motive would have been that she might enjoy +the spectacle of a struggle between clever adversaries. +She might accuse him of cowardice, but what +was that to him? Under no conditions and from no +one would he accept an invitation to lunch while poor +Signor Marcello still lay upon his deathbed. His +friend declared that this was going too far, but failed +to move Massimo by his arguments.</p> + +<p>The young man lunched with his uncle, whom he +found quite restored to his usual health, and in conversation +with Don Santino. On catching sight of +Massimo the priest hurried away almost in a state +of panic. His uncle did not mention this visit until +after coffee was served, and Bigin, who had waited +upon them, had gone to have her own lunch. Then he +spoke softly, in a tone that was exaggeratedly confidential, +and as if by the simple words, "You saw +that priest?" he had been divulging a secret concerning +the safety of his money. His confidential +communications rambled on, always in an undertone, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</span>always good-natured, unusually affectionate in tone +if somewhat confused in substance, owing to his preoccupation +with the thought of a fixed goal, and +his anxiety lest he should be checked by some one +or something before reaching it. The engineer's +face wore a pleased expression, and, in the beginning, +his chuckles almost outnumbered his words. The +chuckles were evoked by thoughts of the cook and +his wife, who could not endure the sight of the +priest. Their master had noticed this, had guessed +their secret fears and laughed at them, for his great +kindness to his domestics did not prevent his valuing +them at their real worth, and, perhaps, at a little +less. And so he had guessed that they hated the +sight of the priest because they feared he might +"reduce them to their shirts." The cook had once +said to him, "That priest knows what he is about +when he comes here!" The parlourmaid was +different. She was all devotion to Don Santino. +The engineer had one day told Bigin that he was +prepared to give this holy man everything he +possessed, for he was sure she would repeat this +to the cook. He had said more or less the same +thing to Peppina also. "On purpose, you know!" +said he in a soft falsetto, and chuckling with satisfaction +at his own cunning. Then he began talking +seriously of the priest's plans and his own intentions. +He had made up his mind to give his assistance +as architect, plus a sum of five thousand lire. +The priest was hoping to get much more out of +him, but as to that ... and the excellent man concluded, +"He has got his head turned!" He added +that he knew his own duty, and not only his duty +towards his servants. Massimo reflected that his +uncle must have heard of his interview with Togn, +and that by this discourse of his he was simply +seeking to reassure him. This greatly annoyed the +young man. He protested that his uncle had no +obligations save those towards his domestics. While +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</span>he was speaking the engineer kept mumbling, "Well, +well, well!" his eyes fixed upon the tablecloth, his +hands moving as if to ward off his nephew's words. +When he could, he ejaculated, "Just listen to me +now!" and then proceeded to make a sort of testamentary +declaration of principles, in that tone of +gentle firmness he sometimes assumed. He was +entirely free to do what he liked with the income +derived from his profession, but what he had inherited +from his parents must go to relatives. Hereupon +Massimo protested even more warmly. The +engineer frowned, appearing to wish to convey to +him that this was a matter of duty rather than of +affection, and finally exclaiming excitedly, "Well, we +will drop the subject—we will drop it—for now I must +take my 'constitutional' for the sake of my +digestion!" he rose from the table and so dismissed +his nephew. When he was taking his constitutional, +by walking fifty times backwards and forwards +through a suite of four small rooms, he always preferred +to be alone. Massimo went out, fully determined +to leave Milan, to provide for himself, to do +all that lay in his power in order that his uncle might +have no reason to look upon him as a burden and +a check upon his works of charity.</p> + + +<h3>IV</h3> + +<p>Before dinner the same friend came to look up +Massimo again. The hostess, disappointed at not +having him to lunch, hoped to see him in the evening. +It was not a reception night, and Alberti would +meet only a few friends.</p> + +<p>He went there towards half-past nine, and found +his hostess alone with her unmarried daughter, a girl +of about five-and-twenty. The Signora had not +expected him so early, and seemed almost disappointed, +for she was secretly alarmed lest he had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</span>come early in order to leave early, which intention +would have upset her plans. She was most gracious, +and at once referred to his sorrow, inquiring about +the dead man, the villa, and the country. But she +had soon buried poor Signor Marcello and forgotten +him, and passing easily from the tone of condolence +to that of jest, she inquired with a smile, but without +offering any explanation for her question, if Praglia +was far from Velo d'Astico. Massimo's face flushed +hotly, and he was on the point of retorting that it was +as far from it as all the Milanese tongues—save +her own—were from telling the truth, when fortunately +two men and two women were announced. +These new-comers received a cordial welcome from +the unmarried daughter, who had been hardly civil to +Massimo, and had sat reading a newspaper while +he was telling of the Montanina and of Signor +Marcello. The two women were foreigners. One, +who was young and very handsome, was a Russian. +The other, old and ugly, was a Swiss. The elder of +the two men was a professor at Pavia, a big, stout +man, clumsily built and noisy, and very gallant. +The other, who was young and slim, was a politician, +who took a lively interest in intellectual matters, and +who also was a ladies' man, but possessed of far +greater refinement than the professor. Massimo was +more or less well acquainted with all four. The +name of the handsome Russian, a mystic Theosophist, +had even been coupled with his by the Milanese +world. She had, indeed, displayed a liking for him, +and Massimo could forgive her her theosophic mythology +in consideration of her beauty, her cleverness, +and also of her mysticism. The elderly Swiss, who +was a frigid Positivist, always spoke of Massimo as +bigoted and retrograde. The politician was strongly +inclined to esteem this young man, who was so full of +idealism, and whom so many were attacking. But +not having much moral courage, he would not have +dared to take up the cudgels in his defence.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</span></p> + +<p>As soon as the four appeared Massimo realised +that his hostess proposed to start a discussion. He +was glad of the presence of the professor and the +elderly Swiss woman, who stimulated the spirit of +strife within him. None of the new arrivals took +much notice of him at first, and the professor and +the Swiss immediately began to quarrel. Their +opinions were really identical on all points, but +when, in a discussion, his elderly friend found herself +confronted by another woman, both young and +attractive, the professor would at once join forces +with the latter. Hereupon the Swiss would show +her irritation so plainly, and say so many sharp +things to the professor, that his delight knew no +bounds, and when occasion presented he never failed +to introduce a discussion with this end in view. The +kindling which he most frequently used to set the +fire ablaze was some outrageous proposition concerning +love. But this would no longer serve, for +the old lady had become over familiar with the trick. +This time the professor chose a fresh opening. +Russia, he said, should declare war against Switzerland +on account of the Nihilist refugees. The Swiss +dame immediately attacked him, with coarse personal +allusions.</p> + +<p>Every one laughed, the Russian girl and the professor +most heartily of all, while the elderly woman +continued her tirade in French, declaiming against +"<em>cet homme insupportable</em>." The politician, to +whom the subject of Russia appealed, offered to +negotiate peace at St. Petersburg. Hereupon the +old woman turned upon him and was backed by +the professor, until at last the hostess succeeded in +making her voice heard—a small, husky voice, like +the high notes of a diminutive piano, enclosed in a +packing-case and played upon by spirits. "Enough, +enough! I myself shall dictate the terms of peace! +And what do you say, Alberti? Say something!"</p> + +<p>The name of Alberti rather than her imperious +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</span>"Enough!" had the effect of oil upon the waters, +and the sudden silence seemed to say, "What has +he to do with it? What can he say?" As a matter +of fact Alberti answered that he had nothing to say—really +nothing, but as there was strife going on, +he should take refuge in armed neutrality. "Then +you will have us all against you!" said the Swiss. +The Russian woman, who had, as yet, hardly opened +her lips, here murmured, "Yes, indeed!" and the +hostess's unmarried daughter smiled meaningly. The +professor was taking careful note of all these bad +symptoms. Things were looking black for this +Alberti. "But Alberti is armed," said the politician +pleasantly. The hostess, greatly pleased at the +turn the conversation was taking, gave it a final +push.</p> + +<p>"You were wise to arm yourself, Alberti," said +she, laughing, "for Signorina Grüssli has warlike +intentions."</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed!" cried the sexagenarian Grüssli. +"And I am glad to be able to tell Signor Alberti +so, because we have talked a great deal together +in the past, and although our views differed, I have +never been so displeased with him as I am now. +Oh, no!"</p> + +<p>"But why, why?" demanded the hostess, anxious +to fan the flame.</p> + +<p>"It is needless to say. All present know, and +Signor Alberti best of all."</p> + +<p>"I assure you I do not," said Alberti with a cold +smile. "But in any case——"</p> + +<p>"You mean you don't care a rap for me? But +there are others I fancy for whom you will care. +If you don't know I am going to tell you. I attended +your lectures on the heretics of the sixteenth century, +my dear sir, and I and many others with me did not +approve of your saying they should have held their +tongues and obeyed! Ask these ladies and gentlemen +here!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</span></p> + +<p>The professor protested, declaring himself to be +too much of a Positivist, too far removed from +Alberti's ideas and from any religious sentiment to +care whether heretics be spoken of in one way rather +than another. To him there was no difference between +heretics of whatever shade and Catholics of +whatever school. He might, perhaps, admit that +unyielding Catholics, being the most logical, were +therefore the least uncongenial to him. The Swiss +dame caught him up sharply. She admitted there +was little to choose between heretics, Modernists, +and Papists, but there was the moral question, +the question of self-respect, of honesty. "I should +think so!" said the daughter of the house. But +it was the handsome Làlina, the Russian, who +added fuel to the fire.</p> + +<p>"I am not a Positivist," she began, speaking in +French, "but my disappointment was far greater +than Signorina Grüssli's, and I am glad to be able +to tell Signor Alberti so. I hold Anne Besant's +views, but I might perhaps have become a Catholic +had the ideas contained in Signor Alberti's articles +been recognised by his Church. I was enthusiastic +about those articles. I thought their author would +prove an apostle full of faith and ready to accept +martyrdom. But his lectures showed me plainly +enough that he is no such apostle, that he would +not even seek a stone-cold pile."</p> + +<p>Here the daughter of the house laughed, putting +as much impertinence as possible into her laugh; +and her mother sought to ease matters by saying, not +without a flash of mirth in her eye:</p> + +<p>"Oh, poor Alberti! How they are abusing him!"</p> + +<p>"As to the pile," said the politician, "it seems +to me Alberti went out of his way to find it, and +that he is standing upon it at the present moment. +It may not be a pile of the Holy Inquisition, and +it is probably of '<em>bois de sandale</em>,' but nevertheless +I can smell the odour of burning. But as far as +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</span>that goes, Signorina Grüssli, I also burn without +any pile at all."</p> + +<p>"That may be," cried the Swiss woman, "but +there is no odour of burning about <em>you</em>—only of +cooking!"⁠<a id="FNanchor_3_3" href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></p> + +<p>Meanwhile Alberti was thinking: "Shall I refrain +from telling these foolish creatures the truth, just +because they are women? If they keep it up I +certainly shall speak out!" His hostess claimed his +attention.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you speak, Alberti? Why don't you +defend yourself?"</p> + +<p>"He has been burnt at the stake," the professor +cried gaily. "Let us at least respect his ashes!"</p> + +<p>"No," said Massimo, delighted to have hit upon +a harsh answer. "I will not defend myself. I +should be in danger of convincing many. I have +isolated myself, and you cannot think how delightful +it is to be alone. I do not feel the slightest desire +to defend myself. Allow me to remain silent. Should +I speak, I might utter words of too defiant, too +violent a nature."</p> + +<p>"But we don't ask you for humility and gentleness. +We ask you for reasons," the hostess retorted.</p> + +<p>"No, no, dear lady, I have not heard any one +ask for reasons!"</p> + +<p>"But I do—I ask for them," she pressed.</p> + +<p>"Ah, you only!" said Massimo. He was silent for +a moment and then went on, smiling: "I have +something to ask for also. I would not accept Signorina +Làlina's 'stone-cold pile' because it would +not even serve to make a cup of tea. I should +like to know if this other terrible pile upon which +they tell me I am standing will heat a cup for me?"</p> + +<p>"Don't get furious, Alberti!" his hostess warned, +while her daughter murmured:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</span></p> + +<p>"He will bite us presently!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, Signorina!" said Massimo, laughing. +"You may beware of me in the future, but at present +I am muzzled."</p> + +<p>Tea was served in another room. His hostess +took Massimo aside.</p> + +<p>"Why did you refuse to defend yourself?" said +she. "It was a mistake. The professor raised a +great to-do against you, even at the University."</p> + +<p>"What is that to me?" said Massimo, and he +entered into conversation with the two foreigners, +showing himself in a more amiable mood. He made +no effort, however, to be amiable to the daughter of +the house. Signorina Grüssli and the Russian might +not be very level-headed, and they were not deliberative +nor sufficient, intellectually, for the part they +wished to play, but they were at least honest, and +enthusiastic in support of their own views. The +hostility displayed by the daughter of the house was +based upon conceit and ignorance.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>On leaving, the politician offered to accompany +Massimo. "Well, well, my dear Alberti," he began, +taking the young man's arm as they reached the +street. "You did quite right not to get into a +discussion. Those are people who reason little and +poorly. The professor is about as clever as a +rhinoceros, and as to the women—they do what they +can, poor things! Even the Russian! She is +awfully pretty, but there are other topics besides +religion I should like to discuss with her. She +certainly is awfully pretty. But never mind that. +I wish you would kindly enlighten me a little, for I +am really very much in the dark. Answer me +seriously, exactly as you honestly feel, and I promise +not to betray you. Do you really believe that this old +bark of St. Peter's will not end at last in some shed +connected with the Navy Department? Or, at least, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</span>do you really believe it can go on being propelled +by oars or by wind, and that St. Peter himself will +not sooner or later be forced to get a motor? You +are not to answer me as you would do in public. +I know well enough how you would answer there. +Of course you call yourself a Catholic. One might +as well put such a question to the Cardinal of Milan. +I am asking you for your private opinion—here—between +ourselves. Will you give it to me?"</p> + +<p>"Why not?" said Massimo. "I will answer +you as Pius IX answered those cardinals who were +saying how safe was the bark amidst the tempest. +The bark will neither sink, nor run aground, nor end +in a shed. But as to the crew—that is quite another +matter."</p> + +<p>"Words, words!" said his disappointed interlocutor. +"This is a jest. I did not ask you for a +jest."</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, but the matter of the shed, +the oars, and the motor was a jest also. But if +you really wish it I will answer you seriously. If I +believed that the Church to which I belong could +fall, I would not wait for an earthquake, but leave +it at once. But I assure you that not even an earthquake +could drive me out of it, such is my faith +in its foundations."</p> + +<p>"Happy man!" cried the honourable deputy, +stopping, and dropping Massino's arm. "But look +here—besides the visible Church you Catholics have +an invisible one, have you not? Well, then, in your +place, I should feel a great deal safer in the invisible +Church in case of an earthquake."</p> + +<p>They were standing in front of Café Cova, where +a group of friends were awaiting the politician. +"Listen to me," said he. "You are young and I +am almost old. I have a great liking for you, and +I am going to take the liberty of giving you a piece +of advice. Don't think so much about religion. Be +satisfied with your own beliefs and practices, but +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</span>don't meddle with religious questions for the general +public. Our public gets out of patience when too +much religion is forced upon it. It cannot understand +that a young man like you should be so deeply +interested in matters that concern another world than +this. Do you see?" The political personage pronounced +that smiling and familiar "Do you see?" +with all the warmth of his liking for the young man, +and also with somewhat of gentle authority, the +authority of that world that did not understand +Massimo, of a great and powerful world composed +of men who have reached comfortable places, and +are persuaded that the great essential is to get as +much enjoyment as possible out of life—and of other +men who have not yet "arrived," who are engrossed +in politics, and who, not in words but in their secret +souls, set slight value upon everything that is devoid +of political importance, and is outside the field of +the struggle for political power.</p> + +<p>"No, I don't see!" Massimo replied, laughing. +"I must tell you that I delight in vexing the +public."</p> + +<p>"A strange taste, my boy!" said the elder man, +and entered the café.</p> + +<p>Finding himself alone, Massimo started homewards. +He was pleased with himself—bitterly, +fiercely pleased. His tower of pride was a comfortable +place, whence he could look out upon Leila, +his uncle, the hostile world, the scoffing world, the +indifferent world. In his thoughts he raised it as +high as the clouds, covered it with gold and steel, +and joyed in dwelling alone in his impregnable +stronghold. In his preoccupation, instead of turning +out of Via Manzoni into Via Monte Napoleone, he +kept straight on as far as the arches of Porta Nuova. +Now it was a question of choosing a place somewhere +outside of Milan, whither he might transport +his tower. Thinking and searching, he passed the +arches. The idea of applying for a post as parish +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</span>doctor somewhere in the mountains, which had flashed +across his mind at the Montanina, again took possession +of him. Meanwhile, he wandered onward as +far as the railway bridge, where he was once more +aroused by the sense of topographical reality.</p> + +<p>On reaching home he sat down to write to Donna +Fedele to excuse his absence from the funeral. +But while writing, it occurred to him that he might +pay a visit to the Velo cemetery instead in the course +of a few days. He could easily go there from the +Seghe station, between two trains. He tore up his +note and wrote another, announcing that on the 4th of +July, at one o'clock, he would leave the train at Seghe +for this visit, and expressing the hope that his friend +would bear him company.</p> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="footnotes"> +<p class="center p2 big2">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_3_3" href="#FNanchor_3_3" class="label">[3]</a> To be cooked, in colloquial Italian, means to be over head +and ears in love.—<span class="smcap">Translator's Note.</span></p></div> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" > + CHAPTER VII + <br> + <small>FROM THE HEIGHTS TO THE DEPTHS</small> + </h2> +</div> + + +<h3>I</h3> + +<p>On the 4th of July at a quarter to one, Donna Fedele +reached the Seghe station in her usual small carriage, +drawn by the usual small horse. On hearing +the whistle of the train on its way from San Giorgio, +she left the waiting-room where she had been +amusing herself by talking with a dirty old herdsman, +and went out into the broiling sun without opening +her parasol. Before the train had come to a +standstill she had caught sight of Massimo at one +of the windows of the last carriage, and was hastening +towards him, smiling joyously. Massimo's expression +showed how pale and ill he thought her +looking, and at first both shrank from referring to +their recent loss. As they left the station she +inquired when he intended to leave. By the next +train, he told her, and he was going back again to +Milan. They would have two hours together, and the +carriage would take them to the San Giorgio cemetery +in a very few minutes. They drove along the banks +of the Astico, which was swollen and noisy after the +heavy rain of the night before; and she talked of +Signor Marcello's death, referring to the premonitory +symptoms, the particulars of that last day, and of +the thunderstorm, and telling of the plants he had +carried outdoors, the money he had laid ready on the +writing-table, the lamp that had been found burning, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</span>and the aspect of the body. She spoke very quietly +about it all, not mentioning Leila on account of the +driver. At San Giorgio the custodian of the cemetery +pointed out a dark mound of freshly upturned +earth, and then left them. Donna Fedele had +brought two roses with her, one of which she now +gave to Massimo. They knelt down and placed the +roses upon the upturned earth, and prayed silently, +while the custodian struggled with a group of inquisitive +urchins who had slipped in at the open gate. +Their voices seemed disturbing to the peace of him +who slept there. Donna Fedele rose, ordered the +children to kneel down and be silent, and her quiet +power compelled their obedience. Then she returned +to Massimo, remaining there beside him for a few +minutes longer. He felt that she was moved by an +emotion far deeper than his, but he knew nothing +of the past, and this feeling drew his thoughts away +from his dead friend to her.</p> + +<p>Before getting into the carriage again, she said +that she wished to speak to him on a critical matter. +She could not do so in the carriage or in the waiting-room +at Seghe, and she therefore suggested that +they should cross the small wooden bridge that connects +Seghe with the group of houses known as +<em>Schiri</em>, and follow the shady path along the left +bank of the Astico.</p> + +<p>"I must talk to you about Leila," she said, when +they had left the carriage near the Seghe post-office, +and were walking along a narrow street between two +rows of grimy cottages. "I must"? thought +Massimo. Why <em>must</em> she? Had she been charged +to do so? He remained silent, and put himself on +the defensive.</p> + +<p>"I must ask your advice, not so much for Leila +as for myself in dealing with her."</p> + +<p>Their conversation was interrupted by a meeting +with some friends of Donna Fedele, who were coming +from the bridge. Presently, when they had passed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</span>the cottages, they came in sight of the broad and +angry river, threading the wide, green plain to the +stretch of open sky between the two wings of the +valley beyond.</p> + +<p>"Poor Signor Marcello always loved this spot!" +said she.</p> + +<p>"You wish advice for yourself?" Massimo asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes! For myself!" Donna Fedele answered. +"Do you know that Leila is staying with +me now?"</p> + +<p>Massimo stopped short, and Donna Fedele looked +at her watch.</p> + +<p>"We have an hour and a quarter longer," said +she. "Let us go and sit down."</p> + +<p>They crossed the bridge, and sat down on a low +wall in the broken shadows of the hornbeam-trees +whose branches hung over the sunlit stream. Donna +Fedele began by speaking of the will, and of Signor +Marcello's mistake as to Leila's age. Andrea had +said she was nearly eighteen, when she could not +have been more than sixteen. He himself might not +have known.</p> + +<p>"Leila's father," Donna Fedele went on, "who +heard the news immediately, no one knows how, +telegraphed that, as his daughter was a minor, he was +coming at once to assert his rights as her guardian. +Leila had a terrible attack of nerves, and refused +to see her father. So he sent to beg me to fetch +her, and I took her home with me. Then the funeral +took place, but she did not go. She was in no +condition to do so, indeed, for she spent the whole +day in bed with a raging headache. I went, and, of +course, her father was there."</p> + +<p>"What sort of a man is he?" Massimo asked, +interrupting her.</p> + +<p>"Ah! Disgusting to look at! Imagine one of +those wax heads out of a barber's window, grown +old, with badly dyed hair and a dirty skin! He talks +idiotically, and with great stiffness. You would say +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</span>he was starched with self-consciousness. In my +presence, at least, he showed extreme embarrassment. +If I did not know him to be a sly fox I should set +him down as an imbecile. After the funeral he +came to pay me a visit, 'to perform his duty,' he +said, in his affected way. He asked to see Leila as +her steward might have done, but not her father. +She would not hear of this, and after a few muttered +expressions of pity for her he took himself off, perfectly +satisfied. He is unique in his way. This +morning he sent me a note, saying he was going +away for a few days with the agent, and that on his +return he hoped to find Leila at the Montanina. But +Leila...."</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele pronounced these two last words +very softly and then lapsed into silence, slowly +drawing mystic signs in the grass with the point +of her parasol. She was waiting for a question +that did not come.</p> + +<p>"Leila is a great anxiety to me," said she, +"and I do wish Don Aurelio were here to advise +me."</p> + +<p>Massimo immediately began talking of Don +Aurelio, of his present condition, and of his hopes +for the future. At any other time Donna Fedele +would have listened eagerly, and have put a thousand +questions. But now she was impatient, feeling +that Massimo was only trying to avoid talking of +Leila.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you could ask his advice for me?" +said she at last.</p> + +<p>Massimo answered coldly that he would do so if +she wished it.</p> + +<p>"But you yourself ought to see Leila."</p> + +<p>The young man started. How could that be possible? +The train would be starting in half an hour +now.</p> + +<p>"You might stay here," Donna Fedele murmured.</p> + +<p>Stay here? Certainly not! The harsh answer was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</span>delivered with emphasis and decision, and seemed +like a protest—almost a reproach.</p> + +<p>"It would really please her."</p> + +<p>In spite of his emphatic refusal, Donna Fedele +made this remark very calmly. Massimo, however, +was as clever as she was at not hearing what he +did not wish to hear and not understanding what he +did not wish to understand.</p> + +<p>"But you wrote to her," she went on. "I know +you did, because they brought the letter to her at +the Villino while she was ill, and I myself received +it. What did you say?"</p> + +<p>It was Massimo's turn now to be deaf.</p> + +<p>"I should not like to lose my train," he remarked. +"I have only about twenty minutes left."</p> + +<p>"Lose it!" Donna Fedele was getting excited. +"You would certainly do so if you had heard Leila's +confession to me this morning," she added.</p> + +<p>"What confession?"</p> + +<p>"Stay here, if you want to know!"</p> + +<p>Massimo rose. The colour had fled from his face.</p> + +<p>"I must not," he said. "And you—forgive me +for saying so—should not ask me to. It would be +too humiliating after her treatment of me. But now +I shall really lose my train if I do not start. Goodbye."</p> + +<p>"Go, then," said Donna Fedele, without rising. +"But you are only a great, foolish boy!"</p> + +<p>"A boy?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, a boy! You do not know what love is yet. +You do not know that when one really loves, one +loves! There can be no question, then, of humiliation. +When one really loves, one loves!"</p> + +<p>They heard the whistle of the train at the Arsiero +station. Massimo said goodbye and hurried off, but +Donna Fedele knew that the train always whistled +some time before it actually started. She rose, too, +but very slowly, and stood thinking over her own +words: "When one really loves, one loves!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</span></p> + +<p>She was back again, young and passionate, with +Marcello in the forests of Lavarone, and living again +in that sweet moment when, had he asked it, she +would have given herself blindly to him, forgetful +of all else. Then suddenly the noisy, plaintive waters +awoke her to realities again.</p> + +<p>She rejoined Massimo at the station just as the +train was coming in, and had time to whisper to him: +"Stay! She loves you—she has almost admitted it!"</p> + +<p>"She loves you!" The words pierced him like an +arrow, pinioning him. He could neither move nor +speak. Donna Fedele began to hope that, after all, +he would stay. But he suddenly started from her +side and jumped into the train, almost without knowing +what he was doing. The engine had been +uncoupled and sent to fetch some freight-cars, and +Donna Fedele was able to speak to him again +through the open window of the first-class compartment, +in which there were other travellers besides +Massimo. As she might want to write to him, she +inquired if he intended to be in Milan during +July. He told her that a letter from Rome had lain +a very dear and solemn charge upon him, which +would oblige his leaving Milan almost immediately +and going to the Lake of Lugano. For the future +he had other plans. Donna Fedele brought her face +as near as the open window as possible and whispered +a farewell:</p> + +<p>"She loves you!"</p> + +<p>The train started. Massimo's head swam, and he +closed his eyes, partly so that he might escape +recognising a fellow-traveller whom he knew. He +pretended to be asleep, and saw Leila coming towards +him. He opened his eyes quickly, that he might no +longer see her, and his gaze rested upon the flying +greenness of this happy valley. Then he closed +them, that he might see her once again, and he had +a vision of her fair head, drooping upon her breast +as if to hide her face. Presently he saw two little +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</span>white hands being raised very slowly, and felt them +resting at last upon his shoulders. With a shudder +he opened his eyes. He no longer saw the glittering +landscape, but always that fair head. The train +thundered into the Mea tunnel. Then he felt her +arms about his neck, her face against his, and kisses +and tears, and heard the oft-repeated words, "I +love you, I love you!" His breath was coming in +gasps, and he suddenly thought, "What a weak +fool I am! What has become of my tower of +pride?" He put his head out of the window and +watched the passing trees and fields, repeating to +himself, "Fool! Fool!" Besides, Donna Fedele +had said "almost." It was she, she alone, who +was trying to put things straight. But if it really +were so! He drew back from the window, searched +his pockets for a newspaper he could not find, bowed +to his fellow-passenger, apologising for not having +recognised him sooner, and began discussing the +railway that would one day connect Rocchetta with +Asiago.</p> + +<p>He had two hours to wait at Vicenza. He knew +no one there, and so walked slowly up and down +the broad avenues of plane-trees leading to the +station. It was five o'clock and very hot, and only +a few idle people like himself were pacing silently +in the sultry shade. He thought for a moment of +coming to live in this peaceful, unknown little town. +But no, Velo was too near. As he entered the station +once more he heard the cry, "Thiene—Schio!" By +taking that train he could be back at Villino delle +Rose before dark! Farewell, farewell, green valley, +dear streams, roses blowing in the mountain breeze! +He went to the café and read the <em>Corriere della Sera</em> +through from beginning to end. He even dipped +into the advertisements, and found the following +notice:</p> + +<p>"The post of parish-physician to the united communes +of Valsolda will remain open until the end +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</span>of August. Salary 3,500 lire. Applications to be +addressed to the Mayor of Drano (Como)."</p> + +<p>Half an hour later he heard the cry, "Verona—Brescia—Milan!"</p> + +<p>Massimo rose, still lost in thought, and still +clutching the <em>Corriere della Sera</em>.</p> + + +<h3>II</h3> + +<p>Before she returned to the Villino, Donna Fedele +went to Seghe to see a poor young fellow who was +dying of consumption, and who worshipped her as +an angel from heaven. He had known her when +working as painter's apprentice at the Villino. A +wild life had brought disease upon him, and, remembering +Donna Fedele's gentle admonitions, he had +begged her to visit him. She went often to +read to him or to show him illustrated books and +photographs. To-day she found him unhappy and +restless. The chaplain of Velo had been with him, +and having noticed a copy of the Gospels, published +by the Society of St. Jerome, which the Signora +had given him, he had advised him not to read it, +saying he would not be able to understand. Donna +Fedele hid her indignation as well as she could, +and promising the poor boy that she herself would +read and explain the holy book to him, she went +away, leaving him comforted, but carrying with her +much sadness and another weight upon her soul. +Leila had not told her in so many words that she +loved Massimo. She had simply offered to leave +the house, in case, she said, Signor Alberti were +so indignant with her that her presence there would +make it too embarrassing for him to stay there. +That was all she had said, but her tone, her manner, +and her face had spoken eloquently. If Massimo +had yielded to her entreaty and had stayed, +perhaps....</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</span></p> + +<p>But he had gone, and in Donna Fedele's heart +hope was giving way to disappointment, and with +Leila in her present state of mind, she foresaw the +danger of a catastrophe. The girl had not said +anything to her to arouse suspicion, but in the past +she had more than once told Teresina that, should +she again be forced to live with her father, she +would certainly kill herself. Poor, frightened Teresina +had thought her mad, but Donna Fedele did +not think this. She admitted that she was strange, +but she thought her largely the victim of a false +conception of religion, the result of a naturally +eccentric temperament, ignorant upbringing, and evil +example. She hoped that Leila's speeches to the maid +had not been serious, but her present gloomy silence +was not an encouraging sign. She did not wish +Leila to go out alone; therefore, when, on reaching +the house, she learned that the girl had done so +she trembled with fear, though she tried to reassure +herself that Leila had gone out to avoid a possible +meeting with Massimo. The servants knew nothing +of her whereabouts; they had only seen her leave +the grounds by the great gate. Donna Fedele went +down to question the gate-keeper, but the man, who +worked at the Perale paper-mill, was away. His +wife told her that the Signorina had left a message +that she was going to the Montanina to fetch something, +and that she would not be home before six +o'clock. Evidently Leila had thought that, if Alberti +came to the Villino, he would be leaving by the six +o'clock train, and this only meant that she did not +wish to be in the way. To make sure, however, Donna +Fedele dispatched her maid to the Montanina, with +the excuse that Leila might need her help.</p> + +<p>At six o'clock they both returned from the Villino +with Teresina, who had begged to be allowed to +go back with them and to visit the house, which she +had never been inside. Leila greeted Donna Fedele +affectionately, without inquiring for Alberti or about +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</span>the visit to the cemetery, and then withdrew to her +own room. Donna Fedele answered Teresina's +request to see over the house with a sweet smile, +but hardly had Leila left the room than the woman's +face assumed an expression of anxiety and embarrassment +that showed the Signora something had +happened, and that the maid's desire to see the +Villino was merely an excuse.</p> + +<p>"I will show you my study first," said Donna +Fedele.</p> + +<p>The study was in one comer of the house, looking +south and west, and it was the room in which they +were least likely to be disturbed. As soon as Donna +Fedele had closed the door she inquired in a low +tone if anything unpleasant had happened. By way +of answer Teresina buried her face in her hands +and began to sob. Donna Fedele urged her gently +to explain herself, and the maid began by protesting +in a voice which shook with emotion that it was +not her fault, that she had thought she was doing +right, and that, after all, she had only told the +truth. Donna Fedele could make nothing of all this. +What had she done? What had she said? Little +by little the woman became more calm, and told her +story.</p> + +<p>"I was not expecting to see the Signorina," said +she. "I was in the scullery when I heard steps in +the passage outside the kitchen. I looked to see +who was there. It was the Signorina, and she greeted +me affectionately. She seemed perfectly calm, and +told me she had come for the photographs of poor +Signor Andrea from the master's room, and for the +one the master had placed in Signor Alberti's room.</p> + +<p>"'You have come for them?' said I. 'Are you +really not coming back again to the Montanina?' +She answered angrily, 'No, no!' and I understood +what she meant, for you know what she has often +told me about her father, about living with him, +when she wished me to help her send him money. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</span>I understood perfectly, but did not dare say anything. +'Shall I come too?' I inquired. 'No, no,' +said she, 'stay here and go on with your work. I +will go in alone. Is there any one in the house?' +I told her there was no one, for Signor da Camin +went away this morning with the agent, and the +footman was having his afternoon out. Even the +cook had gone out. Then she left me, and I felt +rather anxious in case she might want help. As +she did not return, I made up my mind to go after +her. I waited a little while outside the master's +door, thinking she was in his room, but suddenly +I heard steps on the floor above, near the guests' +room. I went into the salon. She was on her way +down the wooden stairway, and on catching sight +of me she turned very red and made a gesture of +impatience. I begged her pardon, and asked if I +could not get her a cup of coffee or anything else. +She did not even answer me.</p> + +<p>"'Are you going away at once?' I asked. 'Yes,' +said she, 'almost immediately.' Then she went into +the poor master's room, where I believed she had +already been, but she was there only a few seconds, +and came out with the photographs. On reaching +the drawing-room she flung herself into an easy-chair +without speaking. I was at a loss whether +to go or to remain, but concluded at last I had +better go. When I reached the doorway, however, +she called me back. 'Do you know,' said +she, 'whether Signor Alberti had permission to +take that photograph away with him?' I was +astonished at this question. 'No,' said I. +She frowned. 'How shameful!' she exclaimed. +'Excuse me, Signorina,' I answered, 'but the photograph +is still there. I myself placed it in one of +the drawers of the table. I forgot to tell you so +just now.' I found the picture and gave it to her. +And then—having known so much about all this, +somehow I began to talk, and took the liberty of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</span>putting in a good word for Signor Alberti. She +grew very angry. 'What is this you are saying?' +she demanded. 'Don't you remember what you +yourself told me about him?'"</p> + +<p>Here Teresina paused, begged Donna Fedele to +excuse her for what she was about to say, and then +went on:</p> + +<p>"'Donna Fedele has probably been talking to +you!' Signorina Leila cried. 'No!' said I, 'I +have never seen her since the funeral. It is true +I told you some evil tales about Signor Alberti, but +I found out later they were only gossip.'"</p> + +<p>Teresina, feeling very ashamed and penitent, now +had to relate what she had told Leila concerning +Massimo's Milanese entanglement, and she also confessed +her later discoveries. On the day of the +funeral the archpriest's sister-in-law, talking to the +seamstress, Angela, about Alberti, had said that the +young man was a most improper person, and a +deadly enemy of all priests. Her brother-in-law, +she said, had been instrumental in bringing about +his departure; the chaplain had received a letter +from a Milanese priest who knew a lady who was +deeply attached to Signorina Leila, and who was +in the greatest anxiety concerning the presence here +of this disreputable young man, whom all Milan +knew to be mixed up with a married woman. Her +brother-in-law had found a means of informing the +people at the Montanina about this, and thereupon +the young man, who had come especially to arrange a +rich marriage for himself, finding himself unmasked +and his plan discovered, had taken the next train +home. Signora Bettina had said that the archpriest +had his eye on a certain count from Vicenza, who, +he thought, was made for the Signorina. But this, +of course, was a secret. Angela had at once decided +that it was her duty to hand on this information +to her friend Teresina.</p> + +<p>"I told the Signorina all this with the very best +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</span>intentions," the woman went on, "because I saw +there had been a conspiracy against poor Signor +Alberti, and I felt I had somehow been in it also, +and I was dreadfully upset."</p> + +<p>"Well, and what happened?" Donna Fedele +inquired anxiously.</p> + +<p>"I am going to tell you," sighed Teresina. "First +of all she looked angry—Dio, how angry she looked! +But she never uttered a word. Then presently she +began to question me, and made me repeat over +and over again what Angela had said. At last she +rose and ran quickly upstairs to her own room. I +waited a bit and then I followed very softly along +the corridor and called, 'Signorina, do you want +anything?' I heard her turn the key sharply in +the lock, and that was all. I stood waiting for +some time, and then, fearing she would be still more +angry should she come out and find me there, I +started to go away. I had not gone ten steps, however, +when I heard a cry, followed by a kind of gasp—that +I have heard her give before, once when she +had received an unpleasant letter from her father. It +is a sound ... ah, ah! ... as if her breath were +failing her. But she was soon quiet again, and I +made up my mind it would be wiser to go down to +the drawing-room and wait for her there. She came +down in a few minutes as pale as death, but quite +calm. It was then I asked her to let me go with +her to see the Villino. At first she hesitated, but just +at that moment your maid arrived, and we started +off together. Before reaching the bridge over the +Posina who should we meet but the archpriest! +When he came up to us he smiled, and made one +of his sweeping bows. Gèsummaria! you should have +seen the Signorina! She drew herself up as stiff +as a soldier, and gave the priest a stare with eyes +that were as cold as ice, and passed on. I said +nothing, and she never opened her lips until we got +here."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</span></p> + +<p>Donna Fedele smiled. "Poor Teresina!" said +she, as if in pity for an unnecessary anxiety. Then +she proposed that they should go over the rest of +the house, and in such a careless manner that Teresina +felt rebuffed. "I beg you to pardon me if +I have gone too far ..." she said.</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele understood, and throwing aside her +apparent apathy, which was nothing more than +absent-mindedness, she overflowed with kind words, +making no comment, however, upon Teresina's +story. Presently she inquired about Leila's father. +Hardly had his name been pronounced when Teresina +cried, "Goodness! I had almost forgotten!" +That horrid man! Before going away with the agent +he had asked her, with a laugh, half cunning, half +stupid, about her poor mistress' jewels. She +had answered that she knew nothing about them. +Just fancy their falling into such hands! She knew +well enough that the poor mistress had had a lot of +rings and bracelets, a string of pearls and sapphires, +and a diamond ornament. The master had no safe, +but kept them in a secret drawer of the writing-table +in his own room.</p> + +<p>"Do you know why he asked?" said Teresina. "I +am willing to swear it was because he had taken them +already. For one whole day he did nothing but look +over papers in the study. He is sure to have found +some note or memorandum of them. Besides, last +night I heard him go into the poor master's room, +and he was in there a long time. I will take my +oath my dear mistress' jewels are travelling at this +very moment. And to think of his asking me! You +can fancy how I feel, knowing that he is quite capable +of accusing me of theft."</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele sought to reassure her, and having +at last got rid of her, went to lie down, for she felt +completely worn out. Still, the physical relief only +increased her mental unrest. That hot-headed +Alberti! Why was he not here now? Love was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</span>waiting for him, and he must needs play the haughty +prince! And yet perhaps, should he yield, the girl +might take it into her head to play the haughty +princess too.</p> + +<p>From her window looking east Donna Fedele could +see the great arch of sky between the two ranges +of hills stretching across the plain. Her eyes fell +upon the cemetery of San Giorgio. How bitter to +think of the Montanina in the hands of that man, +plundering and laying irreverent hands on everything +belonging to her poor old friend! She summoned +all her faith to convince herself that Marcello was at +peace and satisfied that good must come from all +these ills, but it was not easy. Then she turned +over an idea that had come to her in the night, to +ask Camin's permission to take Leila away with her +into Piedmont, so that she might be spared, for a +time at least, from the misery of living with him. The +girl would have time to recover, and so many things +might happen in that time! Having decided to do +this, Donna Fedele made an effort to free her mind +from all thought, hoping that sleep might come.</p> + + +<h3>III</h3> + +<p>She had indeed fallen asleep when, half an hour +later, the maid came to announce dinner. The +Signorina was already downstairs. Donna Fedele +was tempted to stay where she was, for she was still +weary and disinclined to eat. But she forced +herself to get up and go down. The table was +set in the verandah in the front of the house. Leila +appeared so calm that Donna Fedele was encouraged +to tell her of Massimo's visit, and of the news he +had brought of Don Aurelio. In speaking of the +priest, she said how deeply she felt the loss of his +wise and spiritual counsel.</p> + +<p>"For I am a wicked woman," said she. "I lack +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</span>gentleness and charity, especially towards certain +other priests who are unlike him."</p> + +<p>Leila let the matter drop, and began to talk of +the little cemetery where she had never been. She +had planned to go there on the following morning, +and hoped her friend would be able to accompany +her. They would take some roses—plenty of roses. +She would have liked to take white roses, but +just now there were only a few red ones in the +Villino garden. The talk went on to roses. Donna +Fedele was dissatisfied with hers. It seemed to her +that at that moment the place would have been more +appropriately named after the thorns. She must +really plant a great many more trees. The Villino +should look as if it were resting upon a basket, full +of roses, and be muffled in them up to the very +eaves.</p> + +<p>"We will take a little trip to Milan," said she, +"and go about among the horticulturists, choosing +what is best. Would you like that?"</p> + +<p>Leila seemed pleased, and said she believed her +father would allow her to go. Donna Fedele was +amazed at her submissiveness.</p> + +<p>"I ought to go into Piedmont on business also," +she added. "Would you like me to ask your father +to let you come with me for three or four weeks?"</p> + +<p>Leila assented, waited in silence until the maid +had withdrawn after serving the coffee, and then +said, with a ghastly smile, playing nervously with her +spoon the while:</p> + +<p>"Now that everything is over, may I know if a +certain person came to the Montanina in accordance +with a preconcerted arrangement?"</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele gave a start, and raised her eyebrows, +offended by this reflection upon her own +honesty.</p> + +<p>"Now that everything is over," she retorted +severely, "I can assure you that I never lie, and +that there was no preconcerted arrangement. When +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</span>Alberti came he had as little thought of marrying +you as I have of marrying Carnesecca!"</p> + +<p>Leila gave a harsh, forced laugh.</p> + +<p>"What makes you think of Carnesecca?" she +asked.</p> + +<p>"Because I see him," was Donna Fedele's reply. +"There he is, coming through the small gate, which +the keeper has forgotten to close, as usual."</p> + +<p>Leila glanced over her shoulder. There, indeed, +was friend Carnesseca, coming slowly towards the +verandah, hat in hand. On reaching the steps he +paused, regardless of Donna Fedele's smile of +encouragement.</p> + +<p>"Come in, Carnesecca!" she cried, and then hastened +to correct herself. "I beg your pardon—I +mean Ismaele!"</p> + +<p>"Why should you beg my pardon, White Lady +of the Roses?" said the pedlar of Bibles. "Why, +and for what? They have put a scornful name upon +me because I preach Jesus and the most righteous +servants of the Lord, and thus they have insured +me a humble seat among the blessed. <em>Beati estis +cum dixerint omne malum.</em> I glory in my title!"</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele, protesting that she had no intention +of mocking him, invited him to come up the steps +and sit down, and ordered coffee for him. Then she +inquired what had brought him back to these parts +where he had been so roughly handled. He said +he was on his way to Laghi, and that he was ready +to undergo there the same martyrdom he had suffered +at Posina.</p> + +<p>"At this time of the year," said Donna Fedele +gravely, "it will probably take the form of potatoes."</p> + +<p>"I wish it might!" the old man replied. "But +if the Caiaphas of Laghi resembles him of Velo, it +will probably be stones."</p> + +<p>"Look here, my conscience tells me that I myself +should be pelting you with a few pebbles at least!"</p> + +<p>At this half-laughing, half-serious declaration of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</span>Donna Fedele's, Carnesecca flung his arms heavenwards, +innumerable rents in his coat revealing an +extremely dingy shirt.</p> + +<p>"No, White Lady of the Roses. You are not +called upon to cast even the smallest pebble against +me. I have never offered you a Bible, because I am +quite sure you have one already. I do not seek to +convert you to Protestantism, for you are a Christian +already. I come to-night to thank you once more +for your kindness in receiving me beneath your roof."</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele inquired if he intended to push on +to Laghi that same evening. No; he was tired. +He had come all the way from Vicenza, and had been +walking seven hours. Donna Fedele expressed pity +for him, but hastened to destroy an illusion he had +evidently cherished. She had entertained him once +when his bones were broken, but she had no intention +of doing so again, now that he was on his way to +get them broken once more. He spoke of a vague +hope that the Montanina hayloft might afford him +shelter for the night. He had not heard of Signor +Marcello's death, nor was he acquainted with Leila. +The young girl sat silent and unmoved while her +friend imparted to him the mournful intelligence, +falteringly and in a low voice. Carnesecca was +greatly shocked, and, having said good-night, went +his way, without stating whether or no he had altered +his plans for the night.</p> + +<p>The friends went out to a corner of the garden +where some chairs had been placed.</p> + +<p>"'White Lady of the Roses,'" said Leila. "A +pretty name!"</p> + +<p>"Too pretty for me," Donna Fedele replied. "But +Carnesecca would certainly do better to confine himself +to inventing names, instead of preaching Luther +and Calvin, and I don't know whom besides."</p> + +<p>Leila inquired carelessly who this man really was, +and how he had become a Protestant. Donna Fedele +told her his story. She went into much detail, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</span>for some time failed to notice that Leila was not +listening. The girl's eyes were fixed upon an empty +chair. Donna Fedele lapsed into silence, but still +Leila sat gazing at the chair. Although it was +nearly nine o'clock, and the sky was overcast, +it was still light in this part of the high, open +garden, with its light gravel paths. Presently +Leila became conscious that Donna Fedele was +looking at her. She left off looking at the chair, +but did not break the silence. A few drops of rain +began to fall, and Donna Fedele suggested that they +should go in. Seeing the maid busy clearing the +dinner-table, she asked her to send the keeper to +close the small gate through which Carnesecca had +come and gone. Leila hastened to say she would +like a little exercise, and would take the message +herself.</p> + +<p>The keeper was just going to bed when she entered +the cottage beside the main gate. His wife received +her, and Leila asked to see a sick child of theirs, +inquiring after it with so much affectionate solicitude +that the mother was greatly touched. Leila remained +some ten minutes at the lodge, and then returned +to the Villino without having mentioned the open +gate. Entering the drawing-room in the dark, she +heard Donna Fedele's voice: "Did you send?" And +unhesitatingly she answered:</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele begged her to play something. In +the dark? Yes, in the dark. The old piano had +been silent for many months, for its mistress, who +had been a fairly good musician in her youth, now +only played occasionally for the amusement of some +childish visitor. Leila played a composition of +Signor Marcello's—his only composition, a Barcarola +he had written some thirty years before. When it +was finished she paused, waiting for a word from her +friend, a request for more music. But the elder +woman did not speak. The only sounds that broke +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</span>the silence were the quick ticking of an alarm-clock +and the gentle patter of the rain upon the gravel.</p> + +<p>"You know that, do you not?" said Leila at last.</p> + +<p>Out of the shadow the sweet voice answered softly:</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes!"</p> + +<p>That sweet and soft "Oh, yes!" told Leila things +which she had already vaguely guessed. She rose +from the piano and went towards the corner of the +drawing-room whence the voice had come. Bending +over Donna Fedele, she sought her hands and silently +kissed first one and then the other. Donna Fedele +gladly yielded to the kisses that seemed to say, +"I also am a woman, and I understand." They held +a second meaning as well, but one that was still +hidden.</p> + +<p>"Are you not going to play any more?" Donna +Fedele whispered quickly. She was grateful for the +kisses, but words would have grated upon her. Leila +did not answer, but still stood holding her hands and +pressing them.</p> + +<p>"Shall we go to bed, then?" Donna Fedele went +on. Leila dropped her hands. "You must go," +said she; "but if I may, I should like to stay and +play a little longer." She turned on the light. Donna +Fedele rose from her chair with a smile. "That is +right, dear," said she. She embraced Leila, rang +for her maid, and then withdrew.</p> + +<p>Leila remained standing motionless until the house +was quite still. Then she sat down at the piano +again and went on playing at random until the maid +returned and began closing the heavy double doors +opening upon the verandah. Leila begged her to +leave them open. She would close them herself. +Perhaps she might go out again to get a breath +of air.</p> + +<p>"It is raining, Signorina," said the maid; "and +now the wind is rising." But Leila had begun to +play again and made no answer, and, after a +moment's hesitation, the woman decided she had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</span>better go and leave the doors open. Leila paused +to listen, heard her mounting the stairs, and then +heard her footsteps on the floor above. She rose +and went to assure herself that the door had really +been left open, peering for an instant out into the +night. There was little wind, but it was raining +steadily, and the shadows were black. She went +back to the piano, and hid her face in her hands as +if searching in her memory for music. Presently +she let her hands drop upon a chord, while her head +fell forward and her eyes stared unseeingly. Once +more she raised her head, and once more went to +peer into the whispering shadows. Then she closed +the doors, shot the bolts noisily, and opened them +again quietly. Then she put out the light and +went up to her room, whose single window looked +south across the plain of Arsiero, upon Priaforà and +the Montanina. It stood open. Over yonder, between +the plain of Arsiero and Priaforà, flowed the +invisible Posina. Leila held her breath to listen, but +she could not hear the river. In her mind's eye she +saw the bridge that spans it, the water flowing +noisily far below over its bed of grey gravel, the +canal that runs along beside it, higher up, and then +turns southwards, shaded by birch-trees, flowing +silently and rapidly. A gust of wind blew the rain +into her face. She closed the window hastily, and +then smiled at herself for shrinking from a splash of +rain. She looked at her watch—it was half-past ten. +There were still two hours before the moment she +had fixed upon, when she would throw herself from +the bridge into the swift and silent canal below.</p> + +<p>She sat down at her table beneath the lamp, feeling +it her duty to leave a few written words. She wrote +as follows:</p> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Friend</span>,—I am going to my death. I do +not know why I should die, but still less do I know +why I should go on living."</p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</span></p> + +<p>And beyond that? Should she ask pardon? But +for what? And if not to ask pardon, why should she +write at all? To bid farewell? Donna Fedele would +remember those two last kisses. She could not even +find words to write with. There was nothing within +her save icy purpose, held stiff by action. She tore +the note in pieces, rose from the table, and changed +her dress. The gown of deep mourning she had +on was one Donna Fedele had lent her. She changed +it for the grey dress she had worn on the day she +came to the Villino. Then she took up a silver chain-bag +that had been a gift from poor Andrea, and in +which she kept certain other souvenirs of him. A +little plaque, upon which was engraved the word +"Leila," was incrusted upon the chainwork. Her +eyes fell upon the plaque and the name that reminded +her of a quarrel. Several times she put the bag +down only to take it up again, uncertain whether to +carry it with her or leave it behind. An inner +impulse moved her to leave it behind, and at that +moment the frost that bound her heart melted into +a very tempest of desire. Once more she opened +the window, and, yielding to the passionate impulse, +flung her soul towards him, wherever he might be. +"I love you! I love you! I give myself to you! +Take me, take all of me before I die! Kiss me, +kiss me! Hurt me with your kisses!" She spread +her arms wide, writhing as if in a spasm of pain. +She raised one arm, pressed it against her mouth, +gasped, and closed her teeth upon it, holding them +there until the violent throbbing of her heart was +quieted somewhat. The clock at Arsiero struck +eleven. From the silver bag she drew a photograph +of poor Andrea, and wrote beneath it:</p> + + +<p class="center p11">"July fourth—I am coming!"</p> + + +<p>Then she placed the picture on the table near the +inkstand, where it would be seen at once, and she +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</span>finally decided to take the bag with her. She glanced +about her to see that everything was in order. She +took the "Journal d'Eugénie de Guérin" from the +bedside table and placed it upon the chest of drawers. +Donna Fedele had given it to her to read, but she +felt she had nothing in common with Eugénie de +Guérin, who would have been horrified with her at +that moment, and that it would be an act of +hypocrisy to leave the book where it was. She +looked at her watch. It was only a quarter-past +eleven. There was no danger of meeting any one +on such a dark and rainy night, and she decided to +wait no longer. She cut a piece of cord from one +of the curtains with which to tie her skirts before +the leap, that they might not float over her head, +and put on her rubber goloshes that her footsteps +might not be heard on the stairs. Then she put +out the light, and went down very softly and +cautiously.</p> + +<p>Suddenly she remembered that she had forgotten +to destroy the pieces of the note she had written. +Should she go back and get them? She gave a +shrug of indifference and then crossed the drawing-room, +listening to the quick ticking of the clock, +and judging from that in which direction the verandah +door lay. Very cautiously she parted the wings she +herself had only pushed together, and passed quickly +out. She had only gone a step or two, however, +when she gave a sudden spring to the left, upsetting +several chairs, for a form had started up in front +of her. She did not cry out, but making for the +verandah steps, disappeared into the garden. But +Donna Fedele had heard the crash of the overturned +chairs, and she cried out: "Who is +there?" Carnesecca's voice answered, "A woman! +A woman has left the house!" "What woman? +Where is she now?" Donna Fedele cried again +from the window in great alarm. "I don't +know. She has gone away! She has disappeared!" +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</span>"Follow her!" came the order. "She is a sleep-walker!"</p> + +<p>Carnesecca tore away into the darkness towards the +small gate. A silence followed which was soon broken. +Donna Fedele, going down the verandah steps, +wrapped in a dressing-gown, heard Carnesecca saying +in a soft and soothing voice, "Wake up, Signora! +Wake up!" Ah, then she was safe! Donna Fedele's +strength failed her, and she sank upon the lowest +step, regardless of the pouring rain. Leila, who had +been overtaken on the grassy slope below the gate, +had screamed on feeling herself grasped, and had +then fallen in a dead faint.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>"What a piece of good fortune," said Carnesecca, +bringing the insensible girl into the house with the +help of the cook and the housemaid—"what a piece +of good fortune that I could find no shelter anywhere, +and so determined to take the liberty of spending +the night on your verandah! Otherwise this child +of God might have come to serious hurt with her +sleep-walking!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes! Good fortune indeed!" said Donna +Fedele, who was still trembling, while the maid and +the cook could only mutter:</p> + +<p>"Gèsummaria Signore! Blessed Lady! Dear +Lord preserve us!"</p> + + + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" > + CHAPTER VIII + <br> + <small>HOLY ALLIANCES</small> + </h2> +</div> + + +<h3>I</h3> + +<p>Three days later, on the Friday, Girolamo Camin, +Auditor, Francesco Molesin, Doctor-at-Law, and +Carolina Gorlago, Camin's housekeeper, reached +Arsiero together by the first train, and packed themselves, +with all their bags and umbrellas, into one +of the small carriages that abound at that station +for driving travellers to Tonezza and Lavarone. +Dr. Molesin hesitated somewhat when about to get +in, on account of Carolina, but, encouraged by his +friend Momi,⁠<a id="FNanchor_4_4" href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> friend Checco⁠<a id="FNanchor_5_5" href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> finally took the second +inside seat. Carolina, a vulgar-looking woman about +five-and-thirty, climbed up beside the driver, making +no effort to hide her vexation. Then the driver +whipped up his horse, and they started off in the +direction of the Montanina.</p> + +<p>Auditor Camin, whose claim to kinship with the +ancient and honourable family of da Camin was +purely fictitious, was ugly with an ugliness not so +much the fault of his features as the bloated unhealthiness +of his complexion and red eyes, a +dyed, parti-coloured beard adding little to his beauty. +He wore a straw hat, a long olive-green overcoat +that had seen better days, and a red and yellow +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</span>muffler as a protection against any bleak winds that +might blow from the mountains of Val d'Astico. +For the same reason Molesin had also enveloped +himself in a long brown coat, and had wound a +heavy black and white shawl around his neck. There +was not much resemblance between the two friends. +Sior⁠<a id="FNanchor_6_6" href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> Momi's small and bleary eyes were always +fixed in an expressionless stare. Sior Checco's, on +the other hand, which were larger and darker, looked +out from beneath his respectable felt hat with a +grave melancholy, even when he smiled. Molesin +wore a moustache only, a fair moustache, which +was growing grey, and though he was older than +Camin he looked healthier. The woman loomed +large beside the small driver, whose extreme +youth seemed to cause the two inside passengers +considerable anxiety. Molesin, who was especially, +nervous, did not dare to lean back, and kept hurling +instructions at the boy in a manner that was not in +keeping with his usual grave demeanour. "Be +careful, I tell you! Go slow, I say!" Nor was +Camin what might be called a fearless traveller, +but the idea of being upset was not his greatest +anxiety at that moment. He had noted Carolina's +vexation, and was now intent on stroking her broad +back affectionately at frequent intervals. "Are you +quite comfortable? Hold tight! Hold tight, I +say!" he kept on saying. Carolina gripped the +iron encircling the box-seat, and deigned no reply. +When they had crossed the Posina bridge, a proceeding +which made Molesin shudder, the horse +subsided into a walking pace.</p> + +<p>"Thank the Lord!" Sior Checco murmured, and +upon learning that the Montanina was near at hand, +he once more resumed the business talk that had been +interrupted by leaving the train. The driver, who +had as much curiosity as any newspaper reporter, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</span>finding that they were discussing things he was +unable to understand, turned his attention to his +neighbour. Who was the gentleman behind him? +The woman answered dryly:</p> + +<p>"I don't know."</p> + +<p>"Are you a relative of that other gentleman +who is sitting behind you?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know."</p> + +<p>"You don't belong to these parts, do you?"</p> + +<p>"I belong to much better parts!" she retorted, +and the boy was afraid to ask any more questions.</p> + +<p>She was really a native of Cantù. A master-mason +from Como, who had known her as an inn-servant, +had married her and taken her with him to Padua. +Having separated from her husband, she took service +with Sior Momi, first as cook and then as housekeeper, +and now she both served and ruled, besides +holding a position in his household which constituted +something of a stumbling-block to Camin's ambitions +of ingratiating himself with the Clerical party.</p> + +<p>"Is this the famous Montanina?" asked Molesin, +raising his eyes to the green hillside along which +the carriage was driving. And being impressed by +the villa's high and pointed roof, and the lower ones +of the outbuildings and the church, of the so-called +<em>casoni</em> of the plains, certain large cabins with straw-thatched +roofs, he gave vent to the following memorable +criticism:</p> + +<p>"Un cason che gà famegia—a big house with +a family of children."</p> + +<p>Sior Momi laughed his own peculiar laugh—"Aho! +aho!"—his mouth opening wide.</p> + +<p>"Good, good! Very good!" said he. "A big +house with ... aho, aho!"</p> + +<p>It was his habit to re-echo other people's clever +sayings as a delicate form of flattery.</p> + +<p>Teresina and Giovanni received the party at the +south entrance. Giovanni could hardly keep a +straight face at the sight of the bundle of overcoats +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</span>and many-coloured scarves, but Teresina's expression +was funereal. She accompanied the new master's +housekeeper to a room on the second floor which +she had chosen for her, and on the way Carolina +informed her that she was aware she was the "girl's" +maid—Süra⁠<a id="FNanchor_7_7" href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> Lella's maid. It was perhaps because +<em>el Leila</em> is a popular personage in Lombardy that +Carolina could never get Leila's name straight.</p> + +<p>"You and I are sure to get on together," said +she, in her broad Lombard dashed with Paduan. +Then she proceeded to sing the praises of her master, +whom she pronounced a good-hearted creature +enough.</p> + +<p>"However," she added with a smile worthy of +her public-house education, "you had better be +careful of him, for he has a weakness for fine +women."</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut!" said Teresina, with flaming cheeks, +"this is no talk for me to listen to!" And in her +heart she added, "Gèsu! What company for +me!"</p> + +<p>Carolina Gorlago was not satisfied with the room, +which, although spacious and lofty, had only a roof-window, +and in a most deliberate fashion she proceeded +to take possession of another room in the front of the +house, above the salon. This apartment was known +as the "swallow-room" in allusion to its decorations, +and many years before, when his son was still a +boy, poor Signor Marcello had told Teresina that it +would one day be the nursery for Andrea's children. +Teresina had never forgotten this, and now, at sight +of this Carolina boldly establishing herself here as +mistress, the tears came to her eyes, and she hurried +to her own room to relieve her feelings. But +Giovanni soon came in search of her. The master +wanted her. "Master, indeed! The Signorina is +our mistress!" she cried angrily. "I don't believe +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</span>we shall get our wages from the Signorina," said +Giovanni. "He will pay us, and so I am bound +to call him master."</p> + +<p>Sior Momi had chosen for himself the corner room +on the first floor looking towards the kitchen. +Little did he care for a fine view; this room was +admirably situated for watching the servants, for +spying, and for eavesdropping. He inquired if coffee +had been prepared for his housekeeper also, and +which room she would occupy. Upon hearing that +she had not been satisfied with the one prepared +for her, his heavy face betrayed no surprise. "Bad, +bad, bad!" came mechanically from his lips, +prompted by his habit of seeking to please, at least +in the beginning, whoever might be speaking to +him. At last he inquired for Leila. Teresina had +a letter for him from Donna Fedele. She gave it to +him and then withdrew, saying she would take the +coffee to the dining-room. But she had hardly closed +the door when she opened it again hesitatingly. +Would the housekeeper come to the dining-room for +her coffee also? This time the mask-like face and +the bleary eyes smiled slightly.</p> + +<p>"No, no! She will have her meals with you, +with you!"</p> + +<p>The man impressed Teresina as a perfect fool. +Had she not been aware of the affair of the jewels, +she would have found it hard to believe he was the +cunning rascal whose very name had been so hateful +to Signor Marcello.</p> + +<p>Molesin took an especial interest in friend Momi's +affairs, and Momi was full of attentions for friend +Checco. Sior Momi had extorted money from many +people by means of numberless tricks, but, at the +same time, he had got into debt. One fine day he had +declared his inability to pay, and had made his +creditors an offer of twenty per cent. The creditors +having called a meeting and consulted together, had +entrusted the defence of their interests to Molesin. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</span>Many of the unhappy victims who had been duped +by Momi were priests, and in the ecclesiastical world +the forensic and financial abilities of Dr. Molesin +were very highly esteemed. This man, who, having +devoted two years to the study of law, and spent +much time hanging about the courts, now gave +himself out as a Doctor-at-Law, accepted the defence +on the understanding that he was to have thirty per +cent. of whatever sum he might be able to squeeze +out of Momi over and above his offer. Upon being +invited to consult with him, Momi, who was in ignorance +of this arrangement, fancied he would be able +to get round his friend by the offer of a handsome +present. Molesin feigned intense scrupulosity, for +he believed Momi to be possessed of hidden means, +and he had also great hopes that Leila, now an +heiress, would be induced to save the honour of +her name.</p> + +<p>Upon hearing that Leila, who was still a minor, had +come into her fortune, Molesin hugged himself.</p> + +<p>Now was the time to watch Momi, for that sly +rogue would certainly try to get all he could, and give +out as little as possible. Now was the time to watch +the daughter also. He had already interested himself +from a distance in her affairs. Having been a fellow-student +of the archpriest of Velo d'Astico, he kept up +a fairly active correspondence with him, his declared +purpose being to obtain news of Signorina da Camin +for his friend Momi, who was cut off from communication +with the Montanina. The archpriest +honestly credited this explanation of his old friend's +curiosity, and promptly answered his letters. And +in this way Checco had learned of the arrival at the +Montanina of the famous young Modernist. He +became alarmed, fearing, not his Modernism, but his +youth. Should Leila marry, his fondest hopes would +be frustrated, and it was he who found means of +conveying the news to Signor Camin. On the very +night of Signor Marcello's death the archpriest had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</span>written to Molesin that Alberti had fled, and that +damaging information concerning him which had +been received from Milan had probably led to this +happy solution. Then, with but slight ceremony, +the cunning doctor had proceeded to drag an +invitation to the Montanina from the heiress's +father.</p> + +<p>The short journey, to take place on the following +morning, had then and there been planned at Camin's +house and in Carolina's presence. That night the +honest doctor slept but little. He knew that he +was about to begin a game of cunning with the +"sly rogue," whom he knew to be a sharp-witted +adversary, despite a weakness for women that Checco, +minus this defect, regarded as a lamentable flaw +in an otherwise peerless composition.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Molesin was somewhat worried by the fact that, +as yet, he had failed to catch a glimpse of Leila, +and that her father had not mentioned her. He +questioned Giovanni, who was taking him to the +room that had been prepared for him, "Where is +the Signorina?" Giovanni told him she was out, +and Molesin naturally concluded she had gone +for a walk. On his way down to coffee he met +Teresina on the stairs, and put the same question +to her, "Where is the Signorina?"</p> + +<p>"She is not here."</p> + +<p>"Not here? What do you mean by that?"</p> + +<p>Teresina stared at him, somewhat nettled by his +tone.</p> + +<p>"She is with Signora Vayla, sir."</p> + +<p>"Strange that Momi should not have said so," +Molesin reflected, going towards the dining-room. +As he entered by one door Carolina disappeared +through another, her face wearing an angry scowl, +and Sior Momi was still muttering impatiently:</p> + +<p>"You have your orders! Be a good creature and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</span>obey!" He had been ordering her to vacate the +"swallow-room," and take the one Teresina had +prepared for her.</p> + +<p>Molesin had no idea who this Signora Vayla might +be nor where she lived, but his keen insight put +him on the scent of some trouble existing between +father and daughter. As he sat silently sipping his +coffee it was borne in upon him that probably the +girl had refused to come in contact with Carolina. +He longed to know the truth—it was important +that he should know it. If father and daughter +were going to lead a cat-and-dog life, Sior Momi +would undoubtedly wish to make the most of these +few months before the girl became mistress of her +own fortune, and grab as much as possible—money, +bonds, jewels, everything in fact that could not +easily be traced, and then ... why, he, Molesin, +would find himself in no better position than +before.</p> + +<p>"Tell me, my good Momi," said he, between calm +sips of coffee, "when shall we have the pleasure +of seeing your daughter?"</p> + +<p>Momi replied that she was indisposed.</p> + +<p>"Oh, poor girl! Poor girl!" Molesin became +tenderly solicitous. "I do hope we have not upset +her!"</p> + +<p>Momi reassured him. Leila was not in the house. +She was staying with a friend at Arsiero—an +old friend of Signor Marcello's. She had insisted +upon going to this lady's house immediately after +the sad event. He went on to declare that this +friendship between his daughter and Signora Vayla +was a thorn in his flesh. The obstinate and eccentric +girl had always been prejudiced against her father, +first by her own mother and then by the Trentos, and +he had no doubt that her Arsiero friend had now +undertaken to encourage this prejudice. In fact, a +letter he had just received from the lady as good +as proved the truth of this suspicion. Sior Momi +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</span>herewith drew a letter from his pocket and handed +it to Molesin with a great show of candour. The +man of law reflected that the very act of showing +it to him proved this to be a first move on his +adversary's part. He read as follows:</p> + + +<p>"<em>Villino delle Rose, July sixth.</em></p> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>,—I regret to be obliged to inform +you that during the night of July fourth your +daughter had a violent attack of fever. The +doctor declared it to be of a rheumatic nature. +At present her temperature is almost normal, but +she is very weak. The doctor wishes her to be +spared all excitement, and for this reason I feel +that a visit from you at the present moment would +be inopportune.</p> + +<p>"I take the liberty of adding that the mental +shocks Leila has so recently received have certainly +affected her general health, and the doctor shares +my opinion that a change to other surroundings, +for a time at least, would greatly benefit her. Your +own affairs, I expect, will keep you here for the +present, but as I am going to Turin on business, +I should be delighted if you would allow me to +take Leila with me. Her company would be a great +pleasure to me. Trusting you may see your way +to consent to this proposal, I am,</p> + +<p style="padding-left: 5em;">"Yours very truly,</p> +<p class="right" style="padding-right: 2em;"><span class="smcap">"Fedele Vayla di Brea</span>."</p> + + +<p class="p1">"But I'll go and see her, all the same ... +eh?... I had better go, don't you think so?... +I am her father.... It is my right!... The +rights of paternal authority.... Don't you think +so?... Eh?... Hadn't I better go, all the +same?"</p> + +<p>Momi appeared now to be stating a proposition, +now to be asking for advice, and the change of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</span>tone, the words, and the smile were but so many +blandishments lavished upon the watchful cat, who, +having laid aside the letter, sat for some time watching +his rat in silence. At last, with a slight shrug, Molesin +replied:</p> + +<p>"Benon! All right!"</p> + +<p>Sior Momi thought he noted a tone of disapproval.</p> + +<p>"Why not, then?"</p> + +<p>"I said, 'All right,'" his friend repeated, this +time in a more encouraging tone. "Meanwhile," +he added, rising, "let us go over the house."</p> + +<p>Camin rose also, but his eyes were blinking +nervously, this being the only external sign of +internal discomfort to which he was subject. He +persisted in seeking his friend's advice.</p> + +<p>"No, no! Come now! Tell me—had I better +go or not?"</p> + +<p>"Have I not just said 'All right'?" Molesin reiterated. +"Go or stay away—it is all the same to +me." And he added that, should Sior Momi decide +to pay his visit, he himself would go and call upon +the archpriest.</p> + +<p>This time it was Momi who said "All right!" +but, as a matter of fact, he did so coldly enough. +He was conscious of the suspicions the letter and +his comments upon it had aroused in his formidable +guest, and he was wondering what machinery he +could set in motion through the archpriest to help +in carrying out his own plan, which was, to allow +it to appear that the relations between his daughter +and himself were strained, while, secretly, he would +be winning her over to his side. He blinked +nervously two or three times before he could control +himself, and then he and his guest started on their +round of inspection, Momi never failing to emphasise +Molesin's comments with his sycophantic laugh. +Carolina's bag was still in the "swallow-room." +Molesin noticed this, and Sior Momi saw that he +had done so. The woman was on a round of inspection<span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</span> +on her own account, and the couple met her +on the stairs as they were coming down.</p> + +<p>"I say!" cried Momi, in harsh and commanding +tones, "put that bag where it belongs, will +you?"</p> + +<p>Carolina looked at him furiously and passed on. +Molesin followed her with his eyes as far as the +upper landing.</p> + +<p>"My dear Momi," said he, placing his hand on +his friend's shoulder and emphasising his words, "I +am afraid your daughter's personality and this lady's—their +personalities, you understand—will be likely +to clash!"</p> + +<p>"Aho! aho! What is the matter now?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, nothing!"</p> + +<p>"Aho, aho! You son of a dog...!" laughed +Sior Momi, expressing by his epithet his admiration +for his companion's sharp-sightedness.</p> + + +<h3>II</h3> + +<p>Towards eleven o'clock the worthy Camin, having +held a brief consultation with Teresina in the study, +informed his friend that he was ready to start for +the Villino delle Rose, and invited him to go part +of the way, if he still meant to call upon the +archpriest. At the point where three roads meet +and the path from the Montanina joins the main +road, Momi pointed out the campanile of Velo, glittering +in the sunshine, and then betook himself to his +own road. Molesin went slowly forward for a few +yards, then, looking behind him to make sure that +Momi was no longer in sight, he turned and retraced +his steps. Had Momi seen this manœuvre he would +most certainly have repeated his last epithet with +real feeling this time, and would, moreover, have congratulated +himself that he had anticipated that while +he was out of the way Molesin would try to cross-examine<span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</span> +Teresina, and that he had had the forethought +to instruct her accordingly.</p> + +<p>Molesin returned to the Montanina to fetch his +scarf, which he had purposely left in the vestibule. +Then he went in search of Teresina, and having +found her, he carefully explained the reason for his +unexpected return, and then asked her to show him +the little church, which he had not yet visited. While +they walked through the garden he inquired, with +great affability, what she thought of her new master. +Teresina avoided the question, and Molesin went on +to assure her that he was a "most excellent man—the +best of men! But unfortunate, very unfortunate! +Unfortunate in his wife and in business. And how +about this daughter of his?" he rambled on. "How +about the daughter? Is she glad to have her father +to live with her again? She must be delighted. +I can imagine how glad she is—is she not?"</p> + +<p>Dr. Molesin's honeyed tones failed to have any +effect upon Teresina, not because she felt bound +by any loyalty towards Sior Momi, who had, however, +exerted himself to the utmost to win her confidence, +but because Molesin's face, voice, and +blandishments were odious to her. She answered +shortly enough that she knew nothing about it, and +could give him no information. Molesin entered +the church, and having dipped his fingers in the +holy water, made the sign of the cross devoutly, +and knelt down for a moment before starting out +to make a minute examination of all that the church +contained. He accepted all the doctrines of the +Church blindly, and conformed to all its practices, +but as he did not take people's money directly from +their pockets and strong-boxes, it never occurred +to him that there was the least discrepancy between +his religious practices and his worldly dealings. On +the contrary, success in his worldly dealings only +made him more zealous in religious ones. When +he had swindled and despoiled his neighbour, he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</span>would seek to swindle the Almighty as well, by +means of various <em>paters</em>, <em>aves</em>, and <em>glorias</em>, or by +a few extra Masses. He was quite unconscious, +however, of being a hypocrite, and looked forward +quite confidently to occupying a small corner in +Paradise. He belonged to the Clerical party, but +his dubious reputation caused many of his fellow-members +to look upon him askance, though +he always pretended to be unaware of this. +He relied greatly on the friendship of a few +priests, who were unacquainted with his true +character, and these friendships he was continually +bringing forward in terms of boastful exaggeration. +One of these was with the archpriest of Velo, +Molesin's contemporary and school companion.</p> + +<p>"And the young man?" said he as they were +leaving the church—"the young man from Milan +who was staying here? A fine fellow, eh? A very +fine fellow! I should have thought he might have +suited the Signorina. A splendid fellow, I tell you! +And so they could not arrange it? What a pity! +Do you mean to say it could really not be arranged?"</p> + +<p>"I wonder what he knows about the young man +from Milan," thought Teresina. This time she +answered impatiently. How did he expect her to +know about things that were no business of +hers?</p> + +<p>Molesin started forward once more along the Velo +road, his head bowed, meditating upon his next move +in the game. He was annoyed at having to carry +the shawl. His journey back to fetch it had been +to no purpose, and it weighed upon his arm and +looked out of place at eleven in the morning and +beneath the blazing sun.</p> + +<p>"Damn the woman and the shawl too!" he +muttered.</p> + +<p>The archpriest was not at home; he was in church. +Molesin inquired for the sister-in-law. She was in +church. And the chaplain? In church also.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</span></p> + +<p>"Your name, if you please," said the servant, +seeing he was annoyed. Upon hearing that revered +name—Dr. Molesin—her face brightened. She knew +he was a great friend of the archpriest's, and she +had posted many letters to him from her master. +She detained him, saying she would call the archpriest, +and then, assuming an air of mystery, and +in strictest confidence, he being a friend of her +master's, she confided to him the fact that the +chaplain had just received a letter from his uncle +the Cardinal, announcing that the archpriest was +about to be made a Bishop. The master had been +deeply moved, mainly on account of the prospective +bishopric, but also somewhat because he feared he +might be sent to some place in the neighbourhood of +Naples, and he had long entertained a violent dislike +of those parts. On receipt of the news, the master, +Signora Bettina, and the chaplain had immediately, +gone to the church, and were there still.</p> + +<p>"Then, in a way, you will be a sort of female +bishop," said the merry doctor. And he asked himself: +"Does she know anything that can interest +me, and will she be as secretive as the other?" +He begged her not to announce his arrival, not to +disturb any one. He was quite willing to wait, +he said, and went on to praise the virtues of Don +Tita, who was deserving, most deserving. The +servant showed him into the reception-room, and +there, seated on the sofa, he amused her with anecdotes +of the days when he and the archpriest had +been at school together. "It is a wise choice!" +he cried at last, "a very wise choice! Do you +know, I believe I will go and join them in the +church. But first I wish you would satisfy my +curiosity on one point."</p> + +<p>He proceeded to ask her if she knew Signorina +Camin, who had lived with old Signor Trento? The +woman's face became stern. Of course the gentleman +knew what had happened? No, he had not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</span>heard! Blessed Mother! Why, she had tried to +run away!</p> + +<p>"To run away?" Molesin cried in amazement. +But the servant had heard voices outside, and with +a hurried, "Here they are!" she was off. The archpriest +and his two companions had returned from +church. They held a short confabulation with the +servant outside the door, and presently the archpriest +came in alone.</p> + +<p>He saw the astonishment depicted on Molesin's +face, and concluded without hesitation that "that +chatterbox has been blabbing!" He was conscious +also that his own expression was rather a tell-tale +one, and that there was no need for him to confirm +the woman's news in so many words. His only +greeting was, "My dear friend!" and it was with +tears in his eyes that he embraced the man who +he had always refused to believe was either a hypocrite +or a knave. His were honest tears, arising +from various emotions. There was first the comforting +sense of his promotion, by the will of God +and of the Vicar of Christ, to a dignity whose religious +importance really appealed to him more than the +external and worldly glory connected with it, and +the warm appreciation of the mark of confidence +from his superiors. The tears sprang, too, from a +revival of his religious fervour, a yearning determination +to lead a simple, austerely pious and +exemplary life, the life befitting a shepherd of shepherds, +and there came, also, the sad feeling of breaking +with old habits and saying farewell to familiar +places. Dr. Molesin, despite his amazement at the +servant's information, saw the mistake under which +the archpriest was labouring, and took advantage of +the embrace, which he protracted as long as possible, +that he might have time to settle his line of action, +and, like the archpriest himself, he produced a yard +of coarse, blue handkerchief, with which he wiped +his eyes vigorously.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</span></p> + +<p>"A fine choice!" he exclaimed, folding his +handkerchief again. "A very fine choice!" Meanwhile +the archpriest had also regained his composure. +He begged Molesin not to divulge his secret, +and when the good doctor inquired the name of +the diocese over which his friend was to preside, +declared that he had no idea, not the slightest idea +which it would be. Thereupon he thought it advisable +to change the subject by a decisive "Well, +then?" to which the doctor responded.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Molesin, speaking in Italian, to add +weight to his remarks, "the famous Modernist has +had to take himself off, and his friend the priest +has gone too, they tell me."</p> + +<p>The archpriest laughed.</p> + +<p>"Ancient history!" said he. "Ancient history, my +dear friend. Let us come down to modern times."</p> + +<p>Molesin asked for nothing better than to come +down to the present, but what could he say of the +present that the archpriest did not know already? +There was old Signor Trento's death, his will, Momi +Camin's presence at the Montanina——</p> + +<p>"Until the grand sweep-out comes!"</p> + +<p>The archpriest had no idea how unbearable +Molesin was finding his priestly reserve, but the +worthy doctor bore it without flinching. He said +that Momi had invited him to come and see the +villa, and that he had accepted mainly that he might +have the pleasure of seeing the archpriest again; +but, of course, he had been glad to please Momi +also. At this point he thought fit to speak in high +praise of Momi, who had been so unfortunate both +in his family and in business, who had perhaps gone +slightly astray in politics, but who was a good +creature at bottom, and a good Christian—oh, an +exemplary Christian—one of the old sort.</p> + +<p>"Hold on there!" cried Don Tita. "I have +been told that at his home in Padua there are pretty +goings-on."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</span></p> + +<p>Molesin frowned, pursed his lips, and uttered a +long, low groan, interrupted at intervals by outbursts +of denial—no, no, no! "I really cannot believe it! +It is only what people say!" Then he went on to +extol the excellence of his friend's principles and +practices. He was sure he would prove a good +parishioner, a most generous parishioner towards the +church and the poor, whereas, should the Montanina, +sooner or later, fall into the hands of a certain other +person, of that Signor Alberti——</p> + +<p>"Alas, my friend!" moaned Don Tita, "it has +fallen into those hands already!"</p> + +<p>"You don't say so!"</p> + +<p>For a moment Molesin lost command of himself.</p> + +<p>"It has fallen into them already," Don Tita repeated. +And he went on to tell of Leila's attempted +flight.</p> + +<p>"It was all arranged, you see," he declared. +"Everything was arranged."</p> + +<p>It was his belief, he said, that the girl had absolutely +refused to live with her father. Donna Fedele +had taken her part, but she would not be able to +keep her with her should her father insist upon +having her. In a few months Leila would come +of age, and be her own mistress. What mattered to +her abettors was only to get through these few months, +and they had fixed upon a clever plan. The girl +was to have run away—she was a daring creature, +one might even say she was shamelessly bold—and +to have hidden herself in Piedmont, where Donna +Fedele had hosts of friends with whom she could +have stayed until her minority was over. Meanwhile +her accomplice would have laboured on behalf of +Signor Alberti, who was another of her favourites. +She had even had him back at Seghe since +his flight. They had been seen plotting together +in a deserted spot on the banks of the Astico. +But Providence was on the watch. Providence had +made use of a rascally heretic to upset their cunning +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</span>plans. One night this heretic had been led to take +refuge from the storm in a place where the girl had +certainly not expected to find him, and this accident +had brought about the scheme's complete failure.</p> + +<p>Don Tita described the nature of the failure, and +then proceeded to point the moral. The trick would +most certainly be tried again, and Signor Camin +or <em>da</em> Camin must find a means of preventing its +accomplishment if he also wished to prevent the +"grand sweep-out."</p> + +<p>This cleverly-constructed story was not the fruit +of Don Tita's genius, but of Don Emanuele's, and +Don Emanuele had even withheld some of the facts. +The chaplain had told only what he deemed it good +for Don Tita to know, and what might be freely +repeated without undesirable results. As a matter of +fact, Don Emanuele knew quite well that the servants +at the Villino had been led to suspect an attempt at +suicide by certain remains of a letter they had found +in the Signorina's room. But it gave the chaplain a +pleasant sense of superiority to retain this information, +besides placing him in a position to direct +matters. Don Tita was not deceived, though he +appeared to be so. He saw through Don Emanuele's +little game, but he realised that the tale he had just +told Molesin would do as well as any other to sow +discord between the new master of the Montanina and +Signora Vayla, and to promote an alliance with the +former that might prove advantageous to the church, +which was sadly in need of funds. Molesin followed +the story with great attention. If matters really +stood thus, and should Momi consent to his daughter's +going away with Donna Fedele, they might prepare +for the worst. That woman would help Leila to +escape, and there would be no finding her again. +And the "grand sweep-out" would take place in +a few months now. The girl would assign a pension +to her father—she would probably refuse to do more—and +that would not amount to anything. She must +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</span>be induced to return to the Montanina, and Momi +must be persuaded to make every effort to regain +her confidence. This would be the most difficult +point!</p> + +<p>"Poor Momi!" he sighed gloomily, and without +mentioning Donna Fedele's letter, passed on to +another subject. He inquired if Momi had had the +funeral service read on the seventh day after Signor +Marcello's death. No, nothing had been said about +it. Under ordinary circumstances the archpriest +would have consulted the family, but in this case, +Signor Camin having left without making any +arrangements, and his daughter being away, he himself +had taken no steps. The chaplain perhaps knew +something about it, but he was doubtful as to this.</p> + +<p>"We shall see," he said, and ringing the bell, +sent to summon the chaplain.</p> + +<p>Molesin had met Don Emanuele once before in +Padua, and had then fancied that the priest's bearing +was hostile. He had felt ill at ease under the gaze +of that cold and watery eye. His suspicions were +correct, for Don Emanuele knew him well, and had +purposely kept him at a distance. Molesin would +gladly have avoided meeting him again, but when +the chaplain entered the salon and greeted the visitor, +Checco was secretly pleased to perceive that the +watery eye was less cold than on the previous occasion. +The fact was that Don Emanuele now saw +in Molesin only the person who had warned that +pious lady Signora Camin of Massimo's dangerous +presence at the Montanina, and, through her, certain +ecclesiastics who were friends and advisers of his +own. As he bowed to Molesin, the priest's face wore +a slight smile, which seemed to say, "Ah, so it is +you, is it!" Having ascertained that Don Emanuele +had not spoken to any one concerning the funeral +service, and that, moreover, in consequence of a +previous arrangement of services which the archpriest +had forgotten, it would not be possible to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</span>celebrate it on the seventh day, Molesin declared +that he would assume the responsibility of ordering +it in his friend's name, and that they could fix the +day later on. In his friend's name also he begged +them to help him to find a priest who would celebrate +Mass on Sunday at the church connected with the +Montanina. The archpriest would have answered +cordially had he not been checked by a shadowy +hint upon his chaplain's face. He therefore +answered vaguely that he would see about it. Then +Molesin, who had not been blind to Don Emanuele's +expression, proceeded to give them a further glimpse, +by means of certain vague allusions, of the fine +things Momi Camin might be capable of doing +should he meet with encouragement and find peace +in his own family. He did not venture, however, +to specify the nature of these same fine things, and +the archpriest, who, indeed, was glad he had not +done so—had not put forward any kind of contract—punctuated +his confused and involved discourse with +certain ejaculations of approval that were as balm +to the spirit of the speaker.</p> + +<p>But Don Emanuele, evidently uneasy lest his own +secret plans should be frustrated and his superior +should be compromised by incautious language, +here reminded Don Tita of certain pressing business +they must attend to together, and thus Molesin +found him obliged to take his departure. The +archpriest asked him if he were leaving that same +day. He answered that such had, indeed, been his +intention on leaving home, but that the place was +so charming, and his friend Momi so determined +to keep him, that he had decided to remain. Thereupon +he said goodbye, and trotted off towards the +Montanina, now meditating upon the archpriest's +story and the mysterious shadow that had darkened +Don Emanuele's face, now wondering what sort of +an interview Momi had had with that Signora Baila, +or Balia, or whatever her name was. On reaching +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</span>the Montanina he found that Sior Momi had not yet +returned, but he came in presently, and Molesin, who +was in the kitchen inquiring about lunch, heard him +calling down the corridors, "Doctor! Sior Checco!" +Having criticised the cook's method of cooking a salt-cod +she was preparing, and instructed her according +to his own taste, Molesin went into the house again, +shouting in his turn, "Momi, Momi! Here I am!" +They met in the vestibule.</p> + +<p>"Bad—bad—very bad!" grumbled Momi, blinking +rapidly.</p> + +<p>The girl would not see him, and the Signora had +given him to understand that, if he attempted to +make use of his legal right to have his daughter +with him, he might be prepared for the worst. +Signor Camin had been obliged to consent to the +journey. "We must wait and hope for the best," +he repeated in a nasal voice, his stupid, mask-like +face looking at his friend. "Wait and hope!"</p> + +<p>On learning that Momi had consented to the +journey with Signora Vayla, Molesin's first impulse +was to exclaim, "You stupid fool!" But on second +thoughts he changed his mind and said, "Yes, yes! +Quite right!" as if it were not worth while to get +excited over such a trifling matter. "Such a +dish of codfish as we are going to have!" he added. +"And you will have me to thank for it!"</p> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="footnotes"> +<p class="p2 center big2">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_4_4" href="#FNanchor_4_4" class="label">[4]</a> Momi: diminutive of Girolamo.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_5_5" href="#FNanchor_5_5" class="label">[5]</a> Checco: diminutive of Francesco.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_6_6" href="#FNanchor_6_6" class="label">[6]</a> Sior: dialect for Signor.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_7_7" href="#FNanchor_7_7" class="label">[7]</a> Süra: dialect for Signorina.</p></div> +</div> +</div> + + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" > + CHAPTER IX + <br> + <small>THE VILLINO OF THORNS</small> + </h2> +</div> + + +<h3>I</h3> + +<p>Donna Fedele had Leila carried, still unconscious, +to a large, double-bedded room, and saw that she +was undressed and put to bed. Presently the young +girl came to herself, cast an astonished glance about +her, pushed away with a moan the hands of the +maid who was arranging the bedclothes, and raised +herself on her elbow. Donna Fedele ordered the +two women to withdraw, and motioned to them to +wait in the dressing-room. She closed the door +and, coming back to the bed, caressed Leila tenderly. +"You have been walking in your sleep, dear," she +said. "But now, please, keep quite still, for I am +myself feeling so ill that I really must rest." Gently +she laid her back upon the pillows, then put out the +light, and lay down quietly upon the other bed. +She had been suffering greatly of late, so much so +that she had at last almost made up her mind to +see a doctor, not that she was nervous about herself, +but she thought it would be advisable. But +at the present moment her greatest anxiety was for +the humiliation Leila must be experiencing over the +failure of her attempt. She was determined to +deceive the girl, to make her think that no one even +suspected the truth.</p> + +<p>As yet not a single word had passed Leila's lips, +but about a quarter of an hour afterwards Donna +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</span>Fedele thought she heard her move. She called +softly to her:</p> + +<p>"Leila!"</p> + +<p>There was no answer. "Leila!" she called again +in a louder tone, but still no answer came. She +did not dare persist, but she raised her head slightly +from the pillow, in an effort to catch a glimpse of +the girl. Leila appeared to be lying motionless upon +her back, but Donna Fedele could not tell whether +her eyes were open or closed. She continued to +listen carefully for any sound, but she heard only +the wind whistling round the house. Softly creeping +out of bed, she went to dismiss the servants, +and by the light that slanted through the door and +across the room she saw Leila turn over quickly +upon her side, with her face to the wall. When +she was back in bed once more, Donna Fedele inquired, +in her usual voice, if Leila had been in the +habit of walking in her sleep as a child. But there +was again no answer. "You certainly must have +done so in your childhood," Donna Fedele added. +During the rest of the night all was silent, save for +Leila's restless movements and the roaring and +howling of the wind. It was a mortally long and +weary night. Towards dawn Leila fell asleep, and +her breathing became laboured. Donna Fedele rose, +and placed her hand upon her brow. It was burning +hot. The sleeping girl shuddered at her touch, +started up in bed, and moaned, "This is not my +room! This is not my room!" Donna Fedele told +her that she had left the house in her sleep, and +had had a fall. A fall? What did she mean by +that? She had not fallen. In her feverish mind +the word "fall" could only refer to the terrible +fall she had premeditated. She fancied she must +have somehow carried out her purpose. Donna +Fedele held her in her arms, and felt her embrace +returned, felt the girl's kisses and tears, and her +burning fever. She found it difficult to release herself<span class="pagenum" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</span> +from this embrace, and to get Leila to lie quiet +again. At last she rang for the maid and ordered +her to send the gate-keeper for the doctor.</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele dressed painfully, and when the +doctor arrived she left the maid with Leila, and +went to tell him only so much as it was absolutely +necessary for him to know. Signorina Leila had +gone out in the night, in a moment of great mental +agitation, which had been brought about by recent +domestic events. She had fallen just beyond the +gate, and lost consciousness. In order to spare her +feelings they had led her to believe that they attributed +her having left the house to an attack of +somnambulism, and Donna Fedele begged the doctor +to keep this in mind in speaking with his patient.</p> + +<p>Leila refused to take either food or medicine of +any description. She was greatly excited by the +fever, and kept up an incessant flow of talk concerning +somnambulism and sleep-walkers, but never +once betrayed herself. She seemed morbidly intent +upon confirming Donna Fedele's conclusions. Only +once did she vary her topic. Then she mentioned poor +Signor Marcello, and burst out crying. Towards +night the fever diminished, and she became gloomy +and silent. Late in the evening the doctor came +again, and finding her temperature almost normal, +tried to cheer her up; but the resentment that +quickly overspread the beautiful pale face made him +give up the attempt. Donna Fedele herself was +flushed and burning with fever. The true cause of +her sufferings was unknown to the doctor as to everybody +else, and he put her present condition down +to fatigue, and advised her to sleep alone that night +and keep as quiet as possible. She smiled, but said +nothing. Peace for her was not to be gained so +easily. That could only come in devoting herself +entirely to the young girl, not so much for the latter's +own sake as for the sake of Marcello and for the +sake of the love he had borne his son. Once more +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</span>she ordered the bed beside Leila to be prepared +for her. She was suffering, but she was rejoicing +in the thought that her life was at this moment +more full of purpose than it had ever been.</p> + +<p>She was accustomed to read a chapter from the +"Imitation of Christ" every night before going to +sleep. She asked Leila if the light disturbed her, +for in that case she would not read, and she repeated +her question twice before receiving an answer. At +last an almost inaudible "No" reached her. She +concluded it would be wiser to put out the light, +and presently, hearing a sigh from the next bed, +she called:</p> + +<p>"Leila!"</p> + +<p>As before, there was no answer, but she decided +to go on with what she had to say.</p> + +<p>"May I talk to you?"</p> + +<p>Silence.</p> + +<p>"Please answer me. I want to speak about myself. +I want to ask you to do something for me. +Will you listen to me?"</p> + +<p>This time she heard a listless "Yes." The voice +seemed to say, "I cannot refuse you, but why will +you torment me?"</p> + +<p>"Forgive me, dear!" the sweet voice went on. +"Do you wish to go to sleep at once?"</p> + +<p>As before, Leila moaned, "No."</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele was silent for a time, thinking how +to tell a story which she hoped would result in great +good, and which only the dark gave her courage +to utter.</p> + +<p>"Will you give me your word not to repeat to +any one what I am going to tell you?" she began +at last.</p> + +<p>The other voice answered sadly, but no longer +listlessly:</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>There was another pause.</p> + +<p>"You don't know," Donna Fedele began slowly, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</span>"no one knows, and no one must know, that I +cannot live very much longer."</p> + +<p>She waited for a word, a movement of surprise +or protest, but none came.</p> + +<p>"I have been ill for more than a year. I have +shrunk from examination, and probably it is now +too late for anything. I suffer terribly. But my +pain is not all physical—I suffer mentally as well."</p> + +<p>The slow voice sank lower.</p> + +<p>"There was one terrible time in my life. At +eighteen I fell in love with a man who was not +free. You have already guessed who it was. Do +not think my love for him was entirely spiritual. +I loved him with my whole soul, my whole being. +Fortunately, he did not reciprocate my love, and +almost begged me to forget him. It was then I +thought of taking my life. I cast about me for a +way that should not look like suicide, for my father's +sake, and I finally decided upon a long walk among +the hills, a dangerous path, and a fatal slip. Fortunately, +just at that time my father fell ill. I was +all he had, for my mother had died when I was +thirteen. My love for him, which had been numbed +by that other passion, now awoke once more, and +my religious feelings awoke too. I do not know +whether my father read my heart, but during his +convalescence he spoke much to me of God, of Christ, +of the soul, of grief, and of love—never reproachfully +or warningly, but very gently and with a tenderness +that made me realise how sinful I had been. The +nuns at my convent school had given me but a +superficial religion. It was my father who made me +believe from the bottom of my heart. Poor father!"</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele was silent, overcome by the sad +memories that had rushed in upon her as she talked. +Presently she asked:</p> + +<p>"Do I tire you?"</p> + +<p>The "No" that answered her now was neither +listless nor sorrowful. It was almost eager.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</span></p> + +<p>"The saddest part is yet to come," Donna Fedele +went on. "I was seven-and-twenty when my father +died, and I was living in Turin with a companion +whom my father had chosen to take me into society. +I went out a great deal at that time. An officer fell +in love with me. He was younger than myself, and +poor, but gifted, far finer in character than I was. +I liked him, and thought I might come to love him, +but unfortunately I was foolish enough not to let him +know my feelings. At last he asked me to marry +him, and when it was too late I realised that nothing +more than friendship could ever be possible between +us. He left me without a word, and went +home...."</p> + +<p>"He killed himself!" Leila whispered.</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele was silent, but becoming conscious +of a little hand moving towards her along the edge +of the bed, she reached out for it and took it in +hers. She felt her own hand drawn and touched +by two hot lips. It was her reward for having +opened her heart to this woman who was almost +a stranger to her, and whom she had loved only +for the sake of another.</p> + +<p>"Dear!" she murmured softly, and for a few +moments was unable to go on with her story.</p> + +<p>"He was an only son," she said at last, "and +he left a mother and sister. They were in +straitened circumstances, and they hated me +because they believed I had first encouraged him +and then cast him off. They would never have consented +to accept aid from me. The mother is dead, +but the sister lives in Turin, quite alone. I +will give you her address. I help her secretly. +Should I leave her something in my will she would +not accept it, and so this is the favour I would ask +of you. What I should leave to her, I will leave to +you instead, and I wish you to continue to help her as +I do at present. I beg you also to see her after +my death, and convince her that I did not try to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</span>lead her brother on, that I was only mistaken enough +to fancy that I might come to return his affection, +and that the grief of my error was ever with me, +even until the hour of my death. Will you do this?"</p> + +<p>Now it was Donna Fedele who stretched out her +hand towards the other bed. It was quickly seized +and pressed, but there was no answer. Once more +she questioned, "Will you do this?"</p> + +<p>Twice she felt the back of her hand pressed to +wet eyes, and then heard the whispered words:</p> + +<p>"You must not die! You must get well!"</p> + +<p>"But should I not get well, will you do this for +me?"</p> + +<p>The imprisoned hand was pressed violently.</p> + +<p>"Do not make me answer at once."</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele withdrew her hand, which Leila +did not try to prevent, and said no more. But +suddenly the girl cried:</p> + +<p>"I know——!" and paused.</p> + +<p>"What do you know?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing!"</p> + +<p>Both were silent for a time, and then Leila crept +slowly out of bed, put her arms round her friend's +neck, and laid her head upon her breast.</p> + +<p>"I know why you confide this mission to me," +she said, in a voice that was hardly audible. "I +know why you changed my room. I know——"</p> + +<p>"Hush!" said Donna Fedele, trying to stop what +she feared was coming, and when Leila began again, +"I know ..." the elder woman ordered her almost +harshly to be still, and go back to bed. "You can +give me your answer to-morrow," she said.</p> + +<p>Leila got into bed with a sigh, and without having +either consented or refused. Presently, hearing her +friend move, she asked if she had put out the light +on her account, and begged her to light it again +and read, as usual. When Donna Fedele had done +so and begun to read, Leila asked what the book +was, but without replying her friend turned over +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</span>a few pages, and then read aloud the following +passage:</p> + +<p>"'But now I oftentimes groan, and bear my +happiness with grief. Because many evils occur in +this vale of miseries, which do often trouble, sadden, +and overcloud me, often hinder and distract me, +allure and entangle me, so that I can have no free +access unto Thee.'"</p> + +<p>"'Unto Thee'?" said Leila. "To whom does +that refer?"</p> + +<p>"To Jesus Christ."</p> + +<p>Leila said no more. Donna Fedele went on +reading to herself for a few minutes, and then put +out the light.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Towards daybreak Donna Fedele was seized with +pain so violent as to wring a groan from her. Leila, +who was still awake, sprang out of bed, lighted the +lamp, and did what she could to relieve the sufferer, +who, seeing her distress, smiled at her even before +she was able to speak. Not until it was broad daylight +did she get relief from pain.</p> + +<p>"Well," said she, "are you going to do as I +wish? You see what my condition is."</p> + +<p>"First, you must promise me to undergo an examination, +either at Padua or Turin," said Leila, +"and to follow the doctor's advice afterwards."</p> + +<p>"Then will you also promise what I asked?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," was the prompt and decided answer.</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele promised, and, stretching out her +arms, embraced Leila very tenderly. During the +day she felt much better, and judging from past +experience, looked forward to an interval of calm, +and accordingly proceeded to make arrangements for +carrying out her promise. It was really necessary +for her to go to Turin on business, as her agent +lived there. She determined to consult Carle, and +should he consent, she would go to some cool spot, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</span>perhaps in the neighbourhood of Monte Rosa or +into Val d'Aosta. Would Signor Camin allow his +daughter to accompany her? Leila declared, in her +usual short and conclusive manner, that she would +go without his consent. Her friend smiled, and +called her a silly child, telling her that her father +had the right to send the police to fetch her home. +"He would never dare!" cried Leila, remembering +the many humble letters he had written her, +the sums of money she had so often sent him. Donna +Fedele's eyebrows went up somewhat, but she refrained +from comment. Presently, of her own +initiative, she wrote a note to Camin. The gate-keeper +took it to the Montanina, and brought back +word that Signor da Camin was expected home on +the following morning. Even before Donna Fedele +asked her, Leila declared that, should her father +come to the Villino, she would refuse to see him, +and she was so vehement and resolute in her +declaration that her friend deemed it prudent to +refrain from any argument at that moment. She +put the subject aside to be brought up again in +the night, when their talks were more confidential. +She had suggested that Leila might like to return +to her own room, but the girl had declined to do +so, wishing to be near the friend who had shown +her such motherly devotion, in case she should need +her. Donna Fedele was glad of her refusal, for +she felt she could get nearer to the girl when she +had her with her at night-time.</p> + +<p>That evening, as soon as the room was dark, she +began:</p> + +<p>"And so if your father should come——?"</p> + +<p>"If my father comes, I shall send word that I +am not well yet, that I have a headache, and cannot +see him."</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele pointed out gently, and in a quiet +voice, that this was impossible. It was contrary +to all propriety, contrary to her duty as a daughter, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</span>contrary to her own interest. Leila protested that +she cared nothing either for propriety or interest. +But how about duty? Donna Fedele asked. Duty +indeed ... and with such a father! She had given +him money, and would give him more, if she had +it, but that was all. After all, he wanted nothing +but money! He certainly did not want affection.</p> + +<p>"But you are religious...." Donna Fedele +ventured to suggest.</p> + +<p>"That has nothing to do with it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed it has!"</p> + +<p>Leila was silent.</p> + +<p>"I really don't know whether I am religious or +not!" she suddenly burst out.</p> + +<p>"You don't know?"</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele had introduced this topic not so +much to remind Leila of the religious side of +her filial duties as to discover what her religious +opinions were. Leila answered dryly:</p> + +<p>"No, I really don't know."</p> + +<p>"But you pray?"</p> + +<p>"I don't pray any longer—at least, not as the +priests teach us to pray. I hate them!"</p> + +<p>"But why?"</p> + +<p>Leila did not answer.</p> + +<p>"Years ago," said Donna Fedele, "I had a maid +who would not drink wine because she had once +mistaken the bottle and drank ink."</p> + +<p>Leila was silent for a time, and then asked:</p> + +<p>"What do you think about religion?"</p> + +<p>"I have always told you I am an old-fashioned +Catholic, and, moreover, I do not confuse bad priests +with religion itself."</p> + +<p>"I thought you held the same views as——"</p> + +<p>The girl would not go on even when Donna +Fedele demanded, "As whom?" But the elder +woman had guessed her meaning.</p> + +<p>"What do you know of that person's views?" +she asked.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</span></p> + +<p>"There you go!" cried Leila hotly. "You will +never allow him to be touched!"</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele burst out, throwing her usual precaution +to the winds:</p> + +<p>"As you failed to understand his sentiments, my +dear, you have proved yourself entirely incapable +of understanding his views!"</p> + +<p>"His sentiments, indeed!" Leila muttered. "<em>He</em> +did not go and kill himself!"</p> + +<p>The thoughtless and uncalled for words, jarring +upon such painful memories, wounded Donna Fedele +to the quick.</p> + +<p>"He certainly did not try to kill himself," she +retorted. "You do not know what true religion is, +and Alberti does."</p> + +<p>After this neither spoke again, even to say good-night.</p> + + +<h3>II</h3> + +<p>Shortly after eleven on the following morning Sior +Momi gently and discreetly pushed open the main +gate of the Villino delle Rose. His honest intention +was to put forward in the same gentle and discreet +manner his desire to have his daughter with him, +but upon this he was not going to insist; and, +above all, he was determined to ingratiate himself +with Leila's friend and counsellor. It never entered +his head to boast of his paternal authority with her, +as he had done to Molesin. With only a few +months of power in front of him, he had settled on +his policy. It was to appropriate during this short +time as much movable property as possible; to show +humility and repentance, in order that Leila, on +coming of age, might be moved to make him a +handsome allowance; and to humour that precious +Checco sufficiently to obtain favourable terms with +his creditors. He understood perfectly Molesin's +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</span>motive in encouraging him to demand Leila's return, +but he was not going to aim at so complete a conquest. +He knew that it would never be possible +for his daughter and Carolina to be in the same +house. Leila would immediately refuse to have anything +further to do with him. It was still more out +of the question to send Carolina away. Grasping +as was he himself, and even more obstinate, she had +a certain hold upon him, and they were fond of one +another in their own way, though at times they had +violent quarrels.</p> + +<p>Sior Momi walked slowly along the avenue of +linden-trees, and walked round the house, for he +was not sure which was the visitors' entrance—the +verandah in the front or the low door on the opposite +side. He blinked rapidly, but at last instinct led +him to run his head in at the low door. His "May +I come in?" followed by a loud blowing of his nose, +brought the maid hurrying downstairs, and, having +ushered him into the drawing-room, she went to +tell her mistress. Unlike Dr. Molesin, Sior Momi +always stiffened visibly in the presence of people +of quality or position. As she observed his rigid +attitude, his pasteboard mask, and red lids, blinking +over glassy eyes, Donna Fedele once more asked +herself if he were a knave or simply a fool. She +repeated to him more or less the same information +contained in her note, while he punctuated what +she was saying by fragmentary sentences, aimless +expressions of gratitude, and vague exclamations, +such as, "Quite so!... Free, perfectly free!" +When, in order to prepare him for a possible refusal, +on her part, to grant him the interview he must +certainly desire, the Signora alluded to his daughter's +character as somewhat eccentric, he uttered his +perpetual "Aho, aho!" which on this occasion was +expressive of jocose assent. He then proceeded to +express his entire approval of the journey to Turin. +"Delighted—quite delighted, I assure you, Signora....<span class="pagenum" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</span> +An honour—a great honour!" And finally, +as if he had been worked by machinery, he delivered +the speech he had prepared.</p> + +<p>"If it is no trouble ... no trouble at all ... +I should like ... if it is really not inconvenient!" +Nothing further being forthcoming, Donna Fedele +concluded that this was his official demand to see +Leila. Was that what he wanted? "Well, yes, +Signora ... If I may make so bold...." She +warned him that Leila was not feeling quite well +yet, but said she would let her know of his presence. +Donna Fedele had previously so strongly urged her +to see her father, if he should call, that the girl had +given way.</p> + +<p>Leila received him standing, with great dignity, +and a stern face. He hastened towards her, stammering, +"Ciao, ciao! How are you? How are +you?" and kissed her on both cheeks.</p> + +<p>She shuddered, but nevertheless allowed herself +to be kissed. She did not ask him to sit down, and +although he cast sidelong glances at a chair, he +did not venture to take it. He expressed his approval +of her journey to Turin. "It would be a good +thing ... delighted, quite delighted!" Then, +taking out his pocket-book, he said that, the Signora +having written to him of this journey, he had brought +the "wherewithal." He drew a small packet of +ten-lire bills from the pocket-book and handed them +to Leila.</p> + +<p>"Things have changed," he said. "Aho, aho!... +Ah! but it is all yours, all yours, of course. +Only a few months longer, and I shall have to render +an account!" Another inane laugh followed, and +then Sior Momi cleverly converted his exclamation +point into a mark of interrogation. "Isn't that so? +Shan't I have to render an account?"</p> + +<p>"It is quite the same to me!" Leila exclaimed, +with a glance of contempt, and without stopping to +consider her words. Sior Momi found them greatly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</span>to his taste, and swallowed them slowly, figuratively +stroking himself the while, and quite forgiving Leila +for keeping him standing there like any servant.</p> + +<p>"You have been indisposed, have you not?" he said +presently, with touching solicitude. "What was the +matter? Fever, influenza, indigestion, or anæmia?"</p> + +<p>He popped out this strange list like so many +shots from a revolver.</p> + +<p>"Rheumatism," said Leila shortly.</p> + +<p>"Ah! rheumatism. And will you come to your +own home on your return from Turin?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Ben, ben! Well, well!" said this meek and +docile parent, slipping into dialect from the Italian +he had always used with his daughter since her +return from boarding-school. He would have liked +to kiss her again at parting, but did not dare to +do so. His embarrassed and choppy mode of +speech, his awkward laugh—"Aho, aho!"—his rigid +bearing in the presence of those he looked up to or +feared were really the result of a certain nervous +timidity, which was another boon, as precious as +his fool's face, and was like a thick wash of virginal +innocence over his well-laid plans. His daughter's +intellectual and moral superiority and her haughty +manner had always filled him with shyness.</p> + +<p>"Will you write?" he mumbled on the threshold.</p> + +<p>Leila's only answer was a short "Goodbye," +and Sior Momi proceeded downstairs.</p> + +<p>He did not forget Donna Fedele, and once more +entered her presence in a state of the utmost rigidity. +"My respects! My respects! Very happy indeed.... +I wish you a pleasant journey!"</p> + +<p>And with this he left the house, already thinking +how he should break the news to dear friend Molesin +that he had been forced to yield, that his daughter +had been most hostile in her attitude, that there +were no plums to be got from this pie—unless they +were stolen ones.</p> + + + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" > + CHAPTER X + <br> + <small>THE GAME BEGINS</small> + </h2> +</div> + + +<h3>I</h3> + +<p>Friend Molesin did not believe a syllable of the +story Momi told him—that he had not seen his +daughter, or anything else. But the worthy doctor, +nevertheless, pretended to grasp and hold fast the +two infinitives—to wait and to hope. There was not +the slightest doubt, he said, but that matters would +mend. At lunch he ate little, saying it was too late +and that he had lost his appetite, but he displayed +great good-humour, talked of the surrounding +country and of the villa with increased approval, +and having told Momi of his conversation at the +parsonage concerning the funeral service, found +no difficulty in persuading him to write and beg the +archpriest to have the service read at the earliest +possible date. He expressed the friendly intention +of attending it, should he not be obliged to leave +after the two days, and if his lengthened visit were +agreeable to his friend. He was growing to like +the place, and—poor doctor!—he was sadly in need +of rest. Sior Momi ejaculated, "Of course! Delighted!" +but he was blinking rapidly, nevertheless. +After luncheon Molesin proposed a short walk, and +he and his friend started up the path under the +pleasant shade of the chestnut-trees. But he sat +down on the first bench they came to, and motioned +solemnly to Momi to do the same.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</span></p> + +<p>"Sit down, man," said he, and after a short silence +he felt moved to recognise the beauty of his surroundings.</p> + +<p>"Belo, belo! Beautiful, beautiful!" he said.</p> + +<p>Then suddenly he turned on Momi and sprang +the following proposal upon him.</p> + +<p>"See here, Momi—let us do a little business."</p> + +<p>Sior Momi assumed his most idiotic expression, and +answered:</p> + +<p>"What did you say? Business?"</p> + +<p>He saw at once that Molesin intended to propose +a figure for the famous adjustment with his creditors, +and quickly assumed the defensive.</p> + +<p>"Now you, most worthy Sior Momi," the doctor +went on, using the Italian diluted with Venetian +that he reserved for solemn occasions, "are the +parent and master, so to speak, of a fine fortune—I +may even say of a large fortune."</p> + +<p>"Aho, aho!" giggled Momi ironically, but his +friend went on, unmoved:</p> + +<p>"And now you are in a position to make yourself +comfortable for ever, and set your conscience at +peace as well by paying one hundred per cent."</p> + +<p>"Son of a...!" cried Momi, with another +grotesque laugh.</p> + +<p>"What ails you?" Molesin demanded. "Ain't +I right? Go along with you! I am only trying +to befriend you, after all, and I will undertake to +get my clients to accept seventy-five per cent."</p> + +<p>Sior Momi could not repress an exclamation.</p> + +<p>"Bravo putèlo! Good lad!" said he, and having +offered this tribute to his friend's childlike simplicity, +Sior Momi for the first time became heated, +both in face and language. He was no longer Sior +Momi. Two burning spots appeared upon his yellow +cheek-bones, he frowned heavily, his head wagged +upon his neck as he talked, while from his lips, +as from an inverted bottle, there gushed a stream +of talk, uninterrupted by a single "aho," or rather, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</span>perhaps, resembling a swift river of "ahos," which +swept the wreckage of many words along with it. +They asked for seventy-five per cent. now, when +he was no longer in a position to pay even the +twenty-five he had once offered! He was amazed +that Molesin did not see this! He had made his +offer at a time when he had a right to believe that +his daughter, on coming into her fortune, would +be willing to make some sacrifice for her father. +Then he could have found some one to advance +the money for the twenty-five per cent. But now, +when the girl had proclaimed her hostility, refusing +even to live with her father—now they had the face +to demand seventy-five per cent! He had made his +humble offer precisely because he knew he could +not count, to any great extent, upon the help of an +eccentric girl, who had never shown the slightest +affection for him. And now there was proof of this. +To any great extent, indeed! To no extent whatsoever! +And where was he to find the money? Did +they expect him to steal it? To rob his own +daughter? He had one comfort left, and that was, +that he could prove himself to be an honest man, +in spite of the calumnies that had been spread by +certain persons. He had another comfort also, and +he was willing to admit it was a great one—that +he should never want for bread, for his daughter, +willingly or unwillingly, would be obliged by law to +support him.</p> + +<p>"Enough, enough!" cried Molesin. He rose, and +intentionally omitting the <em>da</em> from the other's name, +said:</p> + +<p>"Listen to me, Camin! I warn you that at home +I have the numbers of all the Government bonds +held by this old gentleman here."</p> + +<p>Momi declared that he did not care a rap if he +had, and made an offer of five per cent.</p> + +<p>"Drop that, I tell you!" the other retorted.</p> + +<p>Molesin started to walk away, but presently +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</span>stopped, turned half round, planted his stick firmly, +and flung a glance over his shoulder out of the +corner of his eye.</p> + +<p>"We will make it seventy," said he.</p> + +<p>"We will make it seven," said Camin.</p> + +<p>For the time being the conversation ended here. +In Momi's mind a hope was born that Molesin would +now alter his plans, and take himself off that very +evening.</p> + + +<h3>II</h3> + +<p>Towards five o'clock Molesin received a note +from Don Tita, begging him to come to the parsonage. +He started at once, and was received by +Don Emanuele, for the archpriest had gone to Seghe, +leaving the field clear for his chaplain, who had +been anxious for this interview, but had not wished +to ask for it directly, in order not to place himself +before his superior in a spiritual matter. He regretted +that, during his conversation with Molesin, +his superior had not laid sufficient stress upon the +moral necessity of removing Signorina Camin, no +matter at what cost, from under the evil influence +of Signora Vayla. The young priest's soul was full +of rancour against Donna Fedele, a rancour he justified +to himself by calling it proper zeal against one +whose unseemly attitude of disregard of ecclesiastical +authority in matters of religion and morals +was well known—against one who presumed to read +and explain the Gospels to her dependents, who +had formed a warm friendship with a priest of +doubtful orthodoxy like Don Aurelio, and who +shielded a rascally Modernist like young Alberti. +Whenever a sharp point of this suppressed rancour +pushed upwards and pierced these holy wrappings, +Don Emanuele made honest efforts to press it under +again, and salved his conscience by praying for the +eternal salvation of the soul of this woman who was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</span>both in danger and dangerous, the more so because, +in her life and in the observance of the practices +of religion, she appeared irreproachable. He himself +now proposed to undertake the task of snatching +the girl from her, the archpriest being too good-natured +and easy-going.</p> + +<p>When the servant announced Dr. Molesin, Don +Emanuele, who was reading his breviary, had a +vision of his meeting with Signora Vayla in the +sacristy, and of the scene upon the Mea road, and +he crossed himself piously in order to rid himself +of any spirit of vengeance, and prepare himself to +inflict injury upon her in the cause of righteousness. +His compunction betrayed itself upon his brow, in his +melancholy and watery eyes, and even in his stately +tread and the slow movements of his lean person.</p> + +<p>"What the deuce can this long, lean creature +want!" thought Molesin, and he made him a low bow, +to which the long, lean creature responded by a slight +inclination of his head and a sweep of his hand +that was full of prelatical condescension. Immediately +and respectfully Molesin inquired for the +archpriest, adding a few words of warm satisfaction +at his prospective advancement. Don Emanuele +ignored this subject, and having apologised for his +superior's absence, stated that he had been charged +to represent him. The archpriest, he said, had been +deeply gratified on hearing of Signor da Camin's +good intentions towards his church and the poor +of his parish. The needs of both were indeed great. +But what pleased the archpriest most were the pious +inclinations his new parishioner displayed. He would +strive to show his gratitude in the way best befitting +a Churchman and a parish-priest, by helping him +in his domestic difficulties, and acting as intermediary +between father and daughter, that they might +be brought to a peaceful understanding, which would +be greatly to the advantage both of their temporal +and spiritual interests.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</span></p> + +<p>Thus far worthy Dr. Molesin, seated opposite the +chaplain, with legs apart, hands resting on his knees, +and eyes downcast, had confined himself to raising +and lowering his head like a polar-bear—now with +a simple movement of assent, now with waggings to +right and left, that testified to his abundant approbation. +But on catching the closing words of the +second part of Don Emanuele's speech, his bowed +head suddenly ceased to saw the air.</p> + +<p>The chaplain felt constrained to touch upon a +very delicate subject. Neither the archpriest nor +he himself would be able to do anything to promote +Signor da Camin's domestic peace, unless a certain +scandal were put an end to. Did Signor Molesin +understand his meaning? Molesin, who had ceased +his waggings, but still sat gazing downwards between +his knees at the cracks in the brick floor, suddenly +straightened himself, laid the fingers of one hand +flat upon his mouth, fixed his eyes on one corner +of the room, puckered his brow, and sat stiffly silent +in a mighty effort at comprehension. He might +have been seeking to grasp the meaning of some +Babylonian inscription or trying to recall the name +of some prehistoric ancestor.</p> + +<p>"No," said he, raising troubled eyes to Don +Emanuele's. "I fail to understand."</p> + +<p>Don Emanuele, in his turn, fixed his eyes on +his companion's troubled ones, and Molesin instinctively +began to pucker them slowly to avoid the +penetrating gaze. "No, you must excuse me, but +I really do not understand," he repeated.</p> + +<p>"That unfortunate creature," Don Emanuele suggested +slowly and almost in a whisper, "who, I +believe, is also at the Montanina——"</p> + +<p>"Ah!... Yes!" Molesin admitted at last. +"Yes, I understand. You allude to the housekeeper. +It would be better for her to go away. I see, I +see! Her presence might interfere with the peace +that should reign between parent and child. The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</span>daughter might be led to believe ... that ... +so to speak ... and so forth and so on.... +You wish Momi to send her away. Very well, he +shall do so. I will answer for him, although, as +a matter of fact, I really do not believe——"</p> + +<p>"She must go, and that at once," Don Emanuele +put in.</p> + +<p>Molesin made a silent bow of assent. Then Don +Emanuele, with a gesture that savoured of mature +age, as indeed did all his rare and measured movements, +gathered the five fingers of his left hand +into a point, and holding them up before his face, +stared intently at them.</p> + +<p>"As soon as that unfortunate creature is out of +the house, the daughter must return."</p> + +<p>Having restored his fingers to their normal position, +he gazed at Molesin with deep melancholy in +his watery eyes.</p> + +<p>"The thought of that young girl in the hands +of that woman," said he, "is the archpriest's greatest +anxiety. And the archpriest does not know all I +know."</p> + +<p>Neither did Molesin, who, nevertheless, heaved +a sigh for the archpriest's anxiety, in order to be +on the right side no matter what might follow. The +sigh was so deep that, for an instant, the watery +eyes were raised; then Don Emanuele dropped them +again, and returned to the subject of his superior's +ignorance of facts. The archpriest was unaware +that, influenced by the atmosphere of Signora Vayla's +home, the poor child had gone the length of contemplating +the perpetration of a horrible crime. +"Good Lord! Had she proposed to murder +Momi?" Molesin asked himself, terrified at the +bare idea of Momi slipping through his fingers. +But Don Emanuele gave no further particulars of +the crime, and contented himself with deploring at +length the poisonous atmosphere of Signora Vayla's +home. The girl, who was his penitent, had been +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</span>both virtuous and pious. They might still hope +for a strong reaction in her, such a reaction as +sometimes brings a heart, wounded by the world, to +devote itself entirely to God. But this reaction must +be encouraged, and that it would be impossible to +do in the present surroundings. Leila's father must +interfere, and, if needs be, make use of the paternal +authority given to him by law. It was Don +Emanuele's opinion that the girl's rebellion was due +entirely to Donna Fedele's influence.</p> + +<p>Once in her own home—when that other person +should have left, of course—Leila would change completely. +The archpriest, Don Emanuele himself, and +Don Tita's sister-in-law, a woman of exemplary +piety, would do all in their power to cultivate the +latent piety in the girl's soul, a soul that already +sought to sever itself from the world, and was above +the love of riches.</p> + +<p>"I assure you that child would surrender all she +possesses to her father, without so much as a sigh +of regret."</p> + +<p>The chaplain was anxious to impress these words +on Molesin's mind, but that worthy hardly gave +him time to finish before he began discussing the +spiritual interest involved, as if the other side of +the question did not exist for him. He referred to +a great-aunt of Signor Momi's, who had been a +nun, and raising his eyebrows as if testifying, from +philosophical experience, to the recurrence of great +events in history, and the hidden workings of +Providence, he blew a trumpet blast into his cotton +handkerchief as a signal that he was about to make +his departure.</p> + + +<h3>III</h3> + +<p>During dinner, which was very late, Sior Momi +announced his intention of inviting the archpriest +to dine with them on the morrow in honour of his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</span>friend. Molesin thanked him, but a certain note of +hesitation and of coolness in his answer revealed +the anxious state of his mind. He had learnt from +the cook the very unpleasant cause of the delay in +serving dinner. There had been a scene between +Carolina and Teresina, and all about a glass of +Marsala which Teresina had given to the cook for +cooking purposes. Sior Momi's housekeeper, on one +of her frequent incursions into the kitchen, had nearly +drained the glass, whereupon Teresina had "given +notice," and all Sior Momi's earnest entreaties had +failed to alter her angry determination.</p> + +<p>Teresina leaving, and Carolina triumphant! A +fine moment for inviting the archpriest, thought +Molesin. After dinner Sior Momi led the way into +the drawing-room, and proposed a game of cards. +He felt bound to soothe this adversary, whom he +could not get rid of, and who was capable of +diabolical plottings and of inciting the Velo priests +to influence his daughter in a way that would be +disastrous to himself.</p> + +<p>Molesin was unacquainted with the game Momi +proposed, and could only play whist and a game +called <em>terziglio</em>. Presently Giovanni came in with +the steps to light the lamps.</p> + +<p>"Be off with those confounded steps!" cried Sior +Checco, in an angry tone. "A small lamp, any +small oil lamp, will do. I like oil lamps." But +there were none in the house, and so Giovanni brought +a couple of candles. With a timid "Aho!" Momi +inquired if his friend would like a game of +<em>terziglio</em>.</p> + +<p>"What?" snapped Molesin, for <em>terziglio</em> is a +three-handed game.</p> + +<p>Momi uttered another timid "Aho!" There was +a third person in the house who could play, he said.</p> + +<p>"Ah, no!" gasped Molesin, taken aback for the +moment. "Ah, no! No, indeed! By the rogue +Bacchus, no! The very idea of such a thing! No, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</span>thanks!" He blew out one of the candles angrily. +"Catch hold of that other candle," he commanded +in a fierce tone, and, regardless of Sior Momi's oft-repeated +question, "What is up? What is the +matter now?" kept on ordering him to "Catch +hold of that other candle," until Momi, grumbling, +"Well, well! Have your own way," finally obeyed. +He would have liked to utter an "aho!" of pacification, +but lacked courage to do so. Besides, he +did not understand the turn things had taken.</p> + +<p>"And what now?" said he, gazing at Molesin, +and clasping the candlestick.</p> + +<p>"Now we will go into the study."</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>There was no light nor sound in the drawing-room. +A pale moonbeam illumined the gallery at +the head of the double stairway. Teresina, who +was busy collecting her belongings preparatory to +her departure the next day, passed along with a +light, and looked down into the shadows, thinking of +the former master and of the present one, and then +hastened away, her eyes big with tears, and feeling +that the walls, the furniture, the very shadows that +flickered round her little lamp were echoing her +own sadness.</p> + +<p>One, two, three quarters of an hour passed. An +hour crept away, and still the drawing-room remained +silent and empty. Giovanni came in with a note +that had arrived from the archpriest. Finding the +room in darkness, he hesitated, and then went out to +the open verandah. There was no one there. Could +they be in the garden? He went forward a few +steps, and then caught sight of the light in the +study. Returning to the house, he entered the +billiard-room, and heard Molesin's voice. The +doctor was talking softly, but angrily. Giovanni +knocked gently at the study door. Molesin himself +opened it, and said, in an irritable voice:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</span></p> + +<p>"What is the matter now? What do you want? +You can't come in. Go away! Be off!"</p> + +<p>Giovanni handed him the note and stole away, +without waiting to ask if there was an answer, for +he had learnt from the messenger that the note +simply contained the information that the funeral +service for Signor Marcello would be held on the +following Monday. He returned to the kitchen to tell +of the secret confabulation that was going on between +Molesin and the master. Carolina, who had +ere this cast languishing glances upon him, on hearing +this news, caught the young man boldly by the hand, +ordering him to take her where she could hear; +and as he showed honest reluctance to do as she +asked, the woman inquired, with a meaning smile, +if he were afraid of the master? But Giovanni +stood his ground, and with a contemptuous shrug, +Carolina went off by herself. That old fright of a +Molesin, on whom she had wasted more than one +of her wiles and graces, was simply odious to her +now. She ran into a door, fell over several chairs, +but reached her goal at last.</p> + +<p>Before leaving the kitchen she had ordered coffee, +but long after it was ready and waiting she had not +returned. Giovanni went to look for her, but neither +he nor Carolina came back. At last, however, the +footman burst into the kitchen, in a state between +fear and mirth, and announced that an awful row +was going on in the study. Carolina was raving like +a wild beast, and he thought he had heard blows. +The entire staff—cook, gate-keeper, gate-keeper's wife, +and Giovanni—started for the scene of the quarrel. +On tiptoe they entered the billiard-room, and immediately +heard Carolina, shouting her own praises, +"I would have you know that I am" this and that, +while Sior Momi brayed, "Hold your tongue! Be +quiet! Have done!" and Molesin groaned, "Yes, +yes, my good creature! I know, I know, my good +creature!" Giovanni rushed into the garden and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</span>peered in at the window. There was Sior Momi +standing between the table and the easy-chair, and +stretching imploring hands towards Carolina, who +was advancing, with shoulders thrown forward and +clenched fists resting on her hips, towards the unhappy +doctor, who, whiter than his own shirt, was +edging backwards in the direction of poor Signor +Marcello's bedroom. Giovanni saw him clutch the +door-handle and escape through the bedroom to the +salon. He himself rushed into the house and gave +the alarm to his companions, who fled back, as hard +as they could go, to the kitchen again. Then +Giovanni, who had overheard much and guessed +more, gathered them around him, and proceeded to +explain. This is what had evidently happened: +When Carolina had applied her ear to the door the +new master and Molesin had been discussing her. +The new master had praised her, and probably, afterwards, +Molesin had abused her. Hereupon she must +have rushed into the room and kicked up a row. +Giovanni had come away while the master was still +speaking, but on going back he had heard the woman +shouting, "Me? Me? Send me away, would you?" +At this point Giovanni's story was interrupted by +Molesin's voice calling, "Hallo there! Some one +bring a light!" The group broke up and Giovanni, +seizing a lighted candle, started to find the doctor. +He came upon him in the drawing-room. He was +trembling and appeared quite upset, and muttering, +"What a confoundedly dark house this is!" he +took the candle and started upstairs, calling back +to Giovanni to wake him at five on the following +morning.</p> + +<p>Carolina reappeared in the kitchen in dignified +gloom, and drank her coffee in silence. Sior Momi +came into the drawing-room, rang the bell, and +inquired for Dr. Molesin. That worthy had hung +about the gallery in the hope of catching a glimpse +of the master and his housekeeper, should they leave +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</span>the study together, and of overhearing what they +might say. From between two columns he now +peered down into the room below, and flung an angry +"I am here!" into Sior Momi's upturned face.</p> + +<p>"She has been persuaded!" Momi answered in +an undertone.</p> + +<p>Molesin glared down upon him for some seconds, +and then informed him that, for his part, he was +persuaded only of his own intention to leave on the +following morning at six. Hereupon he withdrew +his head from between the columns, but a moment +afterwards he reappeared, his lighted candle in his +hand.</p> + +<p>"Good-night," said he.</p> + +<p>Signor Momi hurried upstairs and confronted him.</p> + +<p>"Don't you believe me? She is really persuaded. +She will go."</p> + +<p>Wrapped in gloom, Molesin answered:</p> + +<p>"We shall see."</p> + +<p>"You <em>will</em> see!" Momi retorted. Suddenly the +doctor remembered another promise Momi had made +just before Carolina's furious entrance into the study.</p> + +<p>"And the girl?"</p> + +<p>With the same calm assurance with which he had +said "She will go," in speaking of Carolina, he now +said, referring to his daughter:</p> + +<p>"She will come."</p> + +<p>"We shall see!" Molesin repeated emphatically.</p> + +<p>Sior Momi assumed a tone of affectionate +familiarity, and, placing his hand on his friend's +arm, persuaded him, by dint of many blandishments, +to return to the drawing-room, and then proposed +that they should end the evening in peace at the +card-table. They could play a game resembling +<em>tresette</em>, that needed only two players. They began +their game, Molesin frowning over the bad cards +that fell to his lot, Sior Momi laughing his foolish +laugh over the good ones he held. Neither alluded +to the all-important "affair," although neither +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</span>thought of anything else, Molesin often forgetting +to play his trumps and turn up his cards, but not +so Sior Momi. Molesin, indeed, was reflecting that +his adversary was certainly trying to get the better +of him, and reading, both in his expression and in +his friendly bearing, a malicious certainty of success, +he began to wonder what sort of a trap his enemy +had set, and to cast about in his mind for the best +means of bringing Momi to reasonable terms. His +thoughts were struggling towards this goal much +as an ironclad may proceed at night through a +channel beset with danger, cautiously, with all hands +at their posts, throwing its searchlight in all directions +athwart the encircling darkness. Carolina +would go—he was sure of that. She would only +pretend to leave, but that mattered little so long as +she went. But the girl! Would she return? And +would she really enter a convent, leaving all to her +father, as Don Emanuele had suggested? But the +chief thing was, he admitted, to get her home, and +then it would be time enough to make further plans. +After reaching this conclusion, Molesin turned his +attention to the cards and no longer forgot to play +his trumps.</p> + +<p>Sior Momi, on his part, found the pleasing aspect +of his hand in keeping with the inward visions he +was enjoying. Molesin, with many distortions of +the priest's words, had told him Don Emanuele's +idea concerning a religious life for his daughter, +but he did not believe for a moment that such would +be Leila's choice. Her nature was much too +passionate. "We shall see if I am mistaken," he +thought. Meanwhile he would pretend to share the +chaplain's conviction, and cautiously second the +priest's actions. He could not avoid insisting upon +his daughter's return. Should she resist—then he +would make different arrangements. To-morrow +morning Carolina would take herself off, not to +Cantù, as would be given out, but to Padua, with the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</span>house and cellar keys and a nice little pile of money. +She would lead a quiet life there, until matters were +settled in one way or another. This was the compact +that had been sealed by an affectionate embrace, +after Molesin's retreat from the study. "We have +a sly knave to deal with!" Momi had said to his +Moma, as he called her at moments of especial +tenderness.</p> + +<p>He would write to his daughter saying he had +changed his mind, and wished her to return home. +Should she take this quietly, which was not probable, +it would be a step in the right direction, and all to +the good. Should she make a fuss—well, there were +other means.... Sior Momi, reposing upon a soft, +thick layer of Government bonds, "payable to +bearer," which had emigrated from the Montanina to +Padua, smiled complacently upon the good cards +he held.</p> + +<p>When the game was over he rang for Giovanni, +and, his eyes fixed on his friend, hesitatingly ordered +the footman to call Dr. Molesin at five. Giovanni +replied that he had his orders already, but Molesin, +calmly stretching out his hand towards the servant, +said:</p> + +<p>"Call me at seven. No, I am tired. Call me at +eight."</p> + + + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" > + CHAPTER XI + <br> + <small>AWAY FROM LOVE AND THE WORLD</small> + </h2> +</div> + + +<h3>I</h3> + +<p>Donna Fedele, who was in pain, was lying on +her bed reading. The maid came in to say that +the little girl to whom her mistress taught French +had come for her lesson. Donna Fedele hesitated +for a moment, and then said she did not feel able +to give the lesson that day. Presently the maid +returned with a bunch of Alpine roses the child +had brought for her teacher. The Signora was +touched, and told the maid to call to the little girl +from the window, for she was already on her way to +the gate.</p> + +<p>"I will hear you read," said the teacher, when she +had thanked the child for the flowers with a kiss, +"Get your book."</p> + +<p>The book was "La Fontaine." The child read +the fable of the locust and the ant—badly and with +an atrocious accent. Donna Fedele was obliged to +correct her at almost every word, and had great +difficulty in making her understand the lesson the +fable is meant to teach. She lost patience both +with herself and the child, who, when asked if she +had rather be the locust or the ant, promptly replied +"The ant," and there was no making her see the +harshness and unkindness of that provident insect's +answer.</p> + +<p>The little girl had just gone when Leila came +in, and found her friend completely exhausted.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</span></p> + +<p>"How could I possibly leave you," she said, +sitting down beside her, "when you are like +this!"</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele stretched out her hand to her, and +repeated "La Fontaine's" lines in a low tone:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container p1"> +<div class="poetry"> +<p> + "'La cigale ayant chanté tout l'été,<br> + Se trouva fort dépourvue<br> + Quand la bise fut venue.' +</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p>have telegraphed for a kind 'ant,'" she added.</p> + +<p>Leila hid her tearful face in the bedclothes, as +if to stifle the cry that sprang from her heart: "I +will not go! I will not! I will not!"</p> + +<p>That morning she had received two letters, one +from her father, the other from the archpriest of +Velo. The letter from her father, which Molesin +had carefully revised, was a withdrawal of his permission +to go away with Donna Fedele. Sior Momi +wrote that both the maid Teresina and his housekeeper +had suddenly deserted him. Teresina was +bound to leave immediately, and the housekeeper +was already gone. His health was becoming rapidly +impaired, and his daughter's presence was absolutely +necessary. The archpriest's letter, which had been +inspired by the chaplain, contained an appeal to +Leila's kindness of heart on behalf of a poor family +at Lago di Velo, who were in need of both spiritual +and material aid. Signor Marcello had helped them, +and the archpriest trusted that Leila would be willing +to continue this work of charity, adding to her kindness +a personal visit. Neither Leila nor Donna +Fedele suspected that there was any connection +between the two letters, but under the shock of the +first Leila had quivered like some small wild animal. +Donna Fedele had given her time to relieve her +feelings, and then, very gently and softly, had advised +her to think over it. The mere suggestion of the +possibility implied by such advice was enough to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</span>make Leila burst into tears. Then her friend had +tried to console her with tender caresses, and, touching +as lightly as possible upon the legal obligation +to obey the summons, pointed out the good she might +do her father by purifying his home and surroundings +and by her example. Should anything of a +scandalous nature take place in the house, then no +one would be able to oblige her to remain, and +she should return to the Villino. She, Donna Fedele, +would find a means of protecting her. In a few +months now she would be of age and her own +mistress, and her father could then remain at the +Montanina only with her consent. At this point +Leila, who was greatly overcome, confessed that it +was her intention to relinquish Signor Marcello's +heritage as soon as she should come of age. Donna +Fedele shuddered at thought of such an affront to +her dead friend, and reproached the girl bitterly, +accusing her of unreasoning pride. Leila, in her turn, +became angry.</p> + +<p>"After all," said she, "what right have you to +talk to me in this way?"</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele was too hurt to speak, but presently, +with a fresh outburst of grief, Leila flung her arms +about her friend's neck, sobbing:</p> + +<p>"I will do as you wish!"</p> + + +<h3>II</h3> + +<p>This had happened on Saturday. It was decided +that Leila should return to the Montanina in the +course of a few days, when the elderly cousin to whom +Donna Fedele had telegraphed should have arrived. +This cousin would accompany the invalid to Turin, +where Carle was to examine her, as soon as she +should be able to take the journey. For the time +being travelling was out of the question.</p> + +<p>That same evening as Leila was going to sleep +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</span>in her own room Donna Fedele called her to her +bedside.</p> + +<p>"Listen, dear," she began. "I have received a +letter from Alberti. I have been hesitating whether +to show it to you, but I have finally decided to let +you see it. I may not be acting wisely, but I +beg you not to make me regret having done so. +I wish you, once for all, to see him as he really is. +Do not read it here," she said, giving Leila +the letter. "Take it to your own room. You can +bring it back to me in the morning."</p> + + +<h3>III</h3> + +<p>Leila sat on the edge of her bed with the letter +in her hand, trying to fix her thoughts on something +that would calm the throbbing of her heart. She +remembered "La Fontaine's" fable, and repeated +the lines Donna Fedele had quoted. At last she +determined to read the letter.</p> + +<p>She found it impossible to read it straight through. +First she counted the pages. There were twelve. +Then she read the address. Dasio? Where was +Dasio? She glanced at the first lines: "I am +writing to you from a small and lonely village high +up among the mountains and the mists...." She +turned to the last words: "Pray that I may find +peace. I have more need of it now than I shall ever +have, and I hope I have discovered the path that +leads to it, but I have still a long way to go."</p> + +<p>She shook with emotion, but quickly controlled +herself, and rapidly turned over the twelve pages, +seeking her own name. It was there, it was really +there! She glanced at the words—fearfully, thirstingly—reading, +and yet not reading. There was +much concerning her, and the sweet was +mingled with the bitter. Leila perceived this, but +running thus through the pages she could form no +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</span>idea of the writer's state of mind, of his feelings +toward herself. Would it not be better, she thought, +to do no more than glance at the words, to refrain +from reading them carefully, if they were going +to increase her suffering? For she had promised to +go on living. Her thirst to read grew, and her +determination to resist stiffened. But suddenly and +rapidly both began to weaken, one annihilating the +other. Automatically she began once more to read, +beginning where her name was first mentioned:</p> + +<p>"<em>Leila!</em> I am both ashamed of my emotion and +angry with myself, dear Mother Fedele, but the truth +is that I suddenly felt the blood freeze in my veins, +and laying down my pen, I buried my face in my +hands, and remained thus I know not how long, +struggling against the desire to picture her to myself +as being here. Now the spasm has passed, and I +am full of contempt for not being able to be just +towards a child who is not to blame that she judged +me wrongly, that she does not possess the qualities +with which I insanely imagined her to be endowed, +and for no other reason than that she is beautiful."</p> + +<p>At this point Leila, quivering from head to foot, +gripped the letter so hard as to crumple its edges, +but she controlled herself and read on eagerly:</p> + +<p>"But one day I shall even be grateful to her +for having repulsed me, for I shall see clearly that I +could never have been happy with a woman so far +removed, and in so many ways, from my mode of +thought. To-day my dangerous inclination would +be to seek in love, not an affinity of ideas but only +love itself; to-day I would have the woman of my +choice ask me for love alone, and I could wish +that there exist for us no past and no future, but +only an eternal present, wherein only the unreasoning +senses should throb in perfect harmony. But I know +that should this mad dream come true, life would +quickly bring disenchantment. The Scriptures say, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</span>'Woe to him who is alone!' 'No, no! Strength and +glory to him who is alone,' say I!</p> + +<p>"The healing of my wounds is not my only preoccupation +in this solitude. Would it not perhaps +be better to keep them open? They have made +a man of me. But the peace of this place enables +me to meditate upon that solution of the religious +problem for which I once fought, but about which +I no longer feel so certain. Dear friend, dear Mother +Fedele, to no one save to you could I confess this +terrible uncertainty, and perhaps I would not do +so even to you did I not feel the horror of it, and, +at the same time, the desire to set it before me in +black and white."</p> + +<p>Leila looked on to discover any further references +to herself and to his love. She saw the +names of Don Aurelio and of Benedetto, and turning +back, read the same passage over again, beginning +with the words, "To-day my dangerous inclination..." +and ending with "the unreasoning senses, +throbbing in perfect harmony." Here she paused, +trembling, and, still struggling against pride, she +raised the words to her lips, which she pressed half-open +upon them, with a gentle touch, as if vaguely +forming a kiss that pride half forbade. Once more +she read the lines, and kept her eyes fixed upon them +until the rest of the page became a misty blur around +these magic words. She read no farther, but undressing +herself, placed the letter under her pillow +and got into bed. She dreamed of a great multitude +of wind-tossed beings, with whom she mingled, flying +in an agony of fear above a hideous stream, which +flowed darkly in the depths below. Suddenly she +felt herself falling through space; and awoke. She +felt for the letter, suddenly overtaken by the fear +that it showed in parts too clearly that Alberti's +love for her was dying. She lit a candle, and sitting +up in bed, read the letter carefully, studying the +most painful passages. It ran as follows:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</span></p> + + +<p>"<em>Dasio</em>....</p> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Friend</span>,—I am writing to you from a +small, lonely village, high up among the mountains +and the mists. For the time being I have broken +with Milan and with the world. I will tell you all, +for I love you as a son, and if this pretence motherhood +be not displeasing to you, I should like to call +you 'Mother Fedele.' May I? And so I am going +to tell you everything. I have long felt ill at ease in +my uncle's house. My uncle is a good man who has +solved the problem of combining religious intolerance +with charity. If all intolerant people were like my +uncle they would compel the whole world to respect +their doctrines. But he has not kept in touch with +religious questions, and, accepting the opinions of +certain persons who do not know my true feelings, +he sets me down as a lost sheep. Neither in intellectual +matters have we anything in common, and I +feel, too, that he disapproves of my not having +followed some regular and profitable occupation.</p> + +<p>"Annoyances of a serious nature, of which Don +Aurelio has surely told you, drove me to seek peace +and quietude at Velo d'Astico. You know what peace +I found there! On my return to Milan I discovered +urgent reasons why I should not continue to live on +my uncle's bounty, and it was immediately after +our sad visit to the cemetery of Velo that I read in +the <em>Corriere</em> the announcement of a vacancy for the +post of parish-doctor at Valsolda in the province of +Como. The announcement attracted me, for I should +soon be obliged to go to that place to perform a +sacred duty towards the person and memory of the +man I have loved best in this world. I started for +Valsolda at once, telling my uncle that I was going +to apply for the post, and that I wished to see the +country, with which I was quite unacquainted.</p> + +<p>"I did not tell him of my determination to leave +Milan for good, if at Valsolda or elsewhere, whether +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</span>or not I secured the post, I could find a quiet place +of retreat.</p> + +<p>"One of the Lake of Lugano boats brought me +to a village which, they told me, was the centre of +Valsolda. As soon as I had set foot there I saw +that it was no place for me, that I should not +find there the solitude I desired. I heard of a +decent inn in the highest and most remote village +in the valley, and here I am in this hermitage called +Dasio, resting amidst the cool, dark verdure, +beneath mighty crags that tower above it on the +north and east. Here I am, apparently at a distance +of four or five hours from Milan, but, in reality, +immeasurably remote from it. My inn, at which +I am the only visitor, is called 'Pension Restaurant +du Jardin.' I am writing in a comfortable square +room, and I have carried paper and ink to the broad +sill of a window that looks out upon a vast sweep +of verdure, rolling downwards to the lake's deep +mirror, amidst an all-pervading silence. Were my +soul at peace, and all the ties that still bind me +to the world severed for ever, I should be better +able to feel this peace in all things, this harmony +between the mighty hills and the tiny churches in +the valley, calling humanity back to God. Near +my inn stands the village church. From my window +I can read the words '<em>Divo Bernardino</em>' upon its +front. Is it he of Siena? I hope so. Indeed, +I do not know any other. On the right, lower down, +and in the distance, a campanile stands out above +the lake. Had I peace within me I could feel more +intensely the peace of these venerable churches, of +these stones, that are ignorant of our struggles, and +are the guardians of the Catholic spirit of our fathers. +Alas! dear Mother Fedele, I can hold no converse +either with the hills, the valleys, or the churches. +I cannot feel the quiet of all things because there +is no peace within my soul, but only a weary round +of impulses continuously coming and going. Even +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</span>when they cease I am not at rest, but rather faint +with a mortal exhaustion. From mortal exhaustion +I pass to a state of bitter irritation, and from bitterness +to paralysing terrors. I do not give way unresistingly +to these feelings, but the very struggle +excludes peace. The first effect of the silence of +Dasio is to make me even more painfully alive to +the voices of the world from which I have fled.</p> + +<p>"I feel at times as if some evil spirit had undertaken +to keep me mindful of them. My window +looks out on the church-place of San Bernardino. +Some children are playing there, and a merry voice +has just cried out: 'Leila!'"</p> + +<p>Long before reaching this point the young girl +had begun to tremble. She trembled lest her pride +should forsake her, lest the writer's harshest words +concerning her should seem too mild, lest also she +should discover some sign that his love for her was +disappearing. She passed over the part of the letter +she had already read and went on:</p> + +<p>"My present state of mind regarding the Catholic +faith is not altogether new, but it is only recently +that I have realised this.</p> + +<p>"As a lad I was often beset by doubts. During +my student days in Rome I was like a piece of +seaweed that has been torn up by the roots, and +floats at the mercy of the tide. But then I met the +man whose body will soon be brought hither and +laid to rest. I worshipped him, and as long as he +lived no shadow of doubt ever again assailed me. +I would gladly have given my life for my faith and +the Church. I may have wished, at times, that +ecclesiastical authority had taken another course in +this matter or that, but the possibility of rebellion +against it never occurred to me either then or for +some time after my Master's death. Then the unjust +accusations of wilful dissent from Catholic doctrine +brought against him, the hostility which I, as his +disciple, met with from a Pharisaical rabble, and, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</span>on the other hand, the corrosive effect of hypercriticism +and contact with certain aimless doctrinaires—all +these influences prepared the gradual +dissolution, which is steadily advancing, of the body +of my beliefs. Do not think, dear friend, that I am +losing my faith as some do, who, less clever and +cultured than they think, despise Catholicism on +account of certain ritualistic practices, or of some +obscurities in its dogmas, that appear to them simply +absurd and even laughable. This is but the pettiness +of presumptuous minds that know little of +Catholicism, and have the audacity to criticise the +religion of St. Augustine, of Dante, and of Rosmini. +No, it is for other reasons that my faith is weakening. +The doubt that is shaping in my mind is that this +Divine religion is about to share the fate of Judaism, +that the divine element is about to issue from +it as Christianity issued from Judaism, leaving +behind what was worn out and surpassed. As +Catholicism completed Judaism, so a more ideal +religion may perhaps complete Catholicism. Are +there to be forerunners who must endure sacrifice? +Must I sacrifice myself, and preach this Word, in +opposition to the Word I have preached heretofore? +My Roman friends wish me to speak at the cemetery +in Oria, when the body of my Master, Benedetto, +is laid in its final resting-place. I fear I could not +do so without hypocrisy, because Benedetto believed +steadfastly in the immortality of the Catholic Church, +and in the duty of obedience. If, presently, I come +to think, as I now fear I shall, that he was mistaken, +I should be dishonouring his beloved memory by +speaking at his grave. A more faithful disciple +than I must be found.</p> + +<p>"Don Aurelio, who is still in Milan, waiting for +pupils, does not know these views of mine. I had not +the courage to confide in him, and I shall certainly +not be brave enough to write. Besides, why should +I cause him such sorrow as he would surely +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</span>experience? I cannot look to him for help, for I am +already aware what his answer would be. He, in +himself, is an argument in favour of the Catholic +Church, a stronger argument than any he could bring +forward either in words or writing, but insufficient +nevertheless; for pure and noble souls, souls full +of honest conviction, may be found in every Church, +and even outside of any Church.</p> + +<p>"There you have the painful truth concerning the +state of my mind. The suffering this causes me +arises from the conviction that, if I break with +Catholicism, I shall lose all positive religious faith, +and then how shall I go on living?</p> + +<p>"As I am writing to you as a son I will add a +few words about my new financial position. Heretofore +I have relied largely upon my uncle's great +generosity. But to-day I am happy in the thought +that my uncle, who is as niggardly towards himself +as he is generous to others, will now be able +to benefit some charity with the money he once +lavished upon his nephew, who was always more or +less reprehensible in his eyes. I shall live upon +the income of the small capital to which my parents' +fortune has been reduced. It represents something +like four or five lire a day, a sum which, here, or in +some other place like this, will suffice for my +material wants, which, fortunately, are not great. +From what I hear, I conclude that it will be useless +for me to apply for the position of physician here, as +the doctor who has been holding it temporarily is +sure to be appointed. This is the chief difficulty. I +cannot live without books and papers, and I must +therefore earn something by my profession, but any +practice I might acquire here would bring me very +little. As I said before, this is the difficulty, but I +assure you that this new sense of poverty—a poverty +that is only relative, and far removed from penury—is +very sweet to me. It is not that I exult in my +independence of a benefactor; I exult only, in that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</span>I am now almost completely independent of <em>things</em>, +and also that I am come down among the humble, +come down out of a world dominated by conventionalities +and hypocrisies to a world of greater +simplicity. This would be a true joy to me, if +my soul were capable of joy.</p> + +<p>"Write to me, dear friend. Direct to Dasio, near +San Mamette, Province of Como. You had perhaps +better not tell me of the little person I must learn +to forget.</p> + +<p>"And now goodbye. One of the guards has +just come in to beg me to prescribe for his child, +who has been eating too much fruit. You see it +will not be difficult for me to acquit myself with +honour with my first patient!</p> + +<p>"I kiss your hand.</p> + + +<p style="padding-left: 5em;">"Your devoted son,</p> +<p class="right" style="padding-right: 2em;">"<span class="smcap">Massimo</span>.</p> + + +<p class="p1">"PS.—Fancy! I have only just noticed the +sacred picture upon the wall above my bed. It +represents Jesus walking on the Sea of Galilee, +stretching out His hand to Peter, who is afraid that +he may sink. Peter doubted Christ, and Christ +stretched out a loving hand to him. Will He not +stretch it out also to one who doubts Peter, if Peter +withhold his hand? At any rate, it is a strange +coincidence that at this period of my inner life, here +in Dasio, hanging upon the wall of an inn, and above +a bed upon which, but last night, I passed long, +sleepless hours thinking of Christ and Peter, I should +meet with this reproof: <em>Modicæ fidei, quare +dubitasti?</em></p> + +<p>"But I am not superstitious."</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Leila read the pages that dealt with religion without +understanding much beyond their groundwork of +grief, but she was conscious of a dull pain at her +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</span>own incapacity. She felt also that Donna Fedele +had done wrong in not respecting another's confidences, +and she felt remorse at having taken +advantage of this breach of faith. Nevertheless, +she could not resist reading the letter. The expressions +concerning the joy of poverty from one whom +she had accused of sordid purposes cut her to the +heart. She told herself that she was unworthy of +him, and that it would be best for him to go on +thinking that she despised him.</p> + +<p>At the words "the little person I must learn +to forget" her heart throbbed, not in anger but in +assent. She crept under the bedclothes. From time +to time she was still shaken with trembling, and her +breast heaved, but not a single tear did she shed.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>The next morning when she entered her friend's +room she placed the letter on the bedside table, with +an air of indifference. Donna Fedele was sitting +up in bed writing. She did not answer when Leila +asked how she had passed the night. From the young +girl's face her friend judged how her questioner had +passed it. Donna Fedele asked for a kiss and +whispered:</p> + +<p>"Did I do wrong?"</p> + +<p>"Of course not," said Leila coldly. "I knew."</p> + +<p>"You knew?" Donna Fedele cried in astonishment. +"Surely there were many things in that letter +you did not know!"</p> + +<p>"Please do not let us discuss it," the girl pleaded.</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele on embracing Leila had felt the +throbbing of her proud little heart too distinctly +to believe her cold words.</p> + +<p>"I have answered his letter," she said. "Please +read the answer."</p> + +<p>Leila's first impulse was to refuse, in order to +avoid useless pain, but fearing to be led into uttering +imprudent words, she took the letter and read it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</span></p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">My dear Son</span>,—I gladly accept you as a son +and immediately write to you as such. Yet I am +so far from my usual self that, had I not four +pieces of news that I wish you to know at once, +I should put off writing to you until to-morrow. +The first, I have told you already—that I gladly +look upon you as my son. The second is, that +you are greatly mistaken concerning Leila and her +feelings."</p> + +<p>Here the girl looked up, and, seizing the pen, +drew it, with lightning rapidity, through the last +two lines.</p> + +<p>"Leila! What are you doing?" cried Donna +Fedele in amazement, stretching out her hand to +take the letter. The young girl moved back a few +steps, and went on reading without answering, still +holding the pen in her trembling fingers.</p> + +<p>"Do you think you have any right to retaliate +in that way?" Donna Fedele continued indignantly.</p> + +<p>She was labouring under the misapprehension that +Leila's act had been an angry protest against the +harsh words contained in Alberti's letter. Leila made +no answer, but read on in silence.</p> + +<p>"The third is, that Peter did indeed doubt, but +on feeling the waters yielding beneath his feet, he +called out, '<em>Lord, save me!</em>' The fourth is, that +your new mother needs you far more than the +guard's child does, for to-morrow the Villino delle +Rose will be more lonely than Dasio, because Leila +is going back to the Montanina. Her father insists +upon it. Write to Don Aurelio. I am not satisfied +with the reasons you give for not doing so. I see +you with one foot outside the path in which I myself +walk humbly, and without feeling the stones, the +thorns, and the dust that torment you, with all your +science and philosophy. But I am not capable of +arguing with you, who are so clever and so wise. +Write to Don Aurelio. Goodbye.</p> + + +<p class="right" style="padding-right: 2em;">"<span class="smcap">Mother Fedele.</span>"</p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</span></p> + +<p class="p1">When she had finished Leila silently handed the +letter to Donna Fedele, who was gazing at her with +anxious eyes, and waiting in vain for a single word.</p> + +<p>"How do you suppose I can send it now?" said +she.</p> + +<p>"Forgive me," the girl answered coldly, "but I +did right."</p> + +<p>And she left the room.</p> + + + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" > + CHAPTER XII + <br> + <small>CONCERNING A SOUL</small> + </h2> +</div> + + +<h3>I</h3> + +<p>The service for the repose of the soul of Signor +Marcello was to begin at ten o'clock. Donna Fedele +was not well enough to attend. She had written to +Camin, begging that Leila might be allowed to stay +with her until the morrow, for the cousin to whom +she had written was not expected until the following +day, and Leila would not hear of leaving the +Villino until her arrival. However, no answer had +come from the Montanina. About half-past nine +o'clock Leila and the maid started to walk to Velo.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Leila refused her father's invitation to sit beside +him on the bench that had been covered with +black drapery, and sat down near the door, that +she might be able to go out as soon as the service +was over. But before it began the archpriest's sister-in-law, +all smiles and blushes, came to her side, +and begged her to look in at the parsonage after +the service, as Don Emanuele wished to speak to +her. Leila, who was absorbed in one thought, and +perfectly indifferent to anything Don Emanuele might +have to say to her, was not even astonished at the +request. She would have preferred not to go, both +because she had come to detest the two Velo priests +and because she longed to be alone. But foreseeing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</span>further demands and annoyances, she concluded it +would be best to comply at once for the sake of +future peace. She slipped quickly out of church on +catching sight of her father coming towards her +with Molesin, who was already preparing himself +for the introduction. Siora Bettina joined her outside +the church, and conducted her to the parsonage with +a show of politeness and amiability that cost her +many sharp pangs, which nevertheless she endured for +the sake of Don Emanuele. She discussed the impressive +way in which the service had been conducted, +spoke of Don Emanuele's solemn dignity +and edifying devotion while officiating, praising him +even above her own brother-in-law, whom she +described as "a saint, but easy-going." Then she +went on to speak of his skill as a spiritual adviser, +remarkable in one so young, and she declared that +any conscience would be safe in his charge. Leila +paid no attention to any of her remarks, but kept +her eyes fixed on the door, longing for this tiresome +priest to come and get the interview over quickly.</p> + +<p>She had been to confession to him two or three +times, but he had at last requested her to go to the +archpriest in the future, putting forward as an excuse +that his superior might feel hurt that she had not +preferred him. Ever since her boarding-school days +confession had been a mere formality for her, and +she cared little whether it were addressed to one +priest or to another.</p> + +<p>Poor Siora Bettina herself, having exhausted her +conversation, had begun to glance anxiously at the +door, when it was opened at last, revealing the chaplain's +lank figure. Bettina bestowed a parting smile +on Leila, and murmuring a farewell, rose to go.</p> + +<p>Don Emanuele was approaching this interview +with the firm intention of working for the greater +glory of God and the good of a soul. His grave +face and dignified bearing revealed so strong a consciousness +of authority that an unfriendly observer +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</span>might have mistaken it for pride. Pride is so subtle +an intruder, and its presence is so difficult to trace, +that Don Emanuele may indeed have been honestly +deceived in his belief that he was free from it and +a humble instrument of the Lord. He was unconscious +of his own complacence and pride in the +immense power exercised by the priesthood to which +he belonged; and while the recognition of this power +renders other and better ministers of the Church +humble, not only before God but before men, and +fearful of exercising it too rigorously, the chaplain's +complacency inclined him to wield it without moderation. +As the arrogant menial often usurps the +master's authority, so did Don Emanuele persuade +himself that in all things he was interpreting the +Divine Will. His spirit waged fierce war against +his flesh, and gained the mastery none too easily, +yet so far from being thereby inclined to leniency in +dealing with sinners he was the more relentless +towards them.</p> + +<p>His reason for acting no longer as Leila's confessor +lay in the fact that his senses were troubled by +the faint suggestion of essence of rose that she brought +to the confessional. To the peasant nature of Don +Tita the perfume would have suggested nothing; +but to Don Emanuele it spoke of crafty wiles for the +beguiling and stirring of the senses, and herein arose +the desire, prompted still further by the subsequent +news of Leila's desperate attempt at suicide, to win +her for the cloister. To snatch her from Signora +Vayla's pernicious influence, to use her as a means +of getting rid of that scandalous housekeeper, to +take advantage of her isolation at the Montanina, and +of her aversion to her father, to inspire her with +the longing for a religious life—such was the undertaking +in which his interview with Molesin had +been the first step, and which had already borne fruit +in the departure of Carolina. He had not taken the +archpriest into his confidence for several reasons; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</span>one may have been that he knew of Don Tita's +hope of bringing about a marriage between the +Signorina and a certain young Vicentine. Signora +Bettina was certainly aware of it. The latter, with +many groans, was now bravely seeking to overcome +her aversion to any contact with Signorina da Camin, +and all out of pure devotion to Don Emanuele, who +wished her to try to become Leila's friend in place +of Signora Vayla, and to exert a wholesome religious +influence over her.</p> + +<p>On catching sight of the chaplain Siora Bettina +hoped that, at any rate for the time being, she was +going to be released, and she rose, intending to +withdraw. Without so much as a glance in her +direction the priest detained her by a gesture of +his hand, and having saluted Leila, calmly seated +himself on the sofa, while Signora Fantuzzo wriggled +uneasily in her chair, eyeing the chaplain meanwhile +with an air of humble entreaty, until a frown +from him reduced her to a state of subjection. On +hearing that Don Emanuele had a favour to ask +of Signorina da Camin and herself, she stared wildly. +The bare idea of doing anything in collaboration +with the young girl sent the blood flaming to her +cheeks. She hastened to declare that she was good +for nothing, that she was quite incapable in every +way.</p> + +<p>"Pardon me," said Don Emanuele in the serenely +authoritative manner of a superior imposing silence +oh his inferior, "pardon me." The frightened +woman turned her scarlet face towards Leila and +murmured, nervously rubbing her hands together in +her lap, as if seeking to wring from them her reasons +for resisting, "It is true—really, it is quite true!"</p> + +<p>Don Emanuele took no further notice of her, and +addressed to Leila the long speech he had prepared. +The pith of it was this: The local Board of Charity +had the administering of a legacy for the benefit of +mothers of families who were incapacitated for work +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</span>by illness or by childbirth. As there were many +complaints in the parish concerning this legacy, the +chaplain had persuaded the Board to consent to the +nomination of two lady visitors, and had proposed +the names of Signora Fantuzzo and Signorina da +Camin. At every second word the chaplain uttered +Signora Fantuzzo groaned Gèsummaria! She was +willing enough to help the poor from a distance, +but coming into personal contact with them was not +to her taste. Don Emanuele, with perfect unconcern, +begged the ladies to make some arrangements +at once for their future co-operation.</p> + +<p>"If you cannot stop now, this afternoon or to-morrow +Signora Fantuzzo can go to Villa da Camin, +and you will then be able to talk the matter over. +Meanwhile I will prepare a list of the mothers to +be visited at once."</p> + +<p>Leila shook off her indifference, and observed that +she was not sure of being at the villa on the morrow. +She had, indeed, determined in her own mind not to +leave the Villino until after the arrival of the cousin +from Santhià. Don Emanuele, who was somewhat +perplexed, remained silent, but at that moment there +was a knock at the door, and Don Tita appeared. +He greeted Leila heartily, as if the encounter at the +Posina Bridge had never taken place, called the +chaplain aside and told him something in an undertone, +and then mentioned to his sister-in-law to withdraw. +She left the room, followed by Don Emanuele. +The archpriest came over to Leila, who had risen.</p> + +<p>"One moment, Siora Leila," said he. "One +moment! Papa is here."</p> + +<p>The door opened slowly and revealed Sior Momi's +red-and-yellow countenance, his twitching eyelids, +and parti-coloured beard.</p> + +<p>"Come in, Signor da Camin," said the archpriest. +"Is everything in readiness?"</p> + +<p>"I should say it was, sir," Momi answered, +employing the conditional as a mood expressive of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</span>much deferential hesitation, and, turning to his +daughter, he greeted her with a timid "Ciao! How +are you?" that might have been one of his familiar +"ahos." Leila was in the dark as to what was on +foot, and from Sior Momi's gaping mouth there issued +no further word of explanation. The good-natured +archpriest quickly intervened, however, declaring that +her father really did not know his duties, but that +he, the archpriest, had undertaken to instruct him. +Thus Sior Momi would have allowed Leila to go home +on foot, in all the heat, but he, the archpriest, had +advised him to send to Arsiero for a comfortable +carriage and pair. Leila at once scented a conspiracy +between her father and the archpriest to get her +back to the Montanina. She could not guess that it +had been Molesin who had advised a little stratagem +of this sort, or that her father, who had pretended to +fall in with the plan, in Molesin's absence, had begged +the archpriest to intervene, and to preach her a little +sermon on the duty of filial obedience and of returning +to her own home without delay. But the little sermon +never passed Don Tita's lips, for the girl promptly +checked it by declaring imperiously that she intended +to walk. Sior Momi immediately acquiesced. +"Well, well, well!" said he, and Leila took her +departure, with the very slightest of bows, while +her meek parent sought to convince his astonished +accomplice that the obstinate girl would have flung +herself out of the carriage rather than submit to the +deceit.</p> + + +<h3>II</h3> + +<p>A few hours before the time fixed for Leila's +departure from the Villino—she was leaving in +obedience to Donna Fedele's wishes rather than to +Sior Momi's—the cousin arrived from Santhià. +Eufemia Magis was a little, old woman, so bowed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</span>and shrivelled that she seemed more in need of care +herself than able to bestow it. Although Donna +Fedele was very ill, the sight of Cousin Eufemia +sufficed to open the wellsprings both of affection +and of fun. Whenever Eufemia was her guest she +was anxious that no want or desire of hers should +be neglected; but nevertheless she could not refrain +from teasing her most unmercifully, rallying her concerning +the old-fashioned cut of her clothes, her +enormous black cap, trimmed with violet ribbons, +the supposed love affairs of her youth, the imaginary +matter of her frequent confessions, and her quaint +ejaculations whenever she dropped her spectacles or +a knitting-pin. Eufemia was present when Leila +said goodbye to her friend.</p> + +<p>"I hope your father will often let you come to +see me," said Donna Fedele.</p> + +<p>Leila's eyes flashed.</p> + +<p>"I should like to see him try to prevent me!" +she cried.</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele took her hands, and patting them +tenderly, whispered, "Be a good girl! Be good! +Be good!"</p> + +<p>Leila glanced at Cousin Eufemia, who slipped +meekly and silently from the room. The young +girl flung her arms around her friend, and laid her +head on the pillow beside her. The invalid placed +her hand upon Leila's hair, and said gently:</p> + +<p>"Did the letter wound you?"</p> + +<p>No word, no sign answered her question.</p> + +<p>"Do you really not wish me to tell him anything +about you?"</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele said this very softly and +hesitatingly. She had noted the look Leila had +bestowed upon Cousin Eufemia, and believed she +had something to tell her in confidence. Leila's +shoulders heaved, and she shook her head violently.</p> + +<p>"Is there anything else you wish me to do?"</p> + +<p>Although she spoke caressingly, the invalid's sweet, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</span>youthful voice held a faint note of impatience that +seemed to say, "Do speak out!" And there was +the same impatience in the large brown eyes. Leila +could not see them, but she knew what they were +saying. She raised her tear-stained face from the +pillow, kissed her friend, and then left the house.</p> + + +<h3>III</h3> + +<p>On the following afternoon she returned. Donna +Fedele was sitting up reading in her bedroom. +Leila flung herself on her knees before her friend and +protested vehemently that it was impossible for her +to stay at the Montanina any longer. The invalid +patted her head softly, murmuring words of gentle +reproof.</p> + +<p>"What has happened?" she said at last. "Get +up and tell me about it."</p> + +<p>It was some time before she could persuade Leila +to raise her head, which she had buried in her +friend's lap, and tell her story. As a matter of +fact nothing had happened, save that she had been +brought face to face with a reality of which she +had never really been ignorant. On perceiving how +upset she was Donna Fedele's mind had immediately +flown to Signor Camin's housekeeper. She did not +know how to question Leila concerning her, and +so inquired for Teresina instead, and was informed +that Teresina had consented to remain because "that +other creature" had taken herself off. But not even +Teresina could stand the house, the master, and +"those other people" any longer. "Those other +people" stood for Dr. Molesin alone, who was about +to leave, thank Heaven! Leila detested that slimy individual, +who had sought to ingratiate himself by +discoursing of the Camin ancestry, of an old priest +who used to say Mass at the Carmelite Church, and +of a venerable nun who had been famous as a pastry-cook.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</span> +And her father? Was he unkind to her? +No, no! Leila only wished he were! But, on the +contrary, he was nauseatingly humble and obsequious. +He would not move so much as a chair in the +house without asking her permission, and had even +asked her leave to have the grass cut. He was +equally obsequious with Teresina, and Leila was convinced +he had even been confidential with the maid +at times. She said this with such utter contempt +that Donna Fedele cried out, "Oh, Leila!"</p> + +<p>"What do I care?" said the girl.</p> + +<p>But she refrained from describing how Signor +Momi, after a futile attempt at familiarity with his +daughter, would beat a sudden retreat, uttering his +silly "Aho! aho!" as if he had been in jest. With +his timid advances and his hasty retreats, he was +like one who stretches out his hand to a hedge of +roses in the dark, hoping to grasp a flower, and +encounters the thorns instead.</p> + +<p>The very walls of the Montanina were no longer +the same. Formerly they had been full of life and +affection. Now Leila felt that they were dead and +indifferent to her. Her father's spirit had contaminated +everything. Had she not feared to shock +Donna Fedele she would have confessed her +monstrous suspicion that she was not the daughter +of this man. Could she possibly remain at the Montanina +under such conditions? She paused for an +answer to this question.</p> + +<p>"Bring me a glass of water," said her friend, +"and the bottle with the drop-stopper, from the +bedside table."</p> + +<p>Leila obeyed in silence. Donna Fedele, who was +past-mistress in the art of not hearing when she +did not wish to, swallowed her medicine, and then +went on calmly:</p> + +<p>"I know what you wanted to tell me yesterday."</p> + +<p>Leila had never become accustomed to her friend's +voluntary deafness. It always irritated her.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</span></p> + +<p>"Answer me!" she said impatiently. "Am I +not justified in not wishing to return? Are you +afraid I shall plant myself upon you, here?"</p> + +<p>The thoughtless words lighted a flame in Donna +Fedele's eyes, but she controlled herself.</p> + +<p>"I know what you wanted to tell me yesterday," +she repeated coldly, accentuating every syllable. +"You were going to confess that you love him."</p> + +<p>The moment was ill-chosen. Leila started, and +knit her brows as if an insolent hand had touched +her cheek.</p> + +<p>"No!" she cried. "Never!"</p> + +<p>She sprang angrily to her feet, knocking over +her chair against the door at the very moment when +Cousin Eufemia was pushing it carefully open with +one hand, while in the other she bore a cup of +broth on a tray. The broth splashed over her gown. +"Mercy on us!" cried the little old woman. Donna +Fedele forced a short laugh. If she did not laugh +heartily, she was, nevertheless, glad to show her +indifference to Leila's dramatic violence, and to avail +herself of her cousin's presence in order to cut short +an unpleasant conversation. She stopped Eufemia, +who was already starting to fetch more broth, and +sent her to the writing-desk for a letter, which she +requested her to give to Leila.</p> + +<p>"Now you can go," said she to the little old +woman. When Eufemia had left the room, Leila +laid the letter down.</p> + +<p>"Read it!" said Donna Fedele.</p> + +<p>"Why should I?" the girl retorted. "It will +do no good."</p> + +<p>"How do you know?" Donna Fedele insisted. +"It is not from Alberti."</p> + +<p>The letter was from Don Aurelio. He had found +a good many pupils and was quite happy on this +point. But he complained greatly of Alberti, who +had left Milan without even an attempt to see him, +and without sending him a line. He had heard of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</span>his departure through Engineer Alberti, Massimo's +uncle and benefactor. To Don Aurelio the young +man's act appeared in the light of a mere caprice. +He could only explain it as a result of the bitter +disappointment of Signorina Leila's repulse, and he +added the following words:</p> + +<p>"His having left me thus makes me fear he is +undergoing a crisis so severe as to affect even his +religious conscience. I have reasons for fearing this. +Ah! what a blessing it would have been had a +certain person but understood him better!"</p> + +<p>Leila laid the letter down in silence.</p> + +<p>"Do you see?" said Donna Fedele.</p> + +<p>"Why do you make me read these letters?" the +girl cried angrily. "I refuse to admit that they +touch me in any way."</p> + +<p>"So the evil you may cause does not touch you +in any way?"</p> + +<p>"What evil? This religious crisis? I have passed +through mine, and I am glad of it," Leila retorted +bitterly. "I leave Catholicism to my father and +Dr. Molesin, who went to Mass together this morning; +I leave it to the chaplain who officiated, to +the archpriest——"</p> + +<p>"And to me also, I suppose?" said Donna Fedele +freezingly.</p> + +<p>Leila was silent. She had not intended to wound +her friend, but nevertheless, she was glad she had +spoken as she had. Presently Donna Fedele added:</p> + +<p>"Thank you!"</p> + +<p>She took up the book she had been reading when +Leila arrived, the verses of a great Catholic poet, +Adam Mickiewitz, a Catholic, not of Don Emanuele's +stamp, but a follower of Dante. Leila felt that +she was dismissed. She thought she saw tears in +Donna Fedele's eyes, and was on the point of flinging +her arms about her neck, but she choked the +good impulse in its birth, and turned to go instead.</p> + +<p>She had already opened the door when her friend +called her back.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</span></p> + +<p>"We have both been disagreeable," said she. +"Come and be friends again!" And she held out her +hand.</p> + +<p>Leila seized it in hers, kissed it, and then rushed +away.</p> + + +<h3>IV</h3> + +<p>On reaching the Posina Bridge she paused to gaze +into the silent, rapid stream. She had never passed +the spot since that momentous night without being +assailed by regret for the promise she had made +Donna Fedele, without a shiver of desire and repulsion. +She had never since stopped to look down, +but to-day she did so almost against her will, +as if compelled by some unknown force, and to +acknowledge, also unwillingly, that she no longer +had any desire to die. Only then, as she peered +into the depths, was this new, unfathomable state +of her own mind made clear to her. Her bewildered +soul slowly opened, revealing, in its depths, the instinctive +hope of love and happiness, triumphing over +all previsions of reason, all generous resolutions of +renunciation. Her heart was beating fast as she +withdrew from the parapet and started again on her +way. She seemed to feel the life imprisoned in all +things straining towards love and joy, and their +dumb eagerness entered into her. All nature seemed +to speak in the roaring of the whirlpool at Perale +and to call to her, "For you also! For you +also!" And her heart throbbed back, "For me +also! For me also!" The very air of the woods +seemed alive. She would have liked to follow the +path that led upwards on the left of the bridge, +and there among the trees to have abandoned herself +entirely to dreams and fancies. But the mouth +of the path had been closed with logs and brambles, +and the main road seemed the only way. She passed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</span>some carts and several people, and her excitement +cooled somewhat; but she trembled at herself, at +the violent outburst of desire that had blazed within +her, and had then shrunk back, like some startled +wild animal, into the deep recesses of her soul. She +thought of Donna Fedele, who had evidently doubted +the strength of her "no" and of her "never," and +she resolved to write to her in unmistakable language, +thus binding herself irrevocably.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>At the chestnut-tree she met her father, who +inquired timidly if she was on her way from the +Villino. He might have been inquiring, half boldly, +half shrinkingly, if she had been keeping some +shameful tryst. Her sharp and challenging answer, +made him blink rapidly.</p> + +<p>"The priests ... on account of the priests, you +see ..." he stammered with a smile.</p> + +<p>This concise utterance meant a great many things. +It meant that the priests disapproved of her friendship +for Donna Fedele, and that he would advise +her to comply with their wishes, but that he would +not presume beyond simple advice.</p> + +<p>The priests had been to the Montanina with Signora +Fantuzzo during Leila's absence. The chaplain's +expression had been absolutely funereal, but Siora +Bettina had looked as if a great weight had been +lifted from her shoulders. Sior Momi, steering +warily between clerical rocks and filial shoals, had +gone the length of promising the lady a visit from +Leila. "She will come herself—come herself!" He +had listened attentively to the archpriest's conversation, +who seemed more interested in Leila's parent +than in Leila herself, seeing in him a new elector, +a future town-councillor, a strong and mighty cat's-paw, +working for the parsonage in the Council, and +a precious ally of his successor.</p> + +<p>That meek and smiling utterance of her father's, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</span>"The priests ..." irritated Leila even more than +a rebuke or a protest would have done. Her overwrought +nerves were deprived of the relief of violent +rebellion. She shut herself up in her room and +refused to leave it even at dinner-time, in order +to avoid meeting her father. She tried to write to +Donna Fedele as she had determined, but found +it impossible to do so. The knowledge of her father's +presence in the house, the thought that at any moment +she might hear his voice or step, made concentration +of thought impossible. As soon as Teresina had +assured her, shortly after ten o'clock, that he had +retired, she showed such eagerness to be left alone, +that the maid, remembering what had happened that +night at the Villino, became alarmed. When Leila +told her to go, she could not help exclaiming, "What +are you going to do now, Signorina?" Leila replied +that she wanted to be alone to write some letters. +Poor Teresina spent the night in the corridor, seated +on a trunk. She heard the key turn in the lock, +and then Leila moving about the room at intervals. +From time to time she caught the sound of sobbing, +and the noise of paper being torn in pieces. Once +she heard a window opened, and was on the point +of flinging herself against the door. But after a +long silence steps sounded again, the dressing-room +door creaked, and she heard water being poured +into the basin. Teresina became less anxious, but +did not dare to leave her post. She closed her eyes, +however, and after a brief struggle, sleep overcame +her.</p> + +<p>A sharp voice roused her: "What are you doing +here?"</p> + +<p>She started to her feet. "Gèsu!" she exclaimed, +and that was all she could say.</p> + +<p>"You foolish creature!" said Leila. "Go down +and open the door of the covered passage for me. +My head aches, and I want some air," she added +more gently.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</span></p> + +<p>It was dawn. The Torraro was sweeping joyously +through the Posina valley, through the birches and +poplars of the Montanina. Leila went up to the +chestnuts, and flung herself on the ground like a +tired child beneath their great branches, in the grass +still heavy with dew. She had written, but had +not yet fastened up her letter, undecided whether +to send it or not. As she lay in the damp grass, +the words she had written stood out in front of +her, and her mind was torn by indecision.</p> + +<p>"Please never mention that <em>great</em> person to me +again." She had arrived at this after many attempts +and after tearing up seven or eight sheets of paper. +The expression had pleased her, conveying, as she +meant it to convey, a retort to a certain reference to +herself in Massimo's letter. But now she doubted +whether it would not be better not to show herself +influenced by resentment, that her answer might +appear the more decisive. She thought she would +read the letter through again, and so returned to the +house. On the way she met Teresina, who was coming +to say she had made some strong coffee.</p> + +<p>"Mother of Mercy!" she cried, as she walked +along behind Leila. "You look as if you had +been——" She stopped, and did not add "in the +water," for the very word reminded her of what +had been uppermost in her mind all the night, namely, +that a man had but lately drowned himself in the +Posina close by.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>No, "great person" would not do at all! Nor +would it do to strike out the word "great." She +must give another tone to the whole letter, and remove +every trace of resentment and contempt. She tore +the sheet in two, and wrote as follows:</p> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Friend</span>,—Please never speak to me again +of a person I may indeed respect, but who inspires +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</span>me with an antipathy it is impossible to overcome. +My unkindness to you yesterday was caused by the +same feeling that now urges me to write in this way. +Forgive me.</p> + + +<p class="right" style="padding-right: 2em;">"<span class="smcap">Leila.</span>"</p> + + +<p class="p1">She read the lines again and decided that she +had expressed herself clearly and to the purpose. +There was no need of further corrections or regrets. +When that letter had gone all would be over for +ever. She flung herself upon her bed completely +exhausted both in mind and body, and slept for an +hour, and on awaking, sprang up in bed, troubled +because she had slept she knew not how long, and +bewildered as to what had previously taken place. +At sight of the note lying open on the writing-table, +consciousness began slowly to return, making her +heart throb with a dull pain. She bathed her face +and did her hair. The heartache grew, and waves of +tears rose, but she did not weep. She took the note +up to examine it again, but her hands trembled so +violently and her sight was so troubled that she +was unable to do so. She went out to read it in the +open air, in the garden, where her nerves would +not dare to rebel in this manner. She was so weary, +there was such peace in the fresh breeze, in the +waving of the ripe grasses, in the ceaseless murmuring +of the Riderella, that for a long time she sat +there beneath the walnut-trees, dazed and motionless, +the note slipping from her lap to the grass. Something +else slipped from her mind at the same time, +and she paid no heed to either. At last she stooped +and picked up the note, and began slowly tearing +it into strips, her eyes fixed dreamily on the grass. +As she tore the thought came to her that she was +performing a solemn rite, to which it seemed strange +that surrounding nature should remain so indifferent, +that the wind should sway the grasses as before, +that the water should be still murmuring. When she +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</span>had completely destroyed the note, her heart began +throbbing violently, as if her lover's arms were about +her shoulders and his lips on hers. She sprang from +her seat, frightened and aflame with excitement, +gathered together the scraps of paper and flung them +into the Riderella, watching until every tell-tale scrap +had disappeared, and the very act itself seemed to +have been annulled.</p> + + +<h3>V</h3> + +<p>In the afternoon Signora Fantuzzo reappeared at +the Montanina, but this time she came alone and was +received by Teresina. Leila had a headache, and +even had this not been the case she would have +invented one as an excuse. Official works of charity +were not to her liking, especially when they were +to be carried out in such company. Sior Momi had +scented the coming storm on the preceding day, and +had determined to avoid it by a little trip to Padua. +Siora Bettina was fairly well disposed towards Sior +Momi, in spite of her brother-in-law's somewhat +ambiguous description of him. The chaplain, however, +to whom she looked up as to an oracle, had +spoken otherwise of him. Don Emanuele knew him +as well as the archpriest did, and even better, but +until Leila should be fairly started on her way to +the convent, he saw in Momi a valuable ally. He +therefore declared to Siora Bettina, with an expression +of deepest compunction and many twistings of +words and phrases, that perhaps the archpriest, in his +saintly simplicity and inborn honesty, had attached +overmuch importance to slanderous rumours and +unduly harsh judgments. Signor da Camin had been +unfortunate in business, and was, perhaps, not exempt +from certain human frailties, but he was a man of +pure faith, free from all taint of modern error, a man +who practised his religion, and an excellent Catholic. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</span>He was, in short, a man to make the clergy and the +people of Velo thank God that the Montanina had +fallen into his hands instead of into those of the +young man from Milan.</p> + +<p>As neither Leila nor Sior Momi were visible, +Bettina seized the welcome opportunity of a few +moments' conversation with Teresina. She was fond +of the maid's company, not only because she was at +her ease with her, but because Teresina was a woman +of good sense and piety. Moreover, she was always +so willing to tell all she knew, and she told it in a +characteristic way. Teresina, for her part, liked +being with Siora Bettina, who was so devout, and +who treated her with so much consideration. They +met but seldom, but when they did meet their faces +always brightened, and they would twitter their bits +of gossip like a couple of canary-birds, mingling +comments in a wise and God-fearing spirit, and to +their mutual satisfaction. Signora Fantuzzo had +never seen any part of the Montanina save the drawing-room, +and Teresina now volunteered to show +her the rest of the house, all save Leila's room and +Sior Momi's, the door of which he had locked himself.</p> + +<p>"He is a good Christian, is he not?" said the +visitor. Teresina gazed at her in amazement, but +seeing she was quite in earnest, answered quickly:</p> + +<p>"Of course! Of course!"</p> + +<p>"And the young mistress also?" Signora +Fantuzzo went on, her face assuming an ambiguous +expression.</p> + +<p>"Of course—she also!" said Teresina.</p> + +<p>"I mean as concerns religion."</p> + +<p>Once more Teresina, somewhat troubled this time, +replied:</p> + +<p>"Of course, of course!"</p> + +<p>They had passed from the billiard-room to the +open verandah, and here Siora Bettina sat herself +down. With much embarrassment and a very red +face, she asked whether Teresina did not think that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</span>the influence of the lady at Arsiero, who had so little +reverence for the clergy, and had been the friend of +that bad priest at Lago, had shaken the girl's faith.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, I don't think so at all!" Teresina cried +with conviction.</p> + +<p>"Because you know ... don't you?"</p> + +<p>At the moment Teresina did not understand what +it was she was expected to know, and the two women +stood staring at each other, one filled with amazement, +the other with compunction. Bettina hesitated an +instant, and then hinted at the attempt to commit +suicide. Teresina understood at once, her face quickly +betraying the fact, and she dropped her eyes in silence. +Siora Bettina also looked down, that she might collect +her thoughts, and recall the chaplain's instructions +should she happen to have any conversation with the +maid. She inquired with great sweetness if the young +girl were in the habit of saying her morning and +evening prayers. Teresina, annoyed at such a personal +question, flushed angrily, and answered shortly +enough that she did not know. And had the Signorina +any religious books? She had a beautiful +New Testament, that had been a present from poor +Signor Marcello. Nothing else? And Siora Bettina +heaved a sigh of relief on learning that Leila +possessed a prayer-book and a volume entitled "The +Road to Paradise"; both were books she had had +at the convent. But did she read them? Teresina +might have answered that she had never seen any +one of the three books in Leila's hands, but her +only reply was a vague "Who can say?" Siora +Bettina then braced herself to say, sweetly, that up +at the parsonage they had anxiously hoped that, after +what had happened on that eventful night, the young +girl would soon come to confession. Don Emanuele, +who knew more about the events of that awful night +than did the archpriest, was especially distressed. +In making this speech Siora Bettina had been in +no wise conscious of setting a trap, but a trap it +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</span>proved for Teresina, who promptly walked into it. +As a good Catholic she also longed that Leila should +go to confession, and now her feelings got the better +of her.</p> + +<p>"Of course she should go!" she said fervently.</p> + +<p>Once more Siora Bettina communed with herself.</p> + +<p>"How much better it would have been had the +Trentos never taken the girl into their house!" she +said. "In her grief at her lover's death she would +probably have decided to withdraw from the world, +but not in the way she meant on that fatal night. +She would have dedicated herself to the Lord!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no! I don't believe she would!" cried +Teresina, irritated at any blame being cast upon +her old master and mistress. But why not? Ma! +Who knows! That "ma" was as a casket full of +golden reasons, but carefully locked. Teresina did +not see fit to open the casket, and Signora Fantuzzo +therefore concluded it was empty.</p> + +<p>"It would have been a great blessing!" said she, +and was about to add that it might still come to pass, +but remembered in time that Don Emanuele had +warned her not to go too far. The maid expressed +her regret that her work would not allow her to +enjoy Siora Bettina's society any longer, and hereupon +the visitor rose.</p> + +<p>"If only the confession could be managed!" said +she.</p> + +<p>"I wish it could," Teresina replied.</p> + +<p>She went with Signora Fantuzzo as far as the +small gate. At the last moment the lady hinted +that Leila might get some one to accompany her to +Vicenza, and make her confession at Monte Berico. +Perhaps she would be more willing to do it there.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps she would," Teresina acquiesced, and +Signora Fantuzzo observed that her father would be +the proper person to propose the Monte Berico excursion +to Leila.</p> + +<p>"Dio!" thought the maid.</p> + + + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" > + CHAPTER XIII + <br> + <small>"AVEU"</small> + </h2> +</div> + + +<h3>I</h3> + +<p>On the following morning Leila received a letter +from Donna Fedele complaining that she had not +seen Leila since their little quarrel. She was going +to Turin almost immediately, the Arsiero doctor +having urged her to go. Leila gathered from this +that the physician had examined her, though Donna +Fedele did not say so. The letter concluded with an +earnest request that Leila would go to see her soon, +and that a reply might be sent by the bearer. Leila +answered in haste:</p> + + +<p>"I am so glad you are going to Turin. I will +not come to you because it would be too painful +for me to be obliged, as I should be, to refuse to +comply with any wish of yours on the eve of such +a journey. I am unworthy that you should trouble +about me any more. Perhaps it would be better +to forget me, and leave me to my fate."</p> + + +<h3>II</h3> + +<p>That day Donna Fedele's physical condition was +such as to make her extremely irritable. She had +been in pain all night long, and it was only towards +daybreak that she had been able to get half an hour's +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</span>sleep. Poor old Eufemia, who slept in the next +room, had heard her groan several times, and was +in despair. Her very despair and anxiety, which +prompted her to ask many anxious questions, +earned for her only impatient answers. The effect +of Leila's letter was disastrous. Donna Fedele read +the note over and over again in her cousin's presence, +and finally tore it to bits. She was annoyed at +the refusal to come to her, and by the closing sentences, +which struck her as a sentimental repetition +of stock phrases: "Forget me—I am unworthy—Leave +me to my fate!"</p> + +<p>Hardly had she destroyed the note, however, than +her mood softened at the thought of Marcello. She +thought for a while and presently ordered Eufemia +to send to Arsiero for a carriage to take them to the +Montanina at four that afternoon. Her cousin protested +that this was madness. After an examination, +to which she had submitted at last, the Arsiero +doctor had ordered complete rest, that she might +gain sufficient strength to undertake the journey to +Turin. He had recommended Padua instead, as +being nearer, but Donna Fedele would hear of no +place but Turin and the Mauriziano hospital. The +operation might be postponed for a few days, +but for no longer. Her cousin's protests were in +vain, however, and the order for the carriage was +sent, together with a note for the archpriest of +Arsiero, begging him to be at the little chapel in +the cemetery at four o'clock. This chapel is only +a short distance beyond the road to the Montanina. +During the night Donna Fedele had really believed +she was dying, and now wished to go to confession, +but it would be impossible for her to climb the steps +of the Arsiero church.</p> + +<p>Ordinarily the carriage that came to fetch her +waited at the gate of the Villino road, and she walked +down to it, but to-day it was ordered to come up +to the door. There had been rain, but now the sun +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</span>was shining. Cousin Eufemia, terrified by the +invalid's pallor, once more implored her to stay at +home, but a smiling order to get into the carriage +was the only answer she received. Donna Fedele's +pallor was due, indeed, as much to mental suffering +as to physical pain. She, as well as Leila, had +pride, and it cost her a painful effort to humble her +pride before Leila's.</p> + +<p>She came out of the little chapel another creature, +and told her cousin that the drive and the air had +done so much for her that she felt almost fit to climb +one of those "great, ugly mountains," as the little +old spinster had called them. The carriage drew up +at the candelabrum chestnut, and Cousin Eufemia +was sent to the Montanina to summon Leila.</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele sat in the carriage and waited. +Usually she chatted with the driver, amusing herself +by asking him questions about different people and +things, and enjoying his picturesque language. Often +the man had been drinking, and at such times she +would first reproach him and then encourage him +to talk, for the pleasure of hearing him. For his part, +the driver was only too happy to chat with the +"Rose Countess," who, he declared, could talk better +than any one else in the world. And so to-day +Cousin Eufemia was hardly out of earshot when he +inquired if what they were saying at Arsiero were +really true, that Sior Momi's housekeeper had given +him a trouncing before she left. Donna Fedele +ordered him to be silent. She really felt eased by +her confession, and the moment was precious to her. +Ever since her girlhood she had hoped that death +would come painlessly, and that to the last she should +keep her senses, and, above all, her joy in life. She +did not think she should recover from the operation; +the thought did not grieve her, but as she sat here +to-day, on this lonely road, along which as a girl +she had so often walked, she was moved by a great +feeling of tenderness towards the familiar scene. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</span>Nature had never whispered its secrets to her. She +was one of those to whom the language and aspect +of men appealed much more than did the language +and aspect of Nature. But at that moment she +wondered at the tenderness she felt for the lonely +road, for the quiet beauty of the landscape, for the +faint voice of the falling water, for the eternal hills. +It was the tenderness of a farewell. She would not +return to this spot before going to Turin. And +afterwards....</p> + +<p>Afterwards, would she meet Marcello? She did +not count on this. Who knows what feelings may +awaken in that future life! Still, the thought +troubled her that she had not been able to shape +Leila's future as her dead friend had desired, that +she must leave her work unfinished.</p> + +<p>The time passed and Cousin Eufemia's prolonged +absence made her anxious. She heard steps behind +her and looked round. It was Don Emanuele with +Siora Bettina. Don Emanuele suddenly turned to +his companion, said something to her, and then tore +away at a great pace. Signora Fantuzzo kept on +her way, and passed the carriage with a flaming +face, but without looking up. Donna Fedele, who +had met her once or twice, made her a charming +bow, which she acknowledged with a slight inclination +of her head as she hurried along. The Signora +saw her go up the steps of the church, and disappear +beyond the gate. "What will happen now?" she +thought. "Perhaps Leila will not come." A +moment later Leila and Cousin Eufemia appeared +together at the gate. Donna Fedele drew a long +breath of relief.</p> + +<p>Cousin Eufemia, who knew that her presence was +not required during the interview, sat down on the +steps of the church. Leila came towards the carriage, +slowly at first, and then in haste, as she saw Donna +Fedele attempting to get out, with the driver's help. +She was glad that a little incident of ceremony should +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</span>relieve the embarrassment of their meeting, and if +Donna Fedele could be prevailed upon to stay in +the carriage, the interview, in the presence of the +driver, would be less painful. But Donna Fedele +insisted upon getting out. She had seen that the +gate leading to the narrow strip of field and to the +woods beyond was open.</p> + +<p>"We will go in there and have a little talk," +said she, with her familiar smile—"where we went +once before. Do you remember?"</p> + +<p>Leila, to whom Eufemia had spoken anxiously +concerning her cousin's condition, pointed out that +she would overtire herself. Donna Fedele replied +that she would sit down on the grass. Leila foresaw +a trying interview, and her face showed it. For a +moment she hesitated, but meanwhile the attentive +driver, who had overheard Donna Fedele's remark, +and who knew that the grass was still soaking after +the rain, took a rug from beneath his seat, and +pushing open the gate, cried:</p> + +<p>"Where will you have it, Signora Contessa?"</p> + +<p>Then, leaning on Leila's arm, Donna Fedele +walked slowly towards the low bank between the +chestnuts and the stream, where every blade of grass +seemed already aware of what each woman was going +to say.</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele sat down, but Leila remained +standing:</p> + +<p>"You have been very naughty," said the elder +woman, when the driver had left them.</p> + +<p>"I am still naughty," the young girl made answer, +gazing into the stream.</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele was silent a moment, and she also +gazed into the water. Presently she said softly, +without looking up:</p> + +<p>"You should consider that you may not see me +again."</p> + +<p>"When do you leave?" Leila inquired, in the +same low tone.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</span></p> + +<p>Her friend's voice became a shade less gentle.</p> + +<p>"I am starting for Turin in a day or two, but I +fancy I shall shortly be leaving Turin on a longer +journey."</p> + +<p>"Don't think of such things!" Leila cried, +struggling with her emotion.</p> + +<p>"When you hear of my death," Donna Fedele +went on, "will you remember your promise to +me?"</p> + +<p>In a voice that could scarcely be heard Leila +answered, "Yes." Donna Fedele drew two letters +from her bag, and handed one to the young girl.</p> + +<p>"That contains everything," said she, "names, +addresses, and instructions. My will simply contains +the legacy to you."</p> + +<p>Leila took the letter in silence.</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele felt that she was moved, and asked +her if she were still glad she had written as she +had. The girl dropped her eyes, and murmured:</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Well, here is your note," said Donna Fedele, +offering her the second envelope.</p> + +<p>"You destroy it," said Leila, with a lingering +touch of pride.</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele opened the envelope and showed +her the ashes it contained. Leila's face flushed hotly. +With a proud gesture she seized the envelope, and +flung it into the stream.</p> + +<p>"Another thing," said her wise friend. "You +told me that you leave Catholicism to me. Yes, +yes—to me. I know you named others as well, but +you meant to wound me. Never mind if you succeeded +or not! It is only the loss of faith that +matters. Do you wish to inflict this last grief upon +me, when I am about to die?"</p> + +<p>"Can I believe or not, at my pleasure?" Leila +cried passionately. "It has not been your fault +that I have lost my faith. I was irritated when I spoke +in that way. But don't say you are going to die! +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</span>Why will you torment me? Is not that Turin surgeon +a famous operator? He will save you!"</p> + +<p>"My dear," Donna Fedele replied, "I am not +even sure of getting there in time for the operation. +Even if I am in time, I feel that inwardly I am such +a wreck that the shock will be too much for me. +But never mind that. You will not forbid me to +pray for you both in this life and the next. That +is all I ask. You see, I am as proud as you are. +I have just been to confess these sins of pride, with +deep repentance. You must also try to rid yourself +of them. Soon you will be of age, and your own +mistress. I beg of you not to listen to pride then. +For it is all pride with you. You know what I +mean."</p> + +<p>Leila smiled bitterly to herself. Donna Fedele, +with all her cleverness, had failed to understand.</p> + +<p>"Remember," Donna Fedele went on, "a man +is losing himself through your fault."</p> + +<p>"Losing himself!" Leila murmured sarcastically.</p> + +<p>"Yes, losing himself."</p> + +<p>"Because he no longer believes what the priests +say?"</p> + +<p>The sarcasm was more strongly marked now, and +Donna Fedele thought for an instant.</p> + +<p>"My bag is a very letter-box to-day," said she, +and drew forth another envelope. "This is a letter +I received this morning," she went on. "I don't want +you to read it now. You can do so later. I leave it +with you. Don't return it. I give it to you to keep. +Read the closing paragraph over and over again. +That is all I have to say about it. And now help me +to get up. We have kept the archpriest's sister-in-law +waiting far too long already."</p> + +<p>Moved by an irresistible impulse, Leila took the +letter, thinking at the same moment that she was +acting unwisely in so doing. As soon as she had +taken it she wished to give it back again, but Donna +Fedele was already making painful efforts to rise. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</span>She must, of course, help her, and it proved a difficult +task. When the first moment was past she could +no longer return the letter with an impetuosity sufficient +to enforce its acceptance, and Donna Fedele's +condition forbade any contest. She told herself that +after all she need not read it. Donna Fedele, who +was exhausted, paused every few steps to rest, +leaning heavily on Leila's arm, and glancing frequently +into her face, with a whimsical little smile +at her own weakness.</p> + +<p>"No further leave-taking, please, dear," said she. +"I don't ask you to come to the Villino again. I +need perfect rest before undertaking this journey. +Send me a few lines when I get to Turin—Ospitale +Mauriziano."</p> + +<p>Leila remained silent. The letter was burning her +hand and her heart. On reaching the carriage it was +found that the rug had been forgotten. The driver +hastened to fetch it, and Cousin Eufemia, who had +been having a friendly chat with him, reported that +the lady from Velo had passed on her way home, +and had left her apologies for not waiting for Leila, +adding that she would return on the following afternoon. +Leila seemed not to notice that she was being +spoken to.</p> + +<p>When she was about to get into the carriage, +Donna Fedele murmured lovingly, and with a tender +smile:</p> + +<p>"Goodbye, my dear."</p> + +<p>Then, at the last moment, the girl begged her +to take back the letter, speaking in an undertone +and with the hesitancy of one who foresees that her +request will not be granted.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, nonsense!" said Donna Fedele.</p> + +<p>When they were gone Leila was seized with violent +palpitation. Her heart throbbed even in her temples. +She hid the letter in her dress, and sank upon the +steps of the little church.</p> + +<p>To calm herself she reflected that the letter probably<span class="pagenum" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</span> +spoke only of religion, and of faith lost or +regained, and that these were matters of perfect +indifference to her. Nevertheless, its mere contact +filled her with a vague eagerness, with a dizzy sense +that her own will had been reduced to impotence in +the whirlpool of fate. She heard steps descending +on her left, and rose. A couple of peasants from +Lago passed her, and raised their hats. She determined +to go into the house, but when she had gone +a few steps, she changed her mind. In the house, +in the seclusion of her own room, she would no longer +be able to resist the temptation to read the letter +at once, and she did not wish to do so immediately. +She paused, hesitating. At last she went mechanically +down the steps, and started to walk along the +Lago road.</p> + +<p>On reaching the hollow in which Lago lay Leila +took the path that led to the pond in the park, +but hearing women's voices at the washing-place, +she retraced her steps and passed between the rows +of cottages that made up the village of Lago. Now +she had a fixed goal in her mind. She would go +along the military road across Priaforà, overhanging +the gorges of the Posina, where she had often +been to gather rhododendrons. She reached the +wild stretches, swept bare by landslips, as the +sun, that had already touched the upper peaks, +was rapidly leaving them. A cold wind was +blowing in the gorges of Posina, over the heaps +of dead stone, and the enormous boulders which have +rolled downwards from the naked, forbidding heights +into the ravine, so full of shadow and ceaseless +roarings. Leaving the road, Leila climbed upwards +on her left among the blossoming rhododendrons. +She seated herself there, the only living figure in +this great windy desert, and began mechanically to +pick the flowers on each side of her. She heaped +them in her lap and held them in her hands, and +for a long time let her eyes and thoughts rest quietly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</span>upon them. Then, with as much composure as she +could muster, she brought out the letter, restrained +her desire to glance through it in search of her own +name, and proceeded to read it slowly from beginning +to end.</p> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Mother Fedele</span>,—I would have you +know that I am on the high-road to fame and +fortune. The day before yesterday the family of a +young man whom I had attended for a sprained +ankle sent a regular greengrocer's shop to the hotel +for me. There was goat's cheese, and there were +sausages and mushrooms. Yesterday a very neat, +timid, and humble young priest made me a present +of a small phial of Modena vinegar,⁠<a id="FNanchor_8_8" href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> because I had +refused to accept a fee for a visit I paid to his +old mother, who is suffering with varicose veins. +The Lord only knows how he came by the vinegar! +This morning the sacristan's wife sent for me, and +the child who came with the message brought me +a basket of walnuts at the same time, that I might +not be able to avoid going. The innkeeper's +wife says I have a great future before me, and +that if I go on like this, I shall soon be sent for +even from remote Puria, which is a small cluster of +houses, some twenty minutes' walk from here.</p> + +<p>"Can one on whom fortune thus smiles wish to +die? Alas, yes! From time to time I myself am +that foolish person! At such moments I feel that +I should be happy to sleep beneath the stunted +cypresses of the little Dasio cemetery, which are as +melancholy as my own sad destiny. And, as I am +not wanting in poetic sentiment, I dream that the +stunted cypresses, feeding on my heart, would grow +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</span>into two great dark columns, marking the triumph +of death. When I rouse myself and accuse myself +of cowardice, I am forced to confess that, although +cowardice may be contemptible, I have, after all, +very little to live for.</p> + +<p>"I do not allude to the friends to whom my +death would bring sorrow; as a matter of fact, they +are but two in number—yourself and Don Aurelio; +and I believe that could Don Aurelio know I had +died a natural death, in my bed, after having received +all the consolations of the Catholic religion, +he would think me fortunate, and be comforted. +You, dear friend, would take things less philosophically, +and would mourn for me a little longer; +but, if I mistake not, you yourself do not greatly +value this life, and would therefore not mourn too +much for a good friend who had set out on his +journey towards the next world, having made his +exit with every mark of respect for Holy Mother +Church. You may wonder that I now talk of marks +of respect, after what I wrote in my last letter, +and you will quickly infer that, feeling myself about +to sink, I have cried out, 'Lord, save me!' as you +advised me to do, and that He has answered my +appeal. Dear friend, it is true enough that +I have cried out, and it may also be true that the +Lord is even now accomplishing my salvation, but +not in the way you think. Truth rests, perhaps, +at the bottom of the sea, rather than on its surface. +But if I were about to die, I should send for a +priest, in order to avoid scandalising these good +people here. And this would be no act of hypocrisy. +A supreme desire to meet death truthfully and +humbly would move me to confess my sins, and +I should receive the Communion in memory of Him +whom I could have wished to follow into the high +places and across the waves of Galilee, instead of +following the endless procession of mitres, skullcaps, +tricorns, and hoods, and of black, white, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</span>purple robes that to-day walks before us. But this +is not yet the root of the matter. I feel I am +still floundering in troubled waters, but I know that +I still cling instinctively to my old faith, and that +I shall find rest and freedom from doubt in that +untroubled haven where all must come at last. +If I compared what I believed a year ago with +what I believe to-day, I ask myself—and the very +question fills me with horror—if to-morrow I shall +still believe in God. This light of my spirit, that +until yesterday burned steadily enough, is already +beginning to waver.</p> + +<p>"Well, I should be uttering falsehood if I told +you that I wished to die for this reason. No, were +it only for this I should long more intensely still +to live. I should forbid myself to think of religious +matters, I should forbid myself both denial and belief, +I should become the father, brother, and friend of +these poor people, seeking to bestow upon them all +I have that is worth giving, living poorly myself; +I should seek a companion whom I could love both +with my spirit and my senses, and fall asleep at last, +unaffrighted by an unsolved mystery. But I am +cruelly shut out from this Paradise. If I wish to +die it is because the fever that I sought to overcome, +that, for a moment, I believed I could conquer, the +fever that is called Leila, now rages more fiercely +than before, burning me, and consuming my being, +while I am powerless to resist."</p> + + +<p>At this point the blood coursed hot through Leila's +veins, a cloud came in front of her eyes, and she +felt herself as a helpless atom in the presence of +a compelling fate. She spread the letter on the +heap of rhododendrons in her lap, raised them in +her trembling hands, and held them to her face, +as if to inhale their perfume, wishing to hide, even +from the spirits of the air, the yearning kiss she +pressed upon those wonderful words. She was conquered, +she was his, she was the woman of his desire, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</span>who would live in poverty with him, who would +shut herself up with him in that nest among the +mountains, far away from the world, who would +comfort him for all the past bitterness, who would +help him to do good and with him face the inscrutable +mystery of life, aye, and if need be, of death too. +Tears rose in her throat, and letting the flowers +fall to her lap again, she tried not to think and to +forget herself in looking at a wild pink that trembled +in the wind as her own hands were trembling. +When she felt that she was once more mistress of +herself, she went on reading.</p> + +<p>"It may be that here I am easily governed by +fancy, or that the sad and tender poetry of the +place appeals to me. I cannot say. I only know +that I am torn with longing, that I spend hours +in looking, not at her picture, for that I do not +possess, but at a scrap of paper on which she one +day wrote the name of a piece of music for me. +I bend over it and breathe in the faint perfume that +still clings to it, and wrings my soul as did the +divine music of Schumann's 'Aveu' which she once +played to me. You see, dear Mother Fedele, I am +indeed telling you everything, as a son would. This +morning I could bear it no longer and walked out +beyond the village, whence I could see, rising above +the tops of the mountains, a solitary peak that +reminds me, oh so much, of the peak I stood gazing +upon through the window in the upper gallery at +the Montanina, as I listened to the music of 'Aveu.' +I cannot bring myself to turn away from it—its +associations are so vivid.</p> + +<p>"And there is one other thing I must tell you, the +most important thing of all. There is no contempt +in my love now. I no longer feel that I have the +right to despise one who misjudged me only because +she did not know me. My only right, a right and +a duty at the same time, is to preserve my dignity, +should we two ever meet again."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_349">[Pg 349]</span></p> + +<p>At this point Leila smiled, and then quickly pressed +a kiss upon the words, as if craving pardon for her +smile. She read on.</p> + +<p>"To-morrow I am going down to Albogasio to +make the final arrangements with the mayor for the +interment of Benedetto's remains in the cemetery +there, in a few days' time. I have written to his +friends in Rome that I gladly undertake all the +arrangements, out of respect for his dear memory, but +that I do not feel I can speak at his grave, as my +friends wish me to do. My faith in an immortal +Catholicism will rest in that grave with him. Should +I speak I could only say that I mourn for him who +inspired it, and for the faith itself.</p> + +<p>"And now, goodbye. Write to me about yourself. +If you really believe I could do better for you than +your own doctors, I will come to you. But I myself +do not think so. They are men of experience, while +I am but a novice, and must now set out to attend +the sacristan's wife. Once more, goodbye.</p> + + +<p style="padding-left: 5em;">"Your<br> +<span class="smcap" style="padding-left: 7em;">"Prodigal Son</span></p> + +<p class="center">"(who must be satisfied with the husks!)"</p> + + +<p class="p1">Beneath the signature were the words:</p> + + +<p>"Make no mistake. The ruining of this soul is +your work—yours—yours alone! Yet I feel that God +will restore him. May He, in His wisdom and +mercy, make you the restorer. Then think of your +poor friend, and pray for her.</p> + + +<p class="right" style="padding-right: 2em;">"<span class="smcap">Fedele.</span>"</p> + + +<p class="p1">Leila did not linger over this postcript, but turned +once again to those other passionate words, reading +and kissing them again and again. At last she put +away the letter with a long sigh of contentment. +A tremendous sense of physical wellbeing seized her; +and she stood up and stretched out her arms as if +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_350">[Pg 350]</span>to embrace a wonderful new world that had been +given her. Then she looked around, afraid lest she +might have been seen, but no one was near. She +stooped to gather up the flowers that had slipped +from her lap, and started homewards, eager to reach +her own room, and eager also to experience this +joyful new feeling in the presence of others. She +walked rapidly, with the elastic, buoyant tread of a +happy being.</p> + +<p>Just outside the villa she met Teresina, who was +full of admiration for the flowers—at least, so she +said; but in reality the maid was amazed by the +new light in the Signora's eyes. She reported that +Siora Bettina had seemed annoyed at being neglected +for Donna Fedele. "Was she?" said Leila. "I +am sorry. What did she want?" And she went +to her room without waiting for an answer and again +lost herself in the letter. She hung the bunch of +rhododendrons upon the head-board of the bed, with +the blossoms downwards, that they might touch her +hair and that, by raising her face, she might kiss +them. Drawing one flower from the bunch, Leila +went down to the dining-room, and placed it on +the table in a tall glass, that she might look at it +while dining alone, later on. Then she passed into +the drawing-room, and, seating herself at the piano, +began playing "Aveu" as she had never played it +before, and it seemed to her that the piano understood +and was inspired too. The thought came to +her that <em>his</em> being might perhaps vibrate in response, +there in his far-away retreat. She played the melody +through several times, then wandered about the room +in search of the spot whence she could see the +dolomitic peak. Once more she returned to the +piano, and wrung from it the broken accents of an +overwhelming passion.</p> + +<p>"Gèsu!" thought Teresina, who was setting the +table, "whatever ails her now?"</p> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="footnotes"> +<p class="center p2 big2">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_8_8" href="#FNanchor_8_8" class="label">[8]</a> Modena vinegar is prepared in small barrels from the best +of wine, to which certain aromatic herbs are added. It is allowed +to become very old and, when thoroughly mellowed, a few drops +added to a bottle of ordinary vinegar impart a most delicious +flavour.—<span class="smcap">Translator's Note.</span></p></div> +</div> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_351">[Pg 351]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" > + CHAPTER XIV + <br> + <small>A DROP OF THE PATERNAL BLOOD</small> + </h2> +</div> + + +<h3>I</h3> + +<p>Leila requested Teresina to wait upon her at dinner +instead of Giovanni, and talked to her very pleasantly +on several unimportant matters. The maid, finding +her in such good-humour, ventured upon a delicate +subject, and mentioned Siora Bettina, who intended +making a short excursion to Monte Berico. Ah, +how Teresina would have liked to accompany her! +Signora Fantuzzo had told her of one of the Fathers +there who was a wonderful confessor. Would not +the Signorina herself like to make this little excursion? +Monte Berico was such a beautiful spot, and +Siora Bettina would be a delightful companion. +Such a good creature, poor Siora Bettina! They +could start in the morning at six o'clock, reaching +Vicenza at eight, and go directly up to Monte Berico. +If they wished to, they could catch the eleven o'clock +train home. But there was no hurry, for there were +plenty of trains back. As Leila made no remark, +Teresina volunteered to suggest this arrangement to +Signora Fantuzzo.</p> + +<p>Leila sat with a far-away look on her face that +told Teresina nothing. Still, it was encouraging not +to meet with a definite refusal. Giovanni came +in with a telegram, but not even when he had left +the room did the maid venture to press Leila for an +immediate answer. The telegram was from Sior +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_352">[Pg 352]</span>Momi, who had been expected to arrive by the last +train, and now announced that he would not come +until the following day. Towards nine o'clock the +archpriest and his chaplain appeared, expecting to +find Sior Momi at home. They entered the drawing-room +unannounced, the archpriest leading the +way, with his familiar, drawling greeting, "Con +permesso!"</p> + +<p>Leila was playing. It was no longer "Aveu," +but some other music she remembered to have played +when Massimo had been there. Greatly annoyed, she +rose from the piano. Over and above her own particular +grounds for disliking the two priests, she +loathed the archpriest's tone of familiarity, his coarse +wit, and his want of personal cleanliness. Neither +could she bear the chaplain's mannerisms. Her reception +was glacial. She gave no order for the lamps +to be lighted nor for coffee to be served as usual, +and when the archpriest mentioned that his sister-in-law +had been disappointed at not having seen her, +she offered no word of excuse. The chaplain spoke +of a poor mother at Lago, whom he wished the two +ladies to visit, and Leila's only response was to inquire +where the woman lived, without saying whether or +no she intended to visit her. Hereupon the archpriest +advised her not to delay their visit, as his sister-in-law +was going away very soon, to be gone a +day or perhaps two. Leila showed astonishment. +To be gone two days? Yes, very probably. Don +Tita remarked that the chaplain was going to say +Mass at the church of Santa Maria on the morrow, +and he would ask Siora Bettina to be there, that +the ladies might then arrange for their visit. Having +brought his little speech to a close he sealed it +with a "Sipo, sipo! Just so, just so!" The archpriest's +"just so!" always meant leave-taking. If +he said it in his own house, his visitor was intended +to understand that it was time for him to go. If +he said it in the house of another, gently rubbing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_353">[Pg 353]</span>his thighs the while, he intended it as meaning that +he himself was about to depart. He had indeed +half risen from his chair when an unexpected question +from Leila made him sit down again. She inquired +where his sister-in-law was going. The archpriest's +expression, which had been frosty enough up to this +moment, now thawed into genial warmth, and the +chaplain's watery eyes, which had been roaming aimlessly +among the books on a table near at hand, +were quickly raised to Leila's face, and rested there +while the archpriest explained wordily that his sister-in-law +had long wished to perform her devotions at +the sanctuary on Monte Berico, that she furthermore +intended going on to Castelletto del Garda to visit +the nuns of the Order of the Holy Family, but that +she would have to give up this part of the excursion +unless she could find a travelling companion.</p> + +<p>"I asked," said Leila, "because I think I myself +might like to go with her, at least to Monte Berico."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" cried the archpriest in great glee, "nothing +could be better! Nothing could be better!"</p> + +<p>Leila hastened to add that she could not promise +at present, that she would think it over, and that, +at any rate, she must consult her father. Having +said good-night, the archpriest departed with the +chaplain, voicing his satisfaction in an undertone: +"Good! Good! Splendid!" He had hardly left +the room, however, when he came back again that +he might see Leila alone, and confidently assure +her that the inspiration to go to Monte Berico had +really been sent by Our Lady herself, and that, if +she went, she must see Father ..., naming the +monk whose praises Signora Fantuzzo had sung to +Teresina.</p> + +<p>On rejoining his companion, who was waiting for +him halfway to the gate, the archpriest walked +rapidly away beside him, with the step of one who +is gratified and full of hope. He asked no more +than that the girl should approach the Sacraments +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_354">[Pg 354]</span>of her own free will. It would perhaps have been +better had the archpriest served God and the Church +more intelligently, with greater wisdom, and with +more of the warmth of the true evangelical spirit, +but it could not be denied that he was an honest +and faithful servant. Like many of his fellow-priests, +he had very little true charity for such as erred in +matters of faith, and he would have pitched them +cheerfully from the crags of Mea into the rushing +Astico beneath, calling them "poor, unhappy +creatures" as he did so. But for sins of any other +description he had a rough tolerance and a forgiving +heart, for to do him justice he took a broader view of +the world and conduct than from the standpoint of the +rigid dogmatist. His conviction was that Leila was +a wayward girl, ignorant in matters of religion, and +quite capable of committing blunders both in conduct +and practice; but that, after all, if she would but +set herself right with the Church, one might safely +rely on the indulgence of Him who had seen fit to +give her the nature of an unbroken colt. In his +secret soul he laughed at Don Emanuele for hoping +to make a nun of her. To Don Emanuele, the pilgrimage +to Monte Berico was but a first step, and +he dared not rejoice overmuch, when he considered +the influence Donna Fedele was continuously wielding +over the girl. He was, moreover, in possession +of a piece of alarming information, which, should +it reach Leila's ears, would certainly cause her to +turn ever more eagerly to the Villino delle Rose. +Carolina Gorlago was not at Cantù, but at Padua, +hiding in Camin's house. This intrigue which had not +been dropped, which was reprehensible in itself, and +doubly so because it was boldly incautious, might +throw discredit upon the culprit's ecclesiastical +friends. And who would profit by this if not Donna +Fedele? She was undoubtedly working to bring +about the Camin-Alberti marriage. Fortunately, +however, Leila shrank from this union, as her attempted<span class="pagenum" id="Page_355">[Pg 355]</span> +suicide proved clearly enough, and, fortunately +also, Donna Fedele would be compelled to +be away for some time. This fact was also known +at the parsonage. Don Emanuele would not allow +himself to hope for anything worse than an operation +and a long convalescence. He was even willing +to assume that she would recover, although this was +more than she deserved, for the probability justified +him in adopting decisive measures during her absence +in Turin. The first step to be taken was to turn +the girl's thoughts towards God, and to discover a +means of once more arousing within her that +rebellious contempt for the world that had moved +her to attempt to take her life. Then the prospect +of peace and safety in a religious life must be skilfully +held out to her, but it must be a religious life +carefully suited to her. Castelletto del Garda would +not do at all. That was foolish Siora Bettina's idea. +Leila was not fitted by Nature to teach or to nurse +the sick. She must enter a contemplative order. +Thus did Don Emanuele, trotting towards Velo beside +the archpriest, ruminate upon all these considerations, +but he carefully kept them to himself.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>As Leila returned to the piano she thought: +"After all, perhaps I have a drop of my father's +blood in my veins!"</p> + +<p>She would not allow the lamps to be lighted, and +going to her room presently, stationed herself at the +window. The east was bright with countless stars, +and above the great crest of black, majestic forest +the sharp mountain edge fretted the clear sky. Leila +saw neither the sky, the crest of forest, nor the peaks +of Summano. Her mind was centred upon a fixed +purpose, and her unseeing glance rested upon the +encompassing shadows, while her slender frame +trembled and quivered with the wild beating of her +heart.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_356">[Pg 356]</span></p> + + +<h3>II</h3> + +<p>On the following morning Don Emanuele came to +say Mass at Santa Maria at half-past seven, half an +hour earlier than was his wont. Siora Bettina, who +had arrived before him, informed him that Leila was +out. The maid Teresina believed she had gone to +Villino delle Rose, but, in reality, she had climbed +up to the rhododendron patch once more. Don +Emanuele, putting on his look of extreme godliness, +considered for a moment, and then begged Siora +Bettina to wait for him after Mass. He said Mass +with profound devotion, and then, bending low over +his kneeling-stool in the sacristy, with his head in +his hands, he prayed at great length, that the Lord +would grant him strength and guidance in his +struggle against the demon who was seeking to +frustrate the plans for Leila's salvation, by raising +up two of his own handmaidens against them, +one a creature of pride, Donna Fedele, the other a +creature of lust, Carolina Gorlago. He prayed on +and on with all the confidence of the inferior who +is on terms of comparative familiarity with his +superior, terms established in part through long +intercourse, in part by services rendered by the +suppliant. While a rivulet of pious Latin still flowed +from his lips, he passed unconsciously from mental +prayer to thoughts that clustered about a further +anxiety concerning possibilities that were troubling +him most seriously, and that were incessantly appearing, +disappearing, and flashing forth again before his +mental vision. One consideration would become entangled +in another, and Don Emanuele could neither +see the end of the tangle nor did he know where +to look for it. At such moments of anxiety the +rivulet of Latin would cease to flow from his tight +lips. At last, however, he discovered the right end +to pull in order to loosen the very heart of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_357">[Pg 357]</span>tangle. He pulled and pulled, and the cord ran +out straight and easily as if Providence had planned +this snare for Don Emanuele's especial benefit, that +this fisher of souls might have the merit of finding +the right way, and go on unwinding until he should +have demonstrated that all this tangle of knots, loops, +and twists could be straightened out into one divine +length of cord, for the manufacturing of his own net. +Such, at least, was the fisher's honest conviction.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Siora Bettina was asking herself if she +had not better peep in at the door of the sacristy, for +she had been waiting a long time seated in front +of the altar, and her devotions were exhausted. She +had found it difficult to keep her mind from wandering +off to the splashing of the fountain in the vestibule, +in preventing herself from wondering where +the water came from, where it went to, and whether +it were cold and pure. Then there was a spot on the +green carpet that covered the steps leading to the +altar, to which, all too often, her eyes would revert, +and which excited her curiosity as to whether it were +a grease spot of long standing or the result of a +recent wetting. No, it would not do to look into the +sacristy, so she sought to cast off the temptations of +fountain and spot, by meditating for her own edification +on Don Emanuele's sanctity and on the state +of mystic abstraction that was detaining him so long.</p> + +<p>He rose from his knees at last, but his expression +was no brighter than when he had first knelt down. +Requesting the altar-boy to go and see if Leila had +returned, he followed him out of the sacristy, and +signed to Siora Bettina to join him in the little +porch. The boy soon returned and reported that the +Signorina was still absent.</p> + +<p>Don Emanuele now addressed himself to Signora +Fantuzzo, and related the conversation that had taken +place between Leila and the archpriest on the preceding +evening. Siora Bettina, who had not seen +her brother-in-law since the conversation in question,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_358">[Pg 358]</span> +received the impression from the chaplain's +recital that Don Tita's and Don Emanuele's prayers +had been graciously answered, her own humble petitions +having perhaps helped somewhat. She asked +what she was to do next. First of all she must wait +for Leila and tell her that she had been informed +by the archpriest that Leila was thinking of accompanying +her to the sanctuary at Monte Berico, and +perhaps also to Castelletto del Garda. Siora Bettina +hastened to correct what she took to be a slip of +the tongue. She had not had her information from +the archpriest, but from Don Emanuele himself. The +chaplain, however, requested her to keep back his +name, and to mention the archpriest only. "To tell +the truth," Siora Bettina ventured timidly, "my +brother-in-law has not.... Never mind!" Don +Emanuele broke in. "The Lord wishes you to +speak as I shall instruct you," and Siora Bettina +in all humility and good faith bowed to his superior +knowledge of the Divine intentions.</p> + +<p>But his edifying instructions did not end here. +Probably the Signorina would tell her, as she had +told the archpriest, that she must first obtain her +father's permission. Now, this permission must be +made to extend to Castelletto del Garda also. Siora +Bettina brightened visibly. She was longing to go +to Castelletto, but would never dare to go so far +alone. A different companion, Teresina for instance, +would have been more acceptable to her, but out of +devotion to her spiritual guide, she gladly accepted +the slight drawback of Leila's company. She was +also pleased on her brother-in-law's account. He +had already formed a scheme for placing these sisters +of the Order of the Holy Family in charge of some +charitable institution in his future diocese, and was +anxious to obtain some necessary information direct +from them. Observing her satisfaction, Don +Emanuele reflected for a moment, and then proposed +that they should continue their conversation +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_359">[Pg 359]</span>while they walked along the Lago road. Bettina +became vaguely aware that he had something still +more important to impart, and that he wished to +make his disclosure in a spot less exposed to interruptions. +In fact, as soon as they had reached the +shade of the great chestnuts on the Lago road, Don +Emanuele, his eyes now fixed upon the ground, now +glancing around to see that no one was in sight, +began with a preamble on the absolute necessity +that Siora Bettina should keep silent concerning what +he had decided to communicate to her. Without +mentioning him directly, he made her understand that +the archpriest was to be kept in ignorance. The +very thought of hiding anything from the archpriest +sent the blood coursing painfully through her veins, +but as Don Emanuele, in a tone of honest conviction +and lofty authority, was now speaking of a path +that Providence Itself had pointed out to him for +the saving of two souls, she concluded that the path +was too narrow for three to walk abreast, and waited +for the Word, in the pleased consciousness of having +been chosen as an instrument. The Word was to +the following effect. As Signorina Leila had alluded +to the necessity of obtaining the paternal consent, +Siora Bettina could now dispense with consulting the +girl herself. She must interview Sior Momi instead, +who would return from Padua at one o'clock, and ask +his permission (in the archpriest's name as well) +to propose the pilgrimage to Monte Berico and +Castelletto del Garda to his daughter. Then she +must proceed to make this proposal and to fix the day. +"To-morrow is too soon," said Don Emanuele. +"Arrange for the day after." Had he himself been +an all-powerful Providence, he could not have +mapped out the future with greater assurance and +more calmly settled the affairs of other people.</p> + +<p>"At Monte Berico," he went on, "you will closely +observe the Signorina's bearing on approaching the +Sacraments. After Mass, go directly to the station. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_360">[Pg 360]</span>When you get there, tell your companion that you +are not feeling well, and have decided not to go +on to Castelletto, but to hear a Mass at the church +of the <em>Santo</em> instead. You will then take the eleven +o'clock train to Padua. After Mass suggest to the +Signorina that, out of respect to her father, it would +be fitting for her to pay a visit to his apartment, +where there might be letters, papers, or cards for +him. Now that apartment harbours a person who +has no right to be there, for it was publicly given +out here that she was going into Lombardy, and was +separating definitely from Signor Camin. Signorina +Leila must meet this person. It is necessary that she +should meet her. I believe I have nothing further +to add."</p> + +<p>Poor Siora Bettina was so horrified that she +stopped short.</p> + +<p>"Good Lord! Good Lord, Don Emanuele!" she +cried. She could put up with the disappointment +of not going to Castelletto, she could put up with the +many falsehoods, but the scene that would be sure +to follow this meeting! She had a vague idea of +the nature of the relations existing between Sior +Momi and Carolina, but her scrupulous conscience +had never allowed her to dwell on the subject, and +now that Don Emanuele had opened her eyes, the +prospect of meeting the woman filled her with horror. +She asked anxiously whether she must indeed do +this. The priest gave her a silent answer, bending +his head and joining his hands piously, as if in +humble submission to the Higher Will, which they +were both bound to obey.</p> + +<p>"You may say I am ignorant, Don Emanuele! +You may say I am stupid, but——" Poor Siora +Bettina did not dare to go beyond this pathetic +admission, and confess that she failed to grasp the +reason for all these tactics. Don Emanuele understood +well enough, but did not enlighten her. His +plan was based on certain fragile chances, too slight +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_361">[Pg 361]</span>for definition, and he was not going to imperil his +scheme by an explanation. He relied upon the impression +which contact with what was degrading +should make upon Leila. Should it induce her to take +refuge in a religious life, an important result would +follow ... the Trento fortune would not be +swallowed up by her father's depravities. Thus was +poor Sior Momi secretly cast overboard by his ally +the chaplain, who, however, continued piously to hope +that the scandal in Padua might result in much +good to Momi's soul.</p> + +<p>Instead of satisfying Siora Bettina's anxiety, he +inquired blandly if she proposed to turn back or +to walk on by way of Lago and Sant'Ubaldo.</p> + +<p>"I myself am going to read my office," he +announced, bringing out his breviary.</p> + +<p>Siora Bettina knew that Don Emanuele always +avoided showing himself in public in the company +of women. She chose the Lago—Sant' Ubaldo route, +fearing to meet Leila on her way home from the +Villino, for, as she had been instructed to see Sior +Momi first, such a meeting would have proved +embarrassing. The chaplain had believed she would +choose the other and shorter way, and as he himself +had no desire to meet Leila there was nothing +left for him save to stop where he was, open his +breviary, and say:</p> + +<p>"Well, then——"</p> + +<p>And although Siora Bettina longed to implore him +to relieve her of the obligation he had forced upon +her, she could only murmur a melancholy farewell +and start on her way to Lago.</p> + +<p>Don Emanuele did not move until she was out +of sight; then he went slowly onward. On reaching +the first legitimate break in his devotions he +closed the book and pocketed it again. He had +just passed through the rows of Lago cottages and +was walking along the road that skirts the base +of the hill upon which stands the little church +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_362">[Pg 362]</span>of Sant' Ubaldo. He was thinking of Don Aurelio +and of the power that he, Don Emanuele, had +exercised in that priest's affairs. It was he who +had sent almost daily information to Rome concerning +the doings, sayings, and omissions of the +suspected priest, colouring all things in accordance +with what he suspected and not what he saw. The +archpriest's future bishopric was of his promoting +also. It was he who had spoken to his uncle the +Cardinal concerning Don Tita, who had set forth his +fearless ecclesiasticism, his veneration for tradition, +his merry good-nature and affability, which could not +fail to render him popular.</p> + +<p>The idea of now winning a precious and imperilled +soul for the convent sent the blood coursing +joyously through his veins. Instead of raising his +face to the breeze, and delighting in his own valour, +he bowed his head before God, like a faithful servant +upon whom his astonished master heaps praise for +some great service rendered. Then, forgetting to +be humble, he allowed himself to triumph gently +over Donna Fedele, identifying himself, as it were, +with the Providence who had decreed this illness +in order that it might become more difficult for +her to hinder his pious plans, and that, through +suffering, she might be brought to recognise her +evildoing. The road he was following as he thus +mused had been Don Aurelio's daily walk, and at +such times Nature had spoken in her myriad voices +to that pure and humble soul, who with St. Francis +welcomed all things as his brothers. But poor Don +Emanuele, never doubting the worth of his appreciation +of St. Francis, passed along with no strange, +mystical sense of a life in natural things, without +even a glance at flower or leaf. The only God +he knew spoke in those false imaginings of his own +mind—he saw no other light but that narrow one +within his own soul.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_363">[Pg 363]</span></p> + + +<h3>III</h3> + +<p>When Giovanni announced Siora Bettina, Sior +Momi was busy writing to Carolina, from whom he +had parted during a quarrel that had arisen between +them on account of the woman's jealousy of Teresina. +He was now informing her that this same +Teresina had not only left his room in disorder, +but had as yet failed to show her face, and +he added that he really feared he should die in +this stupid hole without his precious Moma. +Siora Bettina followed Giovanni into the room +before he had finished announcing her, thus +giving Sior Momi barely time to turn over the +sheet and display the whiteness of an immaculate +page. He started to his feet, much embarrassed +by the disordered state of his garments, and +overwhelmed his visitor with excuses and his +servant with reproaches. "For mercy's sake! +Oh, Giovanni, Giovanni! In this state, my dear +madam!" As he was minus both waistcoat and +cravat, he hastily buttoned his frock-coat and turned +up the collar. At sight of his bare neck and voluminous +expanse of shirtfront, Siora Bettina had felt +most uncomfortable, but the upturned collar and +snugly-buttoned coat having transformed him into +a sort of symbolic statue of up-to-date modesty, the +good lady regained her composure somewhat, confessed +that it had been all her fault, and that she +had followed at the footman's heels so closely +because, as she must speak to Sior Momi in private, +she had wished him to receive her in the study.</p> + +<p>Signora Fantuzzo began by saying timidly that +she had come to ask a great favour. Sior Momi +blinked rapidly, wondering what tiresome subject she +was going to broach.</p> + +<p>"Anything I can do for you ..." he said, +without enthusiasm.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_364">[Pg 364]</span></p> + +<p>Siora Bettina smiled, forcing herself to be friendly, +and stated that for many reasons she had long desired +to undertake a certain short journey, for which +the right moment appeared to have arrived, for it +would accommodate her brother-in-law the archpriest +to have her go now; but that there was an +obstacle in the way of her carrying out her plan. +Here she paused, fixed her eyes on Sior Momi, and +smiled with a meaning that she believed was rapidly +being made clear to him.</p> + +<p>"Money?" Momi wondered. "Can it be +money?" and he grew very red.</p> + +<p>"I am all alone," Siora Bettina went on. "And, +you see ... it is so unpleasant to travel alone!"</p> + +<p>"Upon my soul!" the amazed Momi exclaimed to +himself, as it suddenly struck him that she was going +to ask him to accompany her.</p> + +<p>"I am very sorry," he began, "but——" Here +he stopped, his mouth open, and his face wearing +an expression so eloquent that Siora Bettina could +not help understanding. Her outraged modesty made +her shrink into herself, and she sought vainly to hide +her scandalised face behind the handle of her parasol. +The fear betrayed on that red-and-yellow countenance +was so monstrous that she was as incapable +of protesting against it as she would have been of +pronouncing an improper word.</p> + +<p>"My only hope is in Signorina Leila!" she +hastened to say. "I have come to ask your permission +to take her with me if she would like +to go."</p> + +<p>Sior Momi, who was greatly relieved, again +repeated, "I am sorry," adapting his tone as well +as he could to the altered circumstances.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry, but I have no idea whether she would +care to go." He then inquired where Signora Fantuzzo +was going, and by what route. He was glad +that Monte Berico was on the programme, and +remarked that he himself had made a pilgrimage +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_365">[Pg 365]</span>there years ago, as a member of a religious association. +Of Castelletto he had never even heard, but +on learning of the monastery, and noticing Siora +Bettina's embarrassment—for as a matter of fact +she was not in the habit of deceiving, and took no +pleasure in so doing—he interpreted her very obvious +nervousness as a sign that this little journey was +part of the pious scheme friend Molesin had communicated +to him. Assuming his most idiotic +expression, he gurgled, with a short laugh:</p> + +<p>"A very good opportunity—aho, aho!" happily +conscious that the giggle and the words might mean +anything—approval, irony, or laughing scepticism.</p> + +<p>Presently he inquired if Leila had been consulted. +No, not yet, but if Sior Momi felt inclined to allow.... +Here Momi acquiesced with a bow. Perhaps, +then, it would be well to see the Signorina at once. +The archpriest himself was anxious that she should +avail herself of this opportunity of going to the +sanctuary on Monte Berico, and he would like her +to decide immediately, without first consulting certain +dangerous persons.</p> + +<p>"Quite right!" said Sior Momi. "Quite right, +I am sure!"</p> + +<p>Having thus elliptically expressed his agreement +with Siora Bettina's and the archpriest's opinion of +"certain dangerous persons," he rang the bell and +ordered Giovanni to show the visitor into the +drawing-room, and to call the Signorina.</p> + +<p>"Arrange everything yourself," he said, on taking +leave of Signora Fantuzzo. "It will be all quite +right, quite right, I am sure."</p> + +<p>As soon as he was alone once more he rang for +Teresina. He had long since become aware of her +devotion to Leila, and now he talked to her of his +daughter as if he had been talking into a gramophone.</p> + +<p>He began by telling her of Siora Bettina's plans, +adding that he had refrained from raising any difficulties +because it was not his intention to force his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_366">[Pg 366]</span>authority upon his daughter in any way, but that +he greatly feared they were trying to push her in +a direction of which he distinctly disapproved. His +one wish was to find a good husband for Leila. +Having accomplished this, he would turn the property +over to him, and return to his old life in Padua. +But he must know the girl's inclinations. This +Signora Fantuzzo seemed a good creature, and the +archpriest was a holy man. If Leila were really +destined to lead a life of devotion, why, of course, +he must bow to the will of the Lord, but if, on the +other hand, she were destined to remain in the world, +his duty as a father made it imperative for him to +safeguard her against these pilgrimages and these +visits to nunneries.</p> + +<p>"Do you catch my meaning?" Sior Momi concluded. +He had been blinking fast while delivering +his cunning speech, but had never dropped the idiotic +expression he was wont to assume when conversing +with his equals.</p> + +<p>"Mark my words!" said Teresina. "You can +safely let Signorina Leila visit a hundred nunneries. +There is not the slightest danger. And if she +performs her religious duties at Monte Berico to-morrow, +it will be a very good thing!"</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>"Well done!" she exclaimed later, on learning +that Leila had promised to start with Siora Bettina +on the day after the morrow for Monte Berico and +Castelletto. Sior Momi, who also seemed astonished, +sent to invite the archpriest, the chaplain, and Siora +Bettina to dinner on the next day. That same +evening, before going to bed, he begged Leila to +allow him a few moments' conversation. He +addressed her in an undertone, in a half-serious, +half-joking manner, and gave her to understand that +he had an idea the Velo priests and Siora Bettina +had some designs upon her, and that he felt it his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_367">[Pg 367]</span>duty to put her on her guard. With a great show +of gravity he added that he himself disapproved of +those designs, and that it would give him great +pain should she allow them to be carried out. Leila +listened in icy silence.</p> + +<p>"Is there anything more?" she inquired, when +he had finished speaking. "Thank you," she said, +and left him.</p> + + +<h3>IV</h3> + +<p>The archpriest had been summoned to Vicenza +by the Bishop to receive the official communication +of his appointment, and so could not attend Sior +Momi's dinner-party, but the chaplain and Siora +Bettina came. Bettina, who was some hundred yards +in front of the priest, suddenly came to a standstill +by the steps of the little church. Thereupon the +chaplain stopped too. Siora Bettina, looking behind +her to see if he were coming, made a sign that +conveyed nothing to him, and then, to his utter +amazement and great indignation, actually started +to meet him. It had just struck the poor woman +that, after all, she had not made the precise +purpose of their pilgrimage to Monte Berico clear +to Leila. She had indeed mentioned one of the +monks who was an admirable confessor, but the girl +had said nothing from which they might conclude +that she intended to avail herself of his ministrations. +It would be too late to discuss this to-morrow +on the journey. What should she do? +There was nothing for it but to consult the oracle.</p> + +<p>"Go, go all the same," was the oracle's reply. +"Don't worry, don't be anxious."</p> + +<p>She went on ahead again, somewhat downcast and +mortified, and in the little porch she met Teresina, +who found an excuse for detaining her until the +chaplain had passed, walking very stiffly and soberly. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_368">[Pg 368]</span>When he was some distance away the maid, who +had a weight upon her mind, proceeded to relieve +her feelings. Where was this Castelletto? How +far away? How many days did Siora Bettina intend +to remain there? Signora Fantuzzo grew very red, +and stammered somewhat as she assured Teresina +that she intended to pay the nuns only a short visit. +As she answered she saw herself on her knees in +the confessional at the sanctuary of Monte Berico. +Should she or should she not confess the lie she +had been ordered to tell? Absorbed in this consideration, +she paid little heed to the beginning of +Teresina's speech. The maid was extremely uneasy, +and declared she could make nothing of what +was going on, because, although the Signorina talked +of a speedy return, she had made her put a good +deal of linen into the portmanteau, together with +several religious books and some holy pictures that +had always been in the house, but to which Leila +had hitherto been perfectly indifferent. Her very +expression seemed changed since this journey had +been decided upon. She had got hold of a railway +time-table, and did nothing but study it. That very +morning, while Teresina was brushing her hair, she +had looked up from the time-table to inquire abruptly, +"Teresina, would you be sorry if my hair were cut +off?" The woman had answered that of course she +would, and added, "But why should you talk about +cutting it off?" "Oh, you know, it sometimes +happens that hair is cut off by thieves." And +presently she had asked, "Teresina, did you ever +want to become a nun?"</p> + +<p>"Just think of that!" the maid concluded. "This +is either madness or fever. For the love of Heaven +don't make any mistake, don't imagine she has a +vocation! She has not, I tell you—not in the slightest +degree!"</p> + +<p>"Gèsummaria!" thought Signora Fantuzzo, paying +but little heed to Teresina's scepticism. And +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_369">[Pg 369]</span>they were not really going to Castelletto after all! +And Don Emanuele was in ignorance of all this! +She could not suppress a groan, and, her legs almost +giving way beneath her, she sank upon a beam that +had been left there to serve as a bench. "Oh, oh, +oh!" she moaned, but Teresina did not understand +the true meaning of these lamentations.</p> + +<p>"Never mind," she said. "Only you must insist +on bringing her home with you."</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed!" poor Bettina assured her, but +she could not keep back another pitiful groan. She +rose at last, however, and started up the path. Leila +came out to meet her, and inquired with eager interest +if she had thought to let the nuns at Castelletto +know they were coming. Poor Bettina had so completely +lost her head, and the infection of the first +lie had spread so rapidly, that she now told an +unnecessary falsehood, and declared she had +announced their arrival. She had not finished +speaking, however, before she longed to recall her +words, but she lacked the courage, and was altogether +so dazed and bewildered that she hardly knew where +she was.</p> + +<p>During dinner she never opened her lips either +to speak or to eat, notwithstanding Sior Momi's +respectful encouragement and the noisy attentions of +the new curate of Lago, a fat and florid young +man, overflowing with good-humour and banter, +which, by reason of its flippancy and frequent impropriety, +was most distasteful to Don Emanuele. +The merits of his Excellency Don Tita formed the +first subject of conversation, and were discussed at +length. His promotion was now a matter of public +knowledge, and Don Emanuele—who made sure of +being appointed secretary to his Excellency, but +who was destined to be unceremoniously cut adrift +by that same cunning prelate, who had flattered him +even while longing for the opportunity of ridding +himself of him—Don Emanuele, with unctuous +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_370">[Pg 370]</span>solemnity, took upon himself to deliver a very, +panegyric of the new bishop, whom, in his secret +soul, he looked upon as a poor creature, and a +superior whom it would be easy to lead by the +nose. As it happened, however, it was often really +the chaplain's nose that was held firmly between +the episcopal thumb and finger. Don Emanuele did +not praise Don Tita for the virtues he really +possessed—for the purity of his life, the firmness +of his faith, the number of his charities—but precisely +for those attributes which he lacked, such as +learning and eloquence. Siora Bettina sat watching +him with sad and anxious eyes that said plainly +enough, "I <em>must</em> tell you something!" Don +Emanuele, believing she wished to reopen the discussion +he had warded off on their way to the house, +paid no attention to her mute appeal.</p> + +<p>Dinner over, Sior Momi, having consulted Leila +by a humble glance, invited his guests to repair to +the terrace in front of the villa for coffee. Siora +Bettina continued to look appealingly at Don +Emanuele, and at last, feeling sure of the cause of +her insistence, and having completely lost his +patience, he asked Leila's permission to give her +a message from his Excellency. He made it clear +that he wished to speak to her apart, but was careful +not to withdraw quite out of Siora Bettina's +hearing, as he handed to Leila a rosary that had +been duly blessed, and recommended, in becoming +language, that she should hold it in her hand on +approaching the Sacraments on the following morning. +Leila thanked him, and took the rosary.</p> + +<p>Sior Momi himself led the conversation towards +the nuns of Castelletto. Steering his bark cautiously +between the filial Scylla and the ecclesiastical +Charybdis, he declared his satisfaction that his Leila +should have the opportunity of visiting them. The +facetious priest, who had but slight regard for nuns +in general, and was unacquainted with this particular<span class="pagenum" id="Page_371">[Pg 371]</span> +order, mumbled: "They are probably just +like all the rest! They are all alike!" Don +Emanuele cut him short; Sior Momi gave his modest +support to this reproof, and then, turning to his +daughter, trotted out the pious relative whom Molesin +had so highly praised. "My aunt, you know! My +aunt the nun," said he, speaking in his idiotically +jerky style. The facetious priest, who knew something +about the real Sior Momi, could not help exclaiming +to himself: "Fiol de na pipa!—Oh, you +son of a pipe!" but aloud he declared that he had +simply meant to say that all nuns were good and +holy women. Don Emanuele, who had also heard +Molesin's praises of the pious aunt, congratulated +Momi on the loving remembrance in which he still +held her. "You see," he proclaimed, "what a +blessing the memory of such a relative is to a family. +It is like the protecting wing of an angel, spread +above all its members."</p> + +<p>Beneath this imaginary wing, Sior Momi assumed +a fitting expression of humility.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Don Emanuele did not walk back to Velo with +Siora Bettina, but went round by Lago with the new +curate. She was waiting for him, however, at the +door of the parsonage, and wearing an air of stern +resolution, for her heart was full of what Teresina +had told her. Breathlessly the poor woman poured +it all out upon the impassive chaplain, on whom it +appeared to make no more impression than water +poured upon marble.</p> + +<p>"It is all the more necessary that you should go +to Padua," said he. "After that, you can make +further plans. If you see that the girl is really +anxious to visit Castelletto, go there from +Padua."</p> + +<p>The dialogue was here interrupted and definitely +brought to a close by the clanging of the bells that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_372">[Pg 372]</span>announced his Excellency's return, and summoned +the people to the Seghe station to welcome him +home.</p> + + +<h3>V</h3> + +<p>On reaching her room Leila wrote a short note +to Donna Fedele and placed it in her silver chain-bag. +Then she opened the portmanteau that Teresina +had helped her to pack earlier in the day, removed +the books of devotion and the sacred pictures, locked +them in a drawer in her writing-desk, and packed +some of the rhododendrons and the precious volume +of Schumann in the portmanteau in their place. +Having drawn an easy-chair before the long mirror +in the wardrobe, she sank into it and fell to contemplating +her own face in the glass, which was but +half lit by the electric lamp, suspended at some +distance.</p> + +<p>There came a gentle knock at the door. It was +her father who desired admittance, and who, having +opened the door half way, now poked his head in, +stretching his neck to the utmost.</p> + +<p>"Money? Do you need money? You are sure +you don't? You still have those five hundred +lire?"</p> + +<p>She was on the point of declaring that she had +spent or lost part of the money, that she might +ask for more, but suddenly a shudder of loathing +seized her. Her veins might contain one drop of +her father's blood, but they certainly did not hold +two. She answered that she needed nothing. Momi +withdrew his head, but presently poked it in again, +and said softly:</p> + +<p>"You do not intend to take so much money with +you, I suppose? Shall I keep it for you? Well, +well, no, no!" and seeing the expression of his +daughter's face, he vanished into the outer darkness<span class="pagenum" id="Page_373">[Pg 373]</span> +of the corridor, and closed the door. Presently +she heard his voice saying humbly:</p> + +<p>"We shall see each other in the morning, any +way."</p> + +<p>Then silence once more encompassed her. She +began to undress very slowly, trembling, and with a +beating heart. Suddenly, when she was but half +undressed, she felt her strength deserting her, and, +sinking upon the edge of the bed, she half gave +up for an instant the plans she had secretly made. +It was a moment of weakness that she quickly +recognised, and the mere recognition made her start +like the cut of a whip. Oh, no! There should be no +cowardice. She would go to him as a slave, as +something that was his by right, without thought +of the morrow, without thought of anything save +of her voluntary submission to his will. Rapidly +undressing, she crept into bed and turned out the +light.</p> + +<p>Feverish visions of the flight she had planned +excited and tormented her. She put up both hands +and drew down the rhododendrons that hung above +her pillow, seeking in them visions of love that should +banish all her fears.</p> + + + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_374">[Pg 374]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" > + CHAPTER XV + <br> + <small>OH! POOR ME!</small> + </h2> +</div> + + +<h3>I</h3> + +<p>The next morning at half-past five, half an hour +before the train started, Leila was on the platform +at the Arsiero station with Teresina and Giovanni, +who had brought her portmanteau. She felt that +Teresina was watching her closely, and, taking her +aside, told her to keep her eye on Giovanni and +the cook, who were, she believed, on terms of greater +intimacy than was desirable. She then gave minute +instructions concerning the preparations to be made +for her return, saying she would telegraph, that she +desired to find the bath ready heated, and plenty +of flowers in her room. Teresina felt comforted.</p> + +<p>Presently Signora Fantuzzo came hurrying up with +her servant, in a great state of anxiety lest she were +late. When the ladies had taken their places a +couple of officers entered their compartment, one +belonging to the Engineer corps, the other to the +regiment of Chasseurs. Siora Bettina took the +seat opposite Leila, and placed her own handbag +beside the girl, that neither of those terrible beings +might attempt to take that place. As soon as the +train had started she began saying the rosary, while +Leila lowered the window and sat watching for a +glimpse of Villino delle Rose. She caught sight +of it at last. All the blinds were drawn save those +of Donna Fedele's room. When the house was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_375">[Pg 375]</span>passed, Leila ceased looking out of the window and +pretended to sleep. Just beyond the Seghe station +Siora Bettina gently touched her knee, and she +opened her eyes. They were passing San Giorgio +with its cemetery, where Signor Marcello lay. Leila +immediately became so absorbed in looking at it +that she heard nothing of what her companion was +saying. Bettina was begging her not to sleep, but +to hold herself in readiness to change cars at a station +to which they were fast coming. These changes were +a perfect nightmare to the poor woman. Leila smiled, +assured her that they would not change for some +time yet, and once more closed her eyes. Two +minutes later she was roused again. Her companion +was greatly upset because she could not find her +ticket. Presently Bettina tried in vain to lower the +blind, and to her intense vexation was obliged to +accept the aid of one of the officers. Then, when +they had changed cars, she had another moment of +dismay, thinking she had forgotten a certain parasol, +which, however, Leila had taken care of. At +Dueville two vulgar individuals got in, and promptly +began talking of the doings of priests and their +Perpetua⁠<a id="FNanchor_9_9" href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> in a most disgusting way. Once more the +beads of Siora Bettina's rosary began to run through +her fingers, and her lips to open and shut agitatedly. +At last the train rolled into the Vicenza station, and +she alighted, exhausted by her numerous anxieties, +and as thankful as if she had reached dry land +again after a long voyage on a stormy sea.</p> + +<p>Having left their luggage in the cloak-room, the +two ladies took a carriage and drove up to the +sanctuary. It was not yet eight o'clock, and their +plan was to start for Verona and Desenzano towards +eleven. At the sanctuary Signora Fantuzzo asked +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_376">[Pg 376]</span>for the Father whom she knew. "If you do not +mind waiting," she said to Leila, "I will go to +confession first." The young girl made no answer, +but when the Father had appeared, and entered the +confessional, she went towards another confessional +nearer the sacristy, and in the darkest part of the +church, where her companion could not easily see +her. This confessional was occupied also, but +presently the peasant woman who had been kneeling +there rose. The Father came out, looked about +him, and glanced at Leila, who was the only person +near, but as she gave no sign that she desired his +ministrations, he withdrew to the sacristy. In due +course Siora Bettina rose also and glanced around +anxiously. Hereupon Leila came towards her out +of the shadow, and informed her that she had been +to confession already. A Mass was about to begin +at the high altar. At the <em>Domine non sum dignus</em> +Siora Bettina rose from her chair to approach the +altar-rail, and stood waiting an instant for Leila +to do the same. Seeing that the girl did not move, +and not daring to address her at that moment, she +went forward to receive Communion alone.</p> + +<p>On rousing herself from her devotions, she +reflected that, in all probability Leila had carelessly +broken her fast before leaving the Montanina, or +it might be that she had not felt in the proper +mood at that moment, and had determined to wait +for another Mass. The clock in the campanile was +just striking nine. There was plenty of time. A +priest in surplice and stole approached the high-altar, +and several worshippers went to kneel at the +altar-rail. Leila did not move. When the priest had +withdrawn to the sacristy, Siora Bettina mustered +up all the courage she could—which was only just +enough to enable her to put half a question—and +addressed Leila.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, my dear girl, but don't you intend...?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_377">[Pg 377]</span></p> + +<p>Leila had no difficulty in guessing the other half +of the question.</p> + +<p>"I shall wait and go to Communion at Castelletto +to-morrow morning," said she.</p> + +<p>Signora Fantuzzo returned to her prayers, and +remained absorbed for another quarter of an hour. +She would gladly have prolonged her devotions, good, +pious creature that she was, had not Leila risen to +her feet without waiting for a sign from her, and +showed plainly enough that she had had enough of +the sanctuary.</p> + +<p>They walked down the hill on foot. Siora Bettina +was silent for a long time. She was finding it +difficult to bring out the necessary untruth. But at +last she began nervously:</p> + +<p>"Signorina, I am not feeling very well. Let us +alter our plans a little. Might we not go to Padua, +for the present, instead of Castelletto? We could +visit the church of the Santo there, and if I feel +better later on, we can still reach Castelletto before +evening."</p> + +<p>Leila was astonished and did not answer at once, +seeking to gain time for reflection. She would consult +the time-table, she said at last. At the station +café she did this with silent attention, and her eyes +sparkled with satisfaction as she discovered that, by +leaving Padua at 2.52 they could be at Castelletto +at 7.55. It was then half-past ten o'clock, and the +train for Padua would leave at 11.8. The waiter +brought the coffee they had ordered. Leila drank +hers, waited five minutes longer, and then announced +that she was going to post a letter and buy some +picture-postcards. She furthermore offered to get +the tickets for Padua. Siora Bettina accepted gratefully, +and began getting out her purse.</p> + +<p>"We can settle later," said Leila, rising. As she +was about to turn away, she inquired easily:</p> + +<p>"Second class?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, second class," said Siora Bettina, with a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_378">[Pg 378]</span>bland and humble smile. Leila walked away. Ten +minutes passed and she did not return. A voice +cried out:</p> + +<p>"Verona, Brescia, Milan!"</p> + +<p>Siora Bettina began to display so much uneasiness +that the waiter, who was polishing the table after +removing the tray, inquired if she were leaving.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed."</p> + +<p>"Where for, Signora?"</p> + +<p>"For Padua."</p> + +<p>"Oh, then you have plenty of time. The train +for Padua does not start for another twenty minutes."</p> + +<p>The minutes passed and still Leila did not come +back. Bettina could sit still no longer, and went +to look for her. She was not in the vestibule beyond +the café. She thought she espied her among the +crowd round the booking-office. No, it was not +she. She caught sight of the porter who had carried +their luggage on their arrival, and inquired if he +had seen her companion. He replied that he himself +had just carried her portmanteau to the train and +found a good seat for her.</p> + +<p>"No, no!" cried Signora Fantuzzo impatiently. +"My companion has not left, she is still here."</p> + +<p>But the porter insisted.</p> + +<p>"No, signora! I tell you she is gone! She left +by the Milan express not five minutes ago."</p> + +<p>As Signora Fantuzzo continued to protest that he +must be mistaken, he asked somewhat impatiently +if her friend had not been wearing a grey dust-cloak +with large blue buttons, a blue hat with grey veil, and +grey gloves, and whether she had not carried a +dark blue parasol with a gold handle. Yes, this +was all correct. Well, then, that lady had come +out of the café, had posted a letter, and then gone +with him to get her luggage from the cloak-room. +She had taken a ticket, and ordered him to carry her +portmanteau to the third-class waiting-room, although +she held a first-class ticket. Hardly had the express +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_379">[Pg 379]</span>from Padua come to a standstill in the station, than +she had rushed across the platform and climbed +into a carriage with the agility of a squirrel. The +porter had inquired before they left the waiting-room +if her friend was going with her, and she +had replied that the other lady was going to Padua.</p> + +<p>Poor Siora Bettina felt her legs giving way, and +her sight becoming dim, and she would surely have +fallen had not the porter supported her. Four or +five people soon gathered round her, and carried +rather than helped her back into the café, where +they tried to make her drink some Marsala. This +she waved aside with all the energy she still +possessed, while one zealous soul sprinkled water +over her. "Don't, don't! My bonnet! My +bonnet!" moaned the unhappy woman, fearing they +would deluge her headgear, which would, indeed, +have been a calamity. Perceiving that, after all, +there was nothing much the matter with her, the onlookers +presently withdrew, leaving her with the +waiter and the woman from the bookstall.</p> + +<p>"It is nothing, nothing!" this kind soul vaguely +assured her. "You will see it will be all right, +Signora."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Dio!" groaned Siora Bettina, beginning to +feel better. "She has gone to the convent, and +left me here all alone!"</p> + +<p>It struck the bookstall woman that the Signora +was more troubled at having been left "all alone" +than at the thought of her companion's flight. She +inquired if the girl were her daughter.</p> + +<p>"Gèsummaria, no!" cried poor, forsaken Bettina, +and she rose with difficulty, declaring her intention +of returning to Arsiero at once. The waiter went +outside, and quickly returned with the news that +the train for Arsiero had been gone about five +minutes. In the meantime a police officer had +entered the café to question Signora Fantuzzo concerning +the flight, about which the whole station +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_380">[Pg 380]</span>was talking. Siora Bettina could not have been more +confused had the Minister of the Interior himself +been interviewing her. The officer inquired kindly +if she had any idea where her companion had gone, +and whether she wished the matter to be investigated. +Siora Bettina declared the young girl must +have gone to Desenzano, and the officer went to +make inquiries, but returned presently to say that +no ticket for Desenzano had been issued.</p> + + +<h3>II</h3> + +<p>The letter that Leila had posted at Vicenza reached +Donna Fedele towards seven that same evening. +Anxious to husband her strength for the journey to +Turin, she had remained all day in her easy-chair. +She suffered, but she was at peace. She felt that +she was dying. She foresaw that the operation, +which Carle himself was to perform, would be +successful, but that after that the end would come +very quickly. She felt herself too complete a wreck +to live much longer. She was glad to suffer and +thus expiate the many sins of which she had been +guilty in her youth—sins of affection, sins of pride, +that had been born, had lived and died deep down +in her mind, of which she had whispered in the +gloom of the confessional, and which the afflicted soul +had never succeeded in casting out entirely. She +was glad to suffer and also to know that soon she +would suffer no more. That morning she had received +a cheerful letter from Don Aurelio. He wrote +that he intended going to Valsolda when poor Piero +Maironi's body was brought from Rome to Oria. +He hoped to spend a few days with Massimo, and +to cure him, with God's help, of a depression that +had begun to cloud his intellect. She had immediately +written to the friend she respected so highly, +telling him of Alberti's last letter, and speaking of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_381">[Pg 381]</span>Leila also, who loved him (of this Donna Fedele +was convinced) and who, swayed by her unconquerable +pride, was now struggling against love, but +would probably one day yield. It was unfortunately +only too true that Leila's love would not prove a +spiritual support to Alberti, for indeed she had no +faith nor religious feeling. But Donna Fedele was +sure that God had chosen Don Aurelio to bring this +wandering soul one day back to Him.</p> + +<p>She had then told him of her departure for Turin, +and had hinted vaguely at the purpose of her journey. +She promised to telegraph at what hour she would +be passing through Milan, so that perhaps he might +meet her at the station. She ended her letter with +a whimsical description of a certain ancient and oft-dyed +shawl that poor old Cousin Eufemia, in spite +of the heat, insisted upon wearing on the journey, +and of the bewildered state they would both be in—like +a couple of owls in the sunshine—remarking +that these particulars would make it easy for him +to recognise them amongst the gay throng in the +buffet.</p> + +<p>Now as she gazed upon the great crags of Barco, +still glowing in the setting sun, she went over in +her mind the list of objects that were precious to +her, which recalled dear memories and associations, +and which she wished to have with her in Turin, +should she die there. Cousin Eufemia was attending +to the packing of everything else, and it was +she who now interrupted Donna Fedele's musings. +She brought in the post and a plate upon which +lay six small trout from the Astico, which the consumptive +at Seghe had sent as a present. Donna +Fedele envied this man, who would die in his own +home and native place. Presently Cousin Eufemia +bore the "poor beasts" away, and Donna Fedele +began opening her letters. The first was from the +hospital in Turin. It announced that her room was +ready, and that the professor would see her on the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_382">[Pg 382]</span>morning after her arrival. The second letter was +from her Turin agent, repeating the same information, +and begging her to telegraph on leaving Arsiero. +The third and last was from Leila. On glancing +at it Donna Fedele did not recognise the handwriting +on the envelope. She tore the letter open, and turned +immediately to the signature. "By post?" she +wondered.</p> + +<p>The very first lines made her open her eyes wide, +and as she read on an astonished exclamation burst +from her lips. She sat up very straight in her chair, +and immediately read the note through a second +time.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my God, my God!" she cried, and dropped +the sheet upon her lap. The note ran as follows:</p> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">My dear Friend</span>,—I am just taking the train +that will carry me from Vicenza towards Dasio. I +am going to tell him that I have been mad and +guilty and that, if he will have me, I am his for +ever.</p> + +<p>"My father knows nothing, and all this must be +kept from him as long as possible. In order to +accomplish my purpose I have pretended and lied +so cleverly as to prove myself a true child of his!</p> + +<p>"Forgive me! What I am doing is an act of +love, humility, and justice. I owe the strength and +resolution necessary to carry it out to you alone. +Do not reproach me. I throw myself into your arms, +and implore your blessing.</p> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Leila.</span>"</p> + + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>The day was fast dying, and Cousin Eufemia +looked in again to see if the invalid needed a light, +or desired to go to bed. Donna Fedele replied with +her usual gentleness that she desired to remain alone +until she should ring her bell. Hereupon the little +old woman withdrew, but an hour later she returned, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_383">[Pg 383]</span>uneasy because she had not been summoned. Pushing +the door open very softly, she peered into the +room, and saw her cousin's tall figure at the window, +standing out against the clear, starry sky. It +seemed to Eufemia that her face was bowed upon +her clasped hands, as if she were praying. The old +woman drew back softly without being seen. A +few minutes later the bell rang, and Cousin Eufemia +hastened to the room with a light. Seated in her +easy-chair, Donna Fedele dictated a couple of +telegrams to her which were to be sent off early in +the morning. The first, addressed to Massimo +Alberti, ran, "May some one show himself to be a +Christian and a gentleman." The second, for the +Turin agent, contained the words, "Inform Mauriziano +that unforeseen circumstances oblige me to +postpone arrival."</p> + +<p>"Oh, poor me!" cried Cousin Eufemia, instead +of writing the word "postpone." She shrank from +doing so as she might have shrunk from signing a +death sentence. What had happened? The news +of the unforeseen circumstances must certainly have +been contained in one of those letters. For what +written foolishness was Donna Fedele going to postpone +such an important matter? At last the invalid +nearly lost her temper.</p> + +<p>"Write!" she commanded. Eufemia groaned +"Oh, poor me!" once more, and then penned the +hateful words. Presently she helped Donna Fedele +to undress. When she was in bed she called for +the railway time-table and turned it over, studying +it in silence for some time. At last she dictated a +third telegram, addressed to Don Aurelio:</p> + +<p>"I shall be in Milan——"</p> + +<p>"Good, good!" cried Cousin Eufemia, glad to +know that at least they were going to start, and that +in the direction of Santhià.</p> + +<p>"Day after to-morrow?" she suggested.</p> + +<p>"No, to-morrow."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_384">[Pg 384]</span></p> + +<p>"To-morrow?"</p> + +<p>She was staring in open-mouthed astonishment +now. To-morrow was Friday. But Donna Fedele +went on dictating:</p> + +<p>"... at eleven p.m. Please engage two rooms +Hotel Terminus. Regards and thanks."</p> + +<p>"But we cannot possibly start to-morrow!" cried +Eufemia. "We should have to pack all night!"</p> + +<p>"We do not leave until the afternoon, and besides, +we are not taking any luggage to speak of," said +Donna Fedele.</p> + +<p>"No luggage?"</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele thought for a moment. Yes, her +cousin had better take her box, but she herself would +need only a portmanteau and a dressing-bag. Cousin +Eufemia was forced to admit that under these circumstances +it would be possible to start on the following +afternoon. Her own box, which was small, was half-packed +already. Donna Fedele reminded her not to +forget to send the telegrams and to order the carriage +from Arsiero for two o'clock. Then she asked to +be left alone.</p> + +<p>When she was alone once more she gave way +freely to the sweetest tears she had ever shed—tears +she had not wished her cousin to see. During +her silent meditation she had determined to sacrifice +her own life, and while standing at the window +she had solemnly offered it to God, in the presence of +the stars. She was giving her own life that two +souls, who had wandered from God, might return +to Him; that the girl whom Marcello had loved for +the sake of his dead son might pass through a +perilous ordeal unsullied. She would not go to +Turin. She would forego the operation, which would +not have been much good in any case, and she would +go instead to this mad girl in Valsolda, claiming her +obedience in memory of Marcello, claiming Alberti's +for the sake of his dead mother. At first she had +thought of taking Cousin Eufemia to Valsolda with +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_385">[Pg 385]</span>her, but now she made up her mind to send her +home to Santhià and go alone. "It will make much +more impression on them if they see me arriving +alone, from such a distance, and as ill as I am," she +thought.</p> + +<p>And now she looked back over her life. It seemed +very empty to her, very poor in good deeds, and +she esteemed it a sweet privilege to end it in this +way. Lying stretched on her back, with her hands +clasped over her poor, aching body, she thanked +God for the blessing of such an end. A wave of +relief swept over her; she smiled at herself in the +dark, smiled at the thought of her father, mother, +and grandparents, who had loved her so fondly in +her childhood, looking down upon her now, surely +with approval and rejoicing that she would soon be +with them. She lighted the lamp and drew from a +drawer in the bedside table a precious little volume, +the diary of her mother, who had died when only +two-and-twenty years of age, in giving her birth. +She read the closing words:</p> + +<p>"Oh, my God! Bless the little angel that is +coming to me, that it may remain for ever +Thine!"</p> + +<p>Closing the book, she murmured ecstatically, "For +ever—for ever!" Yes, her mother in heaven must +be glad now. And her dear old grandmother, who +had taught her to pray, and told her so many delightful +stories! The little volume contained a loose +sheet of faded pink paper, on which her beloved +grandmother's tired hand had traced a prayer for +Fedele's special use:</p> + +<p>"Most humble Jesus, destroy my pride and my +self-esteem. Glory be to the Father, the Son, and +the Holy Ghost! Jesus, pattern of gentleness, grant +that I may become entirely gentle and infinitely +charitable toward my neighbour. Glory be to the +Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost!</p> + +<p>"Virtue to be practised:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_386">[Pg 386]</span></p> + +<p>"To remain silent under vexation."</p> + +<p>Yes, dear grandmother, silence under vexation, and +silence in happiness also. Fedele laid the little +volume down, put out the light, and a hush fell upon +her sweet spirit.</p> + + +<h3>III</h3> + +<p>The maid brought Donna Fedele's coffee at seven, +and told her of Leila's flight. She had heard of +it from the gate-keeper, who had received his information +from a railway employé at the station tavern +the night before. The woman who had just brought +the milk knew of it also. At nine, when Cousin +Eufemia was in the midst of her preparations for +the journey, Teresina appeared, weeping bitterly. +She hoped Donna Fedele might know something +about Leila. Eufemia, convinced that her cousin +was as much in the dark as every one else, and, +moreover, anxious that she should not be disturbed, +told Teresina so and dismissed her, having first +inquired what Sior Momi's opinion was. Teresina +could not say. He had gone to Vicenza, intending, +so it would seem, to place the matter in the hands +of the police. Signora Fantuzzo was of opinion that +the Signorina had fled to a convent, and certain +circumstances had led Teresina to think the same +at first, but she had now come to the conclusion +that the young girl had purposely misled them all +and that she had really gone away to "do away +with herself." She had been on the brink of the +precipice once before. After Teresina's departure, +Cousin Eufemia told Donna Fedele of the maid's +fears. The invalid said nothing, but wrote to +Teresina as follows:</p> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Teresina</span>,—I am so sorry not to have +seen you. You need not be afraid of what you think +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_387">[Pg 387]</span>happening. Leila gave me a solemn promise in +regard to this.</p> + + +<p style="padding-left: 5em;">"Yours affectionately,</p> +<p class="right" style= "padding-right: 2em;">"<span class="smcap">F. V. di B.</span>"</p> + + +<p class="p1">She wrote another note to the sick man at Seghe, +which was to be sent to him with some amusing books +and the photograph that she had promised him +some time before. A third note was addressed to +her little French pupil, to say that the lessons must +be interrupted, and setting her a task. She was +to write a composition on the theme of <em>La Mort de la +Cigale</em>.</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele was feeling comparatively well. +She was sure the relief was due to her state of +moral exaltation, and she feared lest she were taking +too much pride in her own sacrifice. She told herself +that, in offering her life, she was really offering +a thing without value, a thing that hardly belonged +to her any more, a light that was about to flicker +out. Just before leaving the Villino she had a +moment of weakness. Seated on the verandah, she +was pointing out, one by one, to the gate-keeper, +who was armed with scissors, the few last roses +remaining in the garden. She was going to +take the roses with her, and each flower that fell +into the little basket filled her with sadness and +seemed to speak of her own ending day and of the +last, sad parting with this dear home. The gate-keeper +placed the laden basket before her. "Are +there enough?" he asked. "Yes," the golden voice +answered softly, "there are enough." The man +retired in silence, grieving deeply over the necessity +for the operation and over the dangers of which he +was aware; for to him, as to his wife also, the +Signora was little less than the Madonna herself. +The man's presence had, in a measure, held Donna +Fedele's rising emotion in check. Alone once more, +and fanned by the silent breath of the noonday +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_388">[Pg 388]</span>breeze stirring among the rose-bushes and on +the small open green in front of her, she yielded to +the on-rolling wave of feeling, and she became conscious +of the silent leave-taking between surrounding +objects and her own mortal heart. Down below +the great verdure-clad valley was smiling, heedless +of the parting, and thence came no farewell. But +Barco, Summano, and Priaforà knew and understood, +and the three hills stood looking down upon Donna +Fedele as silent figures stand around a bed upon +which a man lies dying, his parting glance resting +upon them. She felt that she was on the point of +breaking down, and sought to control herself. At +that moment Cousin Eufemia appeared equipped for +the journey, and wrapped in the famous shawl that +had survived so many dyeings. It had been dipped +the last time in Turin, and its snuffy, nondescript hue +was a never-failing stimulant to Donna Fedele's love +of teasing. Even at this moment she could not refrain +from rallying her cousin concerning the ludicrous +garment, laughing nervously the while. In her +delight at seeing the invalid in good spirits, Cousin +Eufemia herself laughed merrily at her own poor +old shawl, and her own poor old faded self.</p> + +<p>On approaching the carriage the travellers found +the driver and the cook discussing Leila. The cook, +remembering the other attempt at flight, declared +that the Signorina had gone away, goodness only +knew where, to commit suicide. The driver, who was +more of a philosopher, laid it down as Gospel truth +that when a young girl runs away, she always runs +to a lover and not to death. During the drive from +the Villino to the station the subject of the snuff-coloured +shawl would not have sufficed to keep Donna +Fedele in good spirits, but she discovered presently +that Cousin Eufemia was smuggling a fried trout +away with her, and immediately began teasing the +poor old lady again. Having reflected that it was +Friday, that she might perhaps be unable to get +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_389">[Pg 389]</span>a fish supper at the hotel in Milan, and also that the +trout from the Astico are especially succulent, Cousin +Eufemia had got the cook quietly to fry one of the +"poor beasts" for her, and the incautious cook had +allowed Donna Fedele to overhear her whispered +information to Eufemia that the "parcel" was in +a certain umbrella-case.</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele caught the word on the wing, and +began tormenting poor Eufemia with extravagant +questions. What did the parcel contain? Rouge +and face powder? An improper book? Love +letters? Her cousin laughed and wriggled, and kept +declaring that it was "nothing—nothing worth mentioning!" +until at last, horrified by Donna Fedele's +absurd suggestions, she blurted out:</p> + +<p>"It is only a trout, I tell you!"</p> + +<p>Hereupon the invalid became more pitiless than +ever, but the jesting voice was hushed as they passed +the little church in the cemetery at Arsiero, where she +had received Communion two days before, and +presently, on going downhill towards the station, +she caught sight of the Montanina, resting as white +as a cube of snow upon the tender green, against +its dusky background of chestnuts.</p> + +<p>At the station Cousin Eufemia asked where she +was to send her box. "To Santhià," said Donna +Fedele. Were they going to Santhià, then? No, +only as far as Milan to-day, but to-morrow Cousin +Eufemia would go home, and Donna Fedele would +decide what to do with herself. Her cousin protested +hotly, but the Signora carried her point, and +the luggage was registered to Santhià.</p> + +<p>The travellers took their places in the train. Don +Emanuele's long, lank figure passed beneath the +window of their compartment. He went to get his +ticket, and returning, made straight for Donna +Fedele's carriage, but catching sight of Cousin +Eufemia in time, he turned away quickly. Eufemia +was telling her cousin of this as the train started.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_390">[Pg 390]</span></p> + +<p>Donna Fedele closed her eyes as if to sleep, but +only in order that she might not see the dear country +she was leaving without hope of returning. In her +mind's eye she saw the chaplain's lank figure, his +pale face and watery eyes. She had confessed all +the ill she had thought and said of him, and she +now felt her heart free from any shadow of rancour +against the poor man, who honestly believed he +might serve God by crooked means and with bitter +malice in his soul. For him, among the rest, Christ +had died; and this thought brought her peace, but +almost immediately that tiny mocking imp within +her, whispered: "Peace, peace indeed! But if he +were seated here beside you, you would be greatly +annoyed, all the same!"</p> + +<p>At the café of the Vicenza station, where the +travellers had to wait two long hours, Donna Fedele +passed through some moments of anguish. In the +first place, the uncomfortable carriage and the +frequent changes had tried her greatly. Suddenly +she shivered with cold, and her sight grew dim. +She drank a few drops of brandy, and gradually +revived, but she felt aghast at the thought that she +might die before she reached the end of her journey. +She had not considered this danger before starting, +but now a fearful dread overtook her, and all the +way to Milan her thoughts would keep recurring +to that one appalling possibility. She was especially +anxious about the journey she must take on the +morrow, and was undecided whether to push on immediately +from Milan, thus making sure of reaching +her destination, or to rest, that she might arrive in +a less sorry plight. When they had passed Treviglio, +the thought of soon seeing Don Aurelio comforted +her greatly. It would be Paradise could she have +his company on her further pilgrimage, and feel +him near and ever ready to afford her spiritual aid. +But there would be one great disadvantage to this +arrangement; in order to gain the greatest influence +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_391">[Pg 391]</span>over those two young people, they ought to see +her arriving alone, and almost in a dying condition.</p> + + +<h3>IV</h3> + +<p>Don Aurelio was waiting for her at the station, +and she gave him her usual, sweet smile. That smile +only increased his sorrow at seeing how pale and how +changed she was. Having told her that her rooms +were ready for her, he would gladly have left her, +for, if possible, he always avoided being out late. +But she insisted upon his coming to the Terminus, +and kept him talking for some time in the public +reception-room, which, at this hour, was deserted and +half dark. She told him everything except the +alarming condition of her own health, and of the +sentence the doctor had passed upon her. Don +Aurelio was therefore justified in supposing her fit +to continue her journey on the morrow, and he advised +her to go by way of Porto Ceresio. He expressed +regret for Leila's foolish act, but was in no way +uneasy concerning the line of conduct Massimo would +pursue. This surprised Donna Fedele somewhat. +Passion, solitude, the weakening of the restraining +influence of religion, all these conditions she believed +must favour the sway of instinct. Her own +inner experience had taught her the power of passion +far better than Don Aurelio could ever learn +it through the confessional. He took leave of her +at last, despite her reluctance to let him go, promising +to be with her again at ten the next morning. +She had settled to start for Porto Ceresio at +eleven.</p> + +<p>She passed a sleepless night, but one almost free +from pain. In the morning she felt greatly exhausted, +however, and fearing she would be unfit to +start at eleven o'clock, she told her cousin and Don +Aurelio that she had decided that it would be more +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_392">[Pg 392]</span>convenient to lunch at Milan, and leave three hours +later. Don Aurelio brought the welcome news that +he himself would soon be going to Valsolda. He +was hourly expecting a telegram announcing that +Benedetto's remains had left Rome. A priest was +to accompany them as far as Milan, and he had +been asked to perform the same solemn duty from +Milan to Oria. He had accepted partly that he +might prevent the marring of the solemn ceremony +by any demonstration or speeches which he in whose +memory they had met together would have condemned, +and also partly that he might have the +opportunity of seeing Massimo. The friends in Rome +had entrusted Massimo with all arrangements at +Albogasio, and had also wished him to speak at the +grave, but Don Aurelio had received a sad letter +from him a few hours before Donna Fedele's arrival, +saying that he had made all necessary arrangements, +but that he did not wish to speak at the grave, for +only a Catholic should do that, and he no longer +felt himself such. This Don Aurelio told with deep +sorrow.</p> + +<p>At lunch Donna Fedele could eat nothing. Her +fellow-guests in the dining-room glanced at her frequently, +struck by her snowy hair, her great dark +eyes, her air of suffering, and her aristocratic features +and bearing. She preferred to drag herself to the +station on foot, rather than get in and out of the +omnibus for so short a distance. She begged her +cousin to enter the compartment with her, that she +might take leave of her more quietly, and teasingly +implored her not to get lost in the great station, +and let herself be carried to Venice or Bologna +instead of Santhià. As the moment of parting drew +nearer Cousin Eufemia regretted more acutely that +she had not insisted upon going to Valsolda with +the invalid. She returned to the subject once more, +and begged and implored to be allowed to go. Donna +Fedele made light of this. "To Santhià you go—to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_393">[Pg 393]</span> +Santhià!" she said. "What good could you +do by coming all the way to Valsolda?"</p> + +<p>"It isn't at the other end of the world, after all," +Eufemia retorted.</p> + +<p>"Who knows?" said Donna Fedele. "It may +be the end of the world for me."</p> + +<p>The little old woman was silenced, but as several +travellers bustled in, in search of seats, she became +ever more anxious. The hour of departure was drawing +near, and she must get down. Her place was +immediately taken by a pleasant-faced, insignificant +little woman, with a small dog. "Oh, dear!" sighed +Eufemia. "A dog also!" The new-comer overheard +her words, and began to explain timidly that her +dog could not bear to be separated from her, that +he was so very affectionate and perfectly well-behaved.</p> + +<p>"I won't be separated either!" thought Cousin +Eufemia to herself. "Surely I have as much heart +as a dog!" and she said goodbye, having fully determined +in her own mind to enter another compartment +in the same train, unbeknown to Donna Fedele, +whose last words were:</p> + +<p>"Take good care of the roses!"</p> + +<p>She smiled at the little old woman's bewilderment, +who was far from imagining that the roses alluded +to were those of the Villino, which would one day +belong to her sisters and herself. The invalid calmly +fell to picturing the arrival at the Villino of the new +owners, of the three old ghosts clad in black, and +to imagining what each would do first. Eufemia, the +youngest, would immediately hasten to inspect a +certain kneeling-stool that she had long coveted; +the second sister would examine the kitchen, while +the eldest would repair to the wine-cellar. But her +pleasant-faced neighbour did not allow her to follow +up these half-painful, half-amusing fancies. She saw +that the Signora was ill, and began putting a series +of questions for the purpose of discovering particulars.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_394">[Pg 394]</span> +Then she entered upon a history of the complaints +with which various members of her family +and several of her friends had been afflicted, and +finally said that she was on her way to Varese to visit +her sister, who was the mother of four children, and +that she had brought Friend along with her because +her little nephews and nieces simply adored him. +Donna Fedele could not close her ears to all this +chatter, but as she closed her eyes from time to time, +the little woman concluded she was suffering from +headache, and placing the dog on the invalid's lap, with +a profusion of apologies, she dived into her handbag +for some phenacetin tabloids. From Rho onwards +poor Donna Fedele could do nothing but long for +Varese, where the insignificant little person got out +at last, congratulating herself on having performed +an act of kindness by amusing the invalid with her +conversation, and congratulating her little dog on +having contributed towards the Signora's comfort +by his decorous behaviour and silence. Most of +the travellers got out at Varese, and Donna Fedele +was left alone with a young doctor, who was on +his way from Padua to his summer home at Cuasso, +which information had transpired from his conversation +with two other young men who had left the +train at Varese. He now began studying his travelling +companion with respectful interest, and becoming +aware of this, and fearing he might guess the nature +of her malady and be induced to speak to her, Donna +Fedele turned towards the window, and did not look +round again until the train drew up at Porto Ceresio.</p> + +<p>Here the first glimpse of the lake moved her +profoundly. She was nearing her destination at last—she +was sure of arriving there, of seeing them +both. She was at once delighted, terrified, and +uneasy. The porter who carried her luggage was +obliged to support her as far as the café, for she +was hardly able to stand. "It is madness, Signora, +to go about alone and in such a state!" he said, as +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_395">[Pg 395]</span>she begged him to come for her when it should be +time to go aboard the steamer.</p> + +<p>Cousin Eufemia was careful not to show herself, +for she feared a round scolding, and, what was far +worse, being sent back to Milan. She had determined +to keep out of the way until it should have +become impossible to send her back. She was rather +anxious, indeed, concerning the box that had gone +to Santhià, but that could not be helped now.</p> + +<p>The boat for Lugano which would come from +Ponte Tresa was not yet in sight. Seated +outside the café, on the terrace that overlooked the +water, Donna Fedele hardly touched the milk she had +ordered, simply for the sake of ordering something. +Her heart had never before throbbed so violently. +The terrace, strewn with little tables, was deserted. +The mirror of green water was deserted also, lying +there motionless beneath the burning sun. White +Marcote over opposite was quietly watching the silent +waters. Peace and rest breathed from the mighty +hills piled high beyond and above the winding course +of the lake towards distant Lugano. Donna Fedele +felt very sad that she could enjoy none of this peace +and rest. The Ponte Tresa boat appeared at last, +rounding the wooden promontory on the west. She +would have to rise presently and drag herself to +the landing-stage. It was but a few steps to go, but +what if the porter should fail to come?... Ah, +here he was! It was still very early, he said, but +later he would have the luggage to attend to, and +might not be able to come for her.</p> + +<p>The invalid rose with difficulty. She wondered +how Cousin Eufemia would act in her place, and, +saying to herself, "Oh, poor me!" she took the +porter's arm.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> + +<p class="center big2 p2">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_9_9" href="#FNanchor_9_9" class="label">[9]</a> <em>Perpetua</em>: the name of Don Abbondio's maid-servant, in +Manzoni's famous "Promessi Sposi," now often applied generically +to the female servants of priests.—<span class="smcap">Translator's Note.</span></p></div> +</div> + + + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_396">[Pg 396]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" > + CHAPTER XVI + <br> + <small>NIGHT AND FLAMES</small> + </h2> +</div> + + +<h3>I</h3> + +<p>Having made her hurried entrance into a first-class +compartment, Leila detained the porter on one +pretext and another, so that there was no danger +of his running up against Signora Fantuzzo before +the train was clear of the station, should she have +come out of the café in search of her companion. +There were four other persons in Leila's compartment—an +old lady with a daughter of about thirty, +a young commercial traveller, and a music-hall +<em>chanteuse</em> in shabby finery. Leila was conscious that +her face and neck were crimson, and did not doubt +but that her excitement had been noticed, though +in reality no one had as yet paid the slightest attention +to her. The young man went on talking with the +daughter, and the <em>chanteuse</em> went on sucking lemon-drops +and sniffing at a bottle of scent. The train +sped along, hastening away from Vicenza, away from +the Montanina, bearing Leila ever nearer to <em>him</em>. +Her heart was beating in time with the quick and +rhythmic clinking of the wheels, and she felt as if +her thoughts as well as her sight were muffled in a +thick veil. Involuntarily she glanced at her travelling +companions from time to time, observing, as through +a hot mist, the vulgar rivalry that was going on +between the two young women for the attentions of +the commercial traveller.</p> + +<p>The music-hall singer got out at Verona, and the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_397">[Pg 397]</span>other two ladies, who were going to Bergamo, +changed at Rovato. As no one else had entered the +carriage Leila was left alone with the commercial +traveller. She did not even notice this circumstance. +Since Verona her state of mind had been +undergoing a change, and now doubts and anxieties +forced themselves where before had been nothing but +exhilaration and confidence. During the first hour +of her flight Leila had seen clearly before her in +the distant country the main features of the coming +event, meeting of two souls, a delirium of delight, +and then mist and whatever fate might decree. +The nearer she drew to the event, however, the +less distinct did her anticipation of it become, +while a host of embarrassing and hitherto unconsidered +details loomed ever more clearly. She +feared she would lack courage to show herself +at the right moment, feared lest she had undertaken +a task her pride would not allow her to accomplish, +feared he might look upon her as shameless +or cowardly. Meanwhile the train was travelling +onward, and its onward rush seemed to her symbolical +of blind forces obeying her will, that had no longer +any restraining power.</p> + +<p>It was raining when the train reached Porto +Ceresio and there was a mist over the mountains, so +that only their lower slopes showed darkly, encircling +the grey and wrinkled sheet of water. Leila was +glad of the mist. It gave her a feeling of approaching +him unseen. She was also glad that no steamer +lay at the pier, that no steamer was yet in sight. +All this made the moment of meeting seem more +distant and less real. When at last a black spot +appeared off the promontory on the left, her heart +began to throb as it had done in the train at Vicenza. +As she stepped on board the boat, her breath almost +left her, and she stood for a moment half dazed on +the gangway.</p> + +<p>There were very few passengers on deck. Leila +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_398">[Pg 398]</span>took a seat astern, and seemed as if she were intent +upon gazing into the water, but she saw nothing. +The dull, mechanical thudding of the pistons and of +her heart was all she was conscious of. The ticket-collector +was obliged to ask twice where she was +going. She longed to say "Lugano," but she +stammered "San Mamette" instead, as if compelled +to do so by destiny. She inquired how far it was to +San Mamette, and was relieved to hear that they +would not be there for an hour yet, and would touch +at Lugano first. Her gaze wandered off across the +water, resting sometimes upon the quivering network +of innumerable circlets that the rain was stamping +upon it, sometimes upon the dark base of the hills. +When the steamer slackened speed near Melide, she +thought they had reached Lugano, but sank back +into her state of torpor once more on learning that +Lugano was the next stopping-place, and even failed +to notice when they passed beneath the bridge. +Presently the good-natured ticket-collector came up +to point out the direction in which San Mamette +lay—over yonder towards the east, where the lake, +blending with the mist, stretched away like an ocean. +Over yonder lay mystery.</p> + +<p>Soon the great hotels of Lugano passed before +her gaze, followed by the dripping houses and dusky +gardens, sloping upwards into the mist. One, two, +three stopping-places. Passengers coming and +going. A cry of "Gandria, Santa Margherita, Oria, +San Mamette, Osteno, Cima, Porlezza!" Slowly the +steamer is pushed off, and the throbbing of the pistons +begins again. They are under way; the boat swings +slowly about, bringing her prow towards the mists +of the upper lake; the dripping houses, the hotels, +the gardens of Lugano are left behind, and are soon +lost to sight.</p> + +<p>Then suddenly a fresh breeze seemed to sweep +through Leila's soul. All her reasons for taking +this step asserted themselves imperiously. Alone and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_399">[Pg 399]</span>motionless, beneath the fine rain, she looked about +her, feeling happy and secure. It had stopped raining +when they reached Gandria. The lake in front +of the steamer showed black beneath the ruffling of +a strong wind, and the mist had begun to climb the +hills' wet flanks. Galbiga, Bisgnago, and the +Valsolda dolomites loomed majestically against the +sky, and in the far distance Legnone stood out, a +grey giant among smoke-like clouds.</p> + +<p>Soon the boat met the wind. Leila's clothes and +veil flew back like streamers from a flag, but still she +did not move. The wind, the dark lake, the wild +black hills, filled her soul with exultation. The +wind was shouting to her: "Are you indeed here?" +The silent hills on her right and left were thinking: +"She is here, indeed!" In front of her the +dolomites were revealing all their tragic history, as +if to a watcher who understood.</p> + +<p>"Signora," said the ticket-collector, "the next +station is San Mamette."</p> + +<p>She felt suddenly strong and resolute, and when +the steamer drew up at the landing-stage she stepped +ashore with a firm tread. A few peasants got off +also, but owing to the weather, there were no loiterers +either in the <em>piazza</em> or at the wharf. The guard +on duty there pointed out the Valsolda Hotel, +near at hand. She entered the narrow vestibule. +It was dark and deserted, and neither hearing nor +seeing any one, she stood waiting, undecided whether +to go upstairs or not. At last some one came down, +and catching sight of her, hurried away again, +evidently to summon the proprietor, who soon +appeared.</p> + +<p>"You wish for——?" the man began.</p> + +<p>"A room," said Leila unsteadily.</p> + +<p>During the few seconds she had waited the silence +of this unfamiliar place struck her as hostile. It +was the first freezing contact with those harsh realities +with which she had failed to reckon while planning +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_400">[Pg 400]</span>her flight, but which she had vaguely foreseen on +the journey. She did not know how she managed +to say "A room." Fortunately, the proprietor, a +kind-hearted little man, saw at once that she was +a lady and evidently embarrassed, and treated her +with the utmost consideration. He told her that +the housemaid would show her such rooms as were +vacant—there were, indeed, but few people in the +house—and Leila started upstairs somewhat reassured. +Following the maid into a large corner-room on the +second floor, she declared that she would take that, +without looking farther. She asked the girl where +she slept, hoping to have her near, but not liking to +say so because she was ashamed of her timidity. +The girl, who slept at some distance, was far from +imagining that the young lady was timid, and +inquired if she could do anything more for her. +No, no, nothing more. Did the Signorina wish to +dine? Leila felt that she would be unable to eat, +but she ordered a light supper to be brought to +her room, that the girl might be obliged to return, +and thus give her an opportunity to inquire about +Dasio. On finding herself alone for the night she +called herself a coward and a fool, and to hearten +herself, allowed her thoughts to dwell on her father, +on the Velo priests, and the schemes and intrigues +from which she had escaped. And at the same time +a vision of Donna Fedele came into her mind. She +saw her great dark eyes beneath the lofty brow with +its delicate arch of white hair: she heard the golden +voice saying, "Dear girl! What have you done?" +But after all, thought Leila, what was done was +done.</p> + +<p>Would it not be well to send him a line before +the meeting? She rang for writing materials and +tried to write, sitting for a long time lost in thought, +with the pen between her fingers. But presently +the difficulties of the task appalled her. Might not +all be spoiled by a single ambiguous sentence, a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_401">[Pg 401]</span>single ill-chosen word, a single even slightly clumsy +phrase, that would escape her notice? After all, +it would be better not to write. Her presence alone +must tell everything. Yes, of course it would! She +wondered she had not thought of this before. But +immediately she was filled with terror at the idea +of a chance meeting, and so she remained, torn +between doubts, and feeling perilously near to tears.</p> + +<p>Through the open window could be seen, far +away, amid the darkness of the night, a small point +of light slowly revolving and flashing over the surface +of the waters and along the coast. Out of the shadow +there would start for an instant white cottages, great +boulders, or a wooded slope, sought out by that light +as by a watchful eye passing all things in careful +review. Leila saw the slim cone of light moving +slowly towards her, felt herself and her surroundings +enveloped in the white blaze of the inquisitorial eye, +and then all was engulfed in darkness once more. +Far up on the black mountain-side, near the sky +that was hardly less dark, other electric flames shone +in a row. She could hear the noise of the waves, +and the whole scene gave her the impression of a +night of enchantment in the wildest, strangest corner +of the earth. She forgot her own doubts and fears +for the moment and followed the movements of the +electric flash along the wooded base of the mountains +and across the ruffled waters, in search of groups +of houses. One of those groups might be Dasio. +Again the white light flashed upon her, and trembled +an instant on either hand before leaving her entirely. +She sprang backwards into the room.</p> + +<p>Weary at last, she flung herself upon the bed +without undressing.</p> + +<p>It was a long, never-ending night. From time to +time the flashlight flooded the room, and Leila was +glad of this, for it seemed as if the luminous eye +were keeping a vigil in her stead. Just before dawn +she fell asleep, but awoke again almost immediately, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_402">[Pg 402]</span>grieved at having slept despite her resolution not to +do so. Later she rose with numbed limbs, and closed +the windows. The flashlight and the other lights +along the mountain's brow were no longer to be +seen. Beneath her window she saw a <em>pergola</em>, a +muddy courtyard, some narrow grass-plots, and, a +few yards beyond, the slumbering lake reflecting +the heavy, unbroken masses of cloud. She lay down +on the bed again. Day was coming, and she would +soon know her fate.</p> + + +<h3>II</h3> + +<p>Leila rose and dressed at six o'clock. In washing +herself she flooded the room, but nevertheless rang +the bell for more water. The maid saw at once +that the Signorina had not turned back the bedclothes, +and glanced wonderingly from her to the bed. Leila +blushed, but did not offer any explanation. Having +apologised for the state of the floor, she inquired, +half unconscious of hypocrisy, if it were far to Puria. +She knew well enough from Massimo's letter that +one could walk there from Dasio in twenty minutes. +The girl replied that it took less than an hour to go +to Puria, and upon Leila's request, promised to find +a boy to accompany her, and act as guide.</p> + +<p>"At what time will you start?" she inquired.</p> + +<p>"At seven."</p> + +<p>Exhausted by her long fast and long hours of +sleeplessness, Leila ate her breakfast with a good +appetite. She inquired about the lights she had seen +in the night, and was informed that a torpedo-boat +bearing a powerful searchlight was always on duty +and that the flames upon the hillside were the electric +lights along the funicular railway of Santa Margherita +and at the Hotel Belvedere. At seven she started +with her guide, astonished at her own calmness and +resolution.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_403">[Pg 403]</span></p> + +<p>The guide was a lad of about twelve, with sparkling +eyes and obstinately silent lips. Leila could get +nothing out of him save monosyllables, but, indeed, +all she desired to know was that he knew the way +to Puria and Dasio. As they walked towards Loggio +she looked neither to right nor left, for the higher +she climbed the faster did her heart throb, partly +from fatigue, partly because her resolution was +weakening. At the first turning of the steps above +the oratory of San Carlo she was obliged to stop +and rest. The sun was not shining, but the air was +sultry. A party of young people, all laughing merrily, +passed her. The girls were teasing the men for +not daring to gather some clusters of cyclamen +growing on the brink of a precipice above a mountain +torrent. With the agility of a squirrel the little +guide suddenly scampered away, returning presently +with a bunch of cyclamen, which he silently presented +to Leila. She placed the flowers upon her breast, +reflecting that fate had sent them to her for <em>him</em>, and +that she would not have dared to gather them with +her own hand. On reaching the top of the hill, where +the path turns to the left, and leads down to the +Campo region, she stopped to rest once more. Here +the whole of upper Valsolda lay stretched beneath +her. In the centre, high above everything, lay Dasio, +its campanile and a few roofs alone stretching upwards +out of its nest of verdure. Seated on the grass +Leila inquired the names of all the villages, and then +let her glance fall upon the small yellow-white +campanile beneath the mighty rocks. From the +tower she raised her eyes to the heights above it, +seeking for the point that had reminded Massimo +of the one he had gazed upon at the Montanina, +while she played "Aveu." She fixed upon one that +was surrounded by mist, towards the centre of the +group that slopes downward from the highest summit +on the east. Her heart swelled at the memory of the +music.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_404">[Pg 404]</span></p> + +<p>Again, she seemed to hear triumphant voices about +her as she had done on first entering Valsolda waters, +and rising to her feet, struggling with her emotion, she +started onwards. On the Dasio road, beyond Puria, +she ordered the boy, who was walking in front of +her, to tell her should he see any one coming towards +them. They met a charcoal-burner, a Customs guard, +and a woman with a basket of mushrooms. Leila +reflected that she might ask for Dr. Alberti, but she +lacked the courage to do so. Below the last hill, +shaded by chestnut-trees, upon the little bridge close +to a chapel, she leaned against the handrail, exhausted +and trembling, and almost despairing of being +able to go on. There was an old woman gathering +nuts near by, and Leila sent the boy to inquire if she +knew Dr. Alberti. The old woman, who was deaf +and half imbecile, did not understand. Leila +straightened herself with an effort, and glanced into +the chapel as she passed, but its gaudiness repelled +her. She felt that had there been naught else than +the Crucifix there she would have flung herself on her +knees in prayer. But as it was, she passed on.</p> + +<p>On reaching the narrow, steep path to Drano, two +minutes' walk below Dasio, she sat down on the +lowest step, and ordered the boy to go on to the +hotel. He was simply to inquire if Dr. Alberti was +at home, and then return to her with the answer. The +reply, for which she waited in feverish agitation, +was that the doctor was out.</p> + +<p>She remained for some time, her face hidden in +her hands, thinking and feeling herself utterly alone. +Uncovering her face at last, she fixed her eyes, as if +in appeal, upon the clustering verdure that clothed the +opposite bank of the valley. All was peace and +indifference. She sent the boy back to ask some one +from the hotel to come and speak with her.</p> + +<p>A pleasant-mannered girl soon appeared. It was +no easy task for Leila to inquire for Alberti, but +as she could not avoid doing so, she preferred to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_405">[Pg 405]</span>do it in this way, rather than at the hotel and in the +presence of any number of inquisitive strangers. She +learned that the doctor had been summoned to Muzzaglio +two hours before. On setting out he had said +that he would be back by ten o'clock, and now the +clock was about to strike nine. If the Signorina +wished to go and meet him, she could not possibly +miss him. She must go by Pian di Nava and San +Rocco.</p> + +<p>"You can stop at Pian di Nava, not a quarter of +an hour's walk from here. He is sure to pass that +way."</p> + +<p>Hereupon the girl tried to explain the way to the +little guide, who was unfamiliar with the region, +but as he did not seem to understand, she herself +offered to act as guide, and led Leila upwards through +the poor but clean village, as far as the public washing-place, +where she pointed out the path that turned +westwards from there.</p> + +<p>"That is the path," she said. "You will reach +Pian di Nava in about five minutes."</p> + +<p>Leila paid the boy, dismissed him, and started on +alone. She left the path at a point where it crossed +a field, and sat down to wait beneath the trees +shading one side of it, whence she could see all the +windings of the path in front of her.</p> + + +<h3>III</h3> + +<p>That morning Massimo had risen at dawn, having +slept hardly at all. On the preceding day he had +been to Lugano to hire the boat that would bring +Benedetto's remains from Porto Ceresio to Oria. +And now that this was arranged, he had only to wait +for the summons to take part in the sad ceremony, +but meanwhile he was passing through great mental +anguish. The memory of Maironi was still dear and +sacred to him, and he would have been happy to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_406">[Pg 406]</span>render private homage to his master, but this public +homage signified participation in beliefs and ideas +which were no longer his own. To refuse it would +amount to an insult, to grant it would amount almost +to hypocrisy. Benedetto represented the Catholic +Creed in its entirety, imperishable faith in the Church, +meek and humble obedience to authority. Massimo +had ceased to believe. He had begun by separating +himself from Rome intellectually, by persuading himself +that Roman Catholicism was doomed to perish; +then, rapidly, had come the separation from the Divine +and risen Christ. But despite the apparent suddenness +of the change, the old faith died hard, and his +outlook on life was still coloured by the traditional +beliefs of Christianity. The first step, the freedom +from Rome, would have been sweet to him, had the +breaking away from Rome not meant also the breaking +away from his own past as a champion of the Catholic +Faith. But his horror of a subsequent sinking +towards agnosticism was so great, and filled him +with such intense despair, that he was at times assailed +by violent and fleeting paroxysms of reaction. That +very night as he thought of the state of his own conscience +and of Benedetto, he had lighted the candle +in a spasm of pain and hope, and had knelt on his +bed before the picture of the meeting of the Saviour +and Peter upon the waters. Groaning with misery, +he had prayed for faith, faith, and again for faith! +But soon the flame that had illumined his soul died +down once more. The silent surroundings had seemed +to scoff at him as he had scoffed at himself. When +he had put out the light he crushed his face into +his pillow, his heart calling out to Leila. Again +he scoffed at himself for his foolish cowardice, and +angrily repelled the image that would not be driven +from his heart, and did but bend before these violent +outbursts, as a reed before the wind, only to rise again +immediately. He forced himself to think of the sick +man at Muzzaglio he must visit on the morrow, whose +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_407">[Pg 407]</span>unhappy marriage had brought him to drink, and +who had become half imbecile, living in a foul hovel +with four goats and a black sheep. He never came +down to Castello or to Puria save to exchange milk +for spirits. The birth of a kid or lamb was the signal +for a series of orgies, and the man was known +throughout the countryside as the "savage." At +the present moment he was recovering from pneumonia, +and Massimo was making every effort to raise +him out of his state of abject misery. With the aid +of two kind women from Dasio he had got him +decently clean and had removed him to an empty +stable (for Muzzaglio consisted entirely of stables), +and placed him upon a couch fit for a human being. +Every morning the doctor himself carried him eggs, +broth, and the small quantity of wine the man could +not do without. He had made up his mind to see +his patient's wife and persuade her to take her husband +back into the house from which she had driven him +because he was a drunkard. He must also make +her promise not to sell the black sheep which she +hated, this hatred of hers filling the sick man with +childish terror whenever reconciliation and reunion +were mentioned. "She will sell the sheep!" he +would cry. "She will sell the sheep!"</p> + +<p>Massimo left the hotel before seven o'clock, went +to see a sick child, and then returned for the basket +with the eggs, the broth, and the wine. On reaching +Muzzaglio he found the convalescent sitting up, and +after listening patiently to the endless chatter of +the two old women who were nursing him, once +more turned back to Dasio. A herd of cows was +grazing among the pastures of San Rocco, and the +ceaseless tinkling of the bells rose above the sound +of the river below. He dropped upon the grass and +sat listening to the river, fancying that he was back +in his room at the Montanina listening to the voice +of the Posina, and the old heartache seized him. +He walked on, slowly, pausing for a moment in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_408">[Pg 408]</span>wood to notice a cluster of cyclamen, in gazing at +which he sought to banish the thought of Leila, and +then, keeping mechanically onward, he reached the +level stretch of Pian di Nava.</p> + +<p>Then it was that he saw, not two hundred yards +away, a lady in a light summer dress, seated on the +upper edge of the field in front of him. He paid +no further attention to her, for almost every day +visitors from Loggio or San Mamette came up to +Dasio. The lady was seated beyond the path and +some twenty yards towards the right. As Massimo +approached, walking slowly, she rose to her feet. Her +movement made him glance carelessly in her direction, +but he did not recognise her, and turning his +face towards the path once more, kept on his way. +She started, swayed forward, and then checked herself. +Thereupon he also stopped and once more +looked at her. She was so pale and her face was +so agitated that he would not have recognised her +even now had not her eyes been fixed upon him +in a glassy stare. He hesitated, trembled, and felt +his being turned to stone. She bowed her head, +and, staggering, leaned against the tree under which +she had been sitting. Massimo stopped short. He +saw it was Leila, but could not believe his own eyes, +and raised his hat stupidly, unconscious of his own +movement. She lifted her pale, tear-stained face +to him imploringly, and her lips moved. He was +forced to conclude that she stood in need of some +slight service, though to seek his help was clearly +embarrassing to her. At the same instant an idea +flashed across his mind.</p> + +<p>"You are here with Donna Fedele?" he asked, +quickly putting himself on the defensive. Evidently +Donna Fedele had brought this about, had persuaded +the girl to consent, or had coerced her into +so doing. It seemed the only possible explanation +of Leila's presence. But Leila shook her head and +looked down.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_409">[Pg 409]</span></p> + +<p>"Are you with your father, then?" the young +man asked, more astonished than ever. Again Leila +shook her head.</p> + +<p>Then at last her humble, shrinking attitude conveyed +an inkling of the truth to Massimo, and he +began to understand. But not even now did he +venture to utter a word, to make a movement that +should betray his consciousness of the sweet truth. +Leaning towards her, half blind with emotion and +with a beating heart, he murmured:</p> + +<p>"Are you alone?"</p> + +<p>Leila hid her face in her hands without answering. +The young man seized her hands, and felt them +steadily but slowly yielding, in a wave of self-abandonment +such as no spoken word could have +expressed. He murmured incoherent words and +offered her his arm, feeling that she would shrink +from being led by the hand here, where at any +moment some one might pass, but still unwilling +to relinquish his hold of her.</p> + +<p>Aflame with happiness, Leila had once more +become mistress of herself, while Massimo, whose +head reeled, did not know which direction to take. +He turned towards Dasio. Leila did not speak, but +the arm he held guided him gently in the opposite +direction, towards the woods. Once among the trees, +he put his arm round her and they kissed for the +first time, yet not passionately, but almost reverently. +Then Leila dropped her face upon Massimo's +breast.</p> + +<p>And he, no longer bewildered, his face bent low +into her sweet hair, murmured:</p> + +<p>"It is for ever?"</p> + +<p>Her only answer was to press her head closer to +his breast. They heard women's voices in the wood, +and Leila, raising her head, started forward in front +of Massimo, turning often to glance at him. On +passing the cluster of cyclamen that Massimo had +noticed but a short time before, he gathered one for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_410">[Pg 410]</span>her and smiled. She kissed the hand that held out +the flower, and then spoke for the first time:</p> + +<p>"Why do you smile?"</p> + +<p>The low, familiar voice thrilled him. He was more +sure than ever now that he was not dreaming, and +more than ever did reality appear as a dream. That +voice had been familiar to him only in coldness, in +scorn, and in anger. These words, trivial in themselves, +were the sweet and solemn notes of an +unknown chord of love. For some minutes its sweetness +so overcame Massimo that he could not speak +to tell her, as he did at last, how the sound of the +river had reminded him of the Montanina, and how +he had stood gazing upon the cyclamen, forcing himself +to banish her image that was scorching his heart. +The old fire burned again in Leila's eyes at the +story of his past suffering, and betrayed the remorse +she felt for her long injustice.</p> + +<p>"You are the one who have much to forgive," +said he, tenderly, thinking of his own unjust thoughts +of her. But the past came back to each with such +overwhelming force that neither could speak, in protest +or in exclamation. They walked on in silence +as far as the open pasture-lands of San Rocco, where +the river thundered its greeting to them.</p> + +<p>"Listen," said Massimo.</p> + +<p>Leila closed her eyes, for the difference in the +landscape prevented this deep voice from awakening +in her memories of the Posina. The sharp mountain +air and the tinkling of bells from the pastures +reminded her only of the wild slope where the +rhododendrons grew, and where love had conquered.</p> + +<p>Exhausted with emotion and fatigue, the colour +suddenly fled from her face, and she told Massimo +that she must rest. Anxious and alarmed, he placed +her on the grass, and, taking her hands in his, began +stroking and caressing them. She sat looking +earnestly into his face, her eyes shining with tenderness +and love. She would not let him go to fetch +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_411">[Pg 411]</span>water for her from the river, and presently, becoming +more composed, she took one of Massimo's hands in +hers and murmured:</p> + +<p>"How could you forgive me so soon?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, as to that ..." he cried, and the question +he had been withholding ever since she had confessed +that she was alone now fell from his lips: +"But you yourself...?"</p> + +<p>She understood at once, and told him she felt +unable to explain in words, but that, if he wished +it, she would do so in writing. In answer to a further +question, he learned that she had arrived the night +before and had taken a room at San Mamette. Only +one other question did Massimo venture to ask: Did +her father know? Leila assured him that Donna +Fedele alone had been told, but not until after her +own departure. A troubled silence followed; then +Massimo proposed that they should return to Dasio, +where she would be able to rest and refresh herself; +and she agreed immediately, as if it were her part +not to acquiesce but simply to obey.</p> + +<p>They started slowly, she leaning on his arm in +silence. He was beginning to be uneasy concerning +the comments her presence might give rise to at +the hotel. He thought he saw a look of pain in her +eyes, as if she wondered at his silence. He dropped +her arm, and, placing his own round her, drew her +lovingly to him. She murmured anxiously:</p> + +<p>"Have I done wrong?"</p> + +<p>Massimo held her closer.</p> + +<p>"My wife!" he said.</p> + +<p>She laid her head upon his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"I have always, always loved you!" she whispered.</p> + +<p>At the entrance to the wood they met the women +whose voices they had heard some time before. The +peasants saluted, and looked curiously at the +Signorina. Massimo felt it would be a mistake to +feign overmuch, to exert overmuch caution in order +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_412">[Pg 412]</span>to avoid arousing suspicion. When the women had +disappeared, he told Leila that he should present her +to the hotel people as his future wife.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes! But for your sake, not for mine! +It was for your sake before!" she said.</p> + +<p>She wanted him to understand that if the presence +of strangers had made her cautious in her demonstrations +of affection, it was out of regard for his +reputation rather than for her own. She asked him, +eager to hear him declare the contrary, whether he +would not repent later having presented her as his +future wife. Meanwhile they had reached the narrow +valley that sweeps down from Pian di Nava to Terra +Morta and the little cemetery. Leila paused on +catching sight of the church and houses of Dasio +nestling amidst the verdure, beneath the two colossal +masses of dolomite, one facing south and the other +west, that meet at right angles and form the Passo +Stretto.</p> + +<p>"Not yet," said she. But she quickly regretted +her words, as if they had meant disobedience; and +she would have gone on, despite her dread of +the hotel and her desire to make this sweet hour +as long as possible. Massimo allowed her to rest for +a few minutes—for a few minutes only, because she +was so pale! The sky was still overcast, and mist +rested upon the grey heights. The unbroken verdure, +the ashen tints of the landscape, seemed in silent +sympathy with those two souls that were so full of +each other.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" Leila cried, enraptured, at last, "if only +we could live here always!" And she closed her +eyes. Massimo was silent. It would be a dream of +delight indeed. But did Leila realise what it meant +to live at Dasio? He concluded it would be wiser not +to answer, but his silence made the young girl +wonder.</p> + +<p>"No?" said she, and smiled.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he made answer, "but it would be well +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_413">[Pg 413]</span>to try it first—to try living here for a few days +first."</p> + +<p>She stared at him. Her longing glance said: +"Can I live here with you for a few days now?" +Feeling that perhaps he had spoken imprudently, +he took advantage of the fine rain that was beginning +to fall to suggest that they should go on +again.</p> + +<p>Thoughts of the future, called forth by Leila's +words as to their living together at Dasio, had roused +them to a sense of reality. They were silent, each +trying to escape from the delirious present and to deal +calmly with the problem of the future. An impulse +of true love had brought her here. She had taken +no thought for the morrow. To be sure Massimo had +said "For ever!" and had called her "wife!" but +what then? She would not have allowed thought of +the morrow to trouble her had she not seen that it +was troubling him. She would have taken up her +abode at Dasio without hesitation. She was quite +indifferent to what people might say, but her anxiety +was to do or say nothing of which he might disapprove. +She gazed into his face, seeking anxiously +to read his thoughts. He was silently struggling +against this ecstasy of happiness, struggling to be +a man and not a headstrong youth, that he might +wisely and firmly control, not only his own actions +but also those of the woman who was to become +his wife. Now the fever of joy would prevail, and +he would look at Leila, this incredible reality, in +a way that made her smile; now his manly resolution +would assert itself and cast a shadow across +his brow.</p> + +<p>"And Donna Fedele!" he cried suddenly. "What +do you suppose she thinks?"</p> + +<p>Leila could imagine easily enough what she +thought. "There is only one person in the world +capable of such madness!" Leila did not wish to +say this, however, and stooped to read an inscription +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_414">[Pg 414]</span>carved upon a stone in a low wall facing the +path.</p> + + +<p class="center p1">To GIUSEPPINA LORIO<br> +<em>Who perished here by the hand of an assassin.</em></p> + +<p>Leila shuddered as she pictured to herself a +tragedy of passion, a heart as fiery as her own +pierced by steel or lead.</p> + +<p>"I would not be murdered," she said; "but to +die now, suddenly, would be joy indeed!"</p> + +<p>Massimo spoke no word, but he looked reprovingly +at her.</p> + +<p>"No, no!" Leila murmured. "I wish to live, to +live, to live!"</p> + +<p>They entered the village, and for his sake she +became more cautious even than he was, not even +turning to look at him until they had reached the +threshold of the hotel, when she flung him a burning +glance. Massimo asked the proprietress to show +the Signorina, who was going to stay a few hours, +to a room and take her orders for luncheon, which +she would take in her own room. While he was +speaking, a messenger from San Mamette arrived +with Donna Fedele's telegram. He read it and put it +in his pocket without comment, and said goodbye to +Leila, saying that he must pay some visits at Puria; +but before going he went to his room to write a few +lines to Donna Fedele.</p> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Mother Fedele</span>,—Leila is here. Perhaps +I did not deserve that you should remind me of my +duty as a gentleman. I beg you to ask Signor da +Camin for his daughter's hand on my behalf.</p> + + +<p style="padding-left: 5em;">"Your</p> +<p class="right" style="padding-right: 2em;"><span class="smcap">"Massimo</span>."</p> + + +<p class="p1">He gave the letter to the messenger and hastened +away to Puria.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_415">[Pg 415]</span></p> + +<p>Meanwhile the proprietress had been singing +Massimo's praises to Leila, hoping thus to pave the +way to further exploration. She spoke of his kindness, +of his skill, and of her own hope that he might be +appointed parish doctor to the Valley.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you are a relative of his?" she ventured +at last.</p> + +<p>Instead of answering, Leila asked for writing +materials.</p> + +<p>Massimo did not return from Puria until two hours +later. He had gone there in feverish haste, but had +walked home slowly, and without even remembering +to glance at the friendly peak of dolomite. He felt +as if his reason must weaken, such was the tumult of +thoughts and sentiments within him. He had asked +for the hand of an heiress without thought for her +wealth, but he might easily be suspected of having +enticed Leila to Valsolda in order to oblige her +father to consent to a union between them. He +was so appalled by this reflection that he asked +himself whether it would not be better to sacrifice +his happiness rather than submit to such a suspicion. +Now he determined to speak to Leila of this matter, +now he was terrified by the thought that perhaps, in +the ardour of her passion, she would fail to understand +him, and doubting the strength of his devotion, +reproach him for being unable to face the comment +of the world as she herself had done. Torn by this +fear, he wrung his hands, at the same time seeking +to convince himself that it was vain, that this horrible +suspicion would come to no one, and that, should it +do so, Leila would know how to banish it. On reaching +the hotel once more he was wet with perspiration, +but as pale as death. Learning that Leila had +not come down, he went to his own room, and almost +immediately word was brought him that the Signorina +was in the garden, and had asked for him. He +forgot his gloomy thoughts, and joined Leila where +she was sitting on the wall at the foot of the garden, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_416">[Pg 416]</span>near the fir-tree and a small fountain. In her hand +she held a letter, and rose on catching sight of him. +She told him that she had lunched in her room and +had then done some writing. Massimo held out his +hand, believing the letter must be for him, written +to tell him of that which Leila had declared herself +unable to utter, the story of the change that had +taken place within her. Before giving him the letter +she showed him the address: "Signor Girolamo da +Camin, Velo d'Astico (Vicenza)." Massimo withdrew +his hand.</p> + +<p>"No," said she; "you are to read it, only please +do not do so in my presence. You have not lunched? +Then read it while you are lunching. I am going to +rest for a little while."</p> + +<p>Massimo escorted the young girl as far as the +door. She seemed to have read his thoughts, and to +have noted some slight reserve in his manner. At +the moment of leaving him she fixed her glance upon +him. The fine, slightly bewildered eyes seemed to +grow larger, as her lips murmured:</p> + +<p>"Do you love me?"</p> + +<p>"Now and for ever!" said he.</p> + +<p>Massimo went to his room and read as follows:</p> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">To my Father.</span></p> + + +<p>"What I have done and what I propose to do +will seem very strange to you. I ask you to grant +me immediately that liberty which I shall acquire +by law in the course of a few months. I cannot +tell you as yet how I shall use it, but this I can +and do tell you, that of the income that is mine I +shall demand only enough to live here modestly and +alone. I shall not inquire how you dispose of the +rest. For the present I need nothing. Later on I +will write again.</p> + + +<p style="padding-left: 5em;">"Greetings,</p> +<p class="right" style="padding-right: 2em;"><span class= "smcap">"Leila</span>."</p> + + +<p class="p1">"P.S.—Should circumstances make it necessary for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_417">[Pg 417]</span>a few days, I shall accept the hospitality of Donna +Fedele Vayla di Brea, this being a more suitable +arrangement."</p> + +<p>A flood of love and joy swelled his heart, and he +drew a long breath of happiness and relief. She must +take nothing, absolutely nothing, from her father! +How much more he felt that she was his very own now, +without her wealth! How he longed to press her +to his heart! But she must re-write the letter at +once and say she would neither demand nor accept +anything from her father. He could not possibly +postpone telling her of his joy and of the firm decision +at which he had arrived, and started to go downstairs +to her. Before reaching the bottom of the stairs, +however, he had had time to reflect. It would not +be fitting for him to see her in her room, and so +he went to the garden to wait for her. It +had begun to rain lightly again, but, regardless +of this, Massimo sat down on the wall where +she had sat before. It suddenly struck him +that in her letter Leila had purposely refrained +from mentioning him, nor had she dated her note, +whereas he had revealed everything through the +mission he had confided to Donna Fedele. It might +be necessary to send her a telegram, asking her to +suspend her action. Or would it not rather be better +for Leila to tell her father openly how matters stood?</p> + +<p>She did not come to him, and growing impatient, +Massimo began walking up and down the garden. +Leila appeared at a window, saw him, and suddenly +disappeared again. Massimo could not resist going +to meet her on the stairs. He knew there was no +one in that wing of the house, a Milanese family who +had arrived over night having been out on the hills +since dawn.</p> + +<p>"I am happy!" he cried.</p> + +<p>She fell upon his breast, clasped her hands behind +his neck, and whispered:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_418">[Pg 418]</span></p> + +<p>"Was the letter right?"</p> + +<p>They went out to the shelter of the fir-tree, he +speaking eagerly, but in an undertone, she silent and +happy, drinking in his passionate words. The girl +said at last that she did not wish to be a burden +to him, but that she was glad to give way to him, +and that, as he wished it, she would write another +letter, saying that she relinquished all right to the +income. Upon hearing of Massimo's letter to Donna +Fedele, she told him about the journey to Turin, +and he heard the sad truth for the first time. +But even Leila had no idea that to postpone the +operation even for a few days might prove fatal to +the invalid.</p> + +<p>Surprised and deeply grieved, he complained of not +having known of all this in time to offer to accompany +Donna Fedele to Turin. Leila glanced at him. +She feared lest her thought, put into words, might +sound like selfishness, but her eyes said plainly: +"Do you not see that in that case we should not +be here together?" He understood, and smiled in +recognition. A common feeling of unworthiness kept +them from returning to the subject, and moreover, it +was time for Leila to re-write her letter.</p> + +<p>While she was writing in her own room, and +Massimo was lunching, the Milanese family returned. +They were dishevelled, wet, tired, and laden with +mountain flowers, cyclamen, aconite blossoms, ferns, +mushrooms, strawberries, goat-cheeses and empty +bottles. There was no further hope of silence +and quiet conversation in the garden. When Leila +came downstairs with her letter Massimo immediately +proposed that they should start on her way back.</p> + +<p>He looked at his watch. It was nearly three +o'clock.</p> + +<p>"We will spend four hours going down," said he.</p> + +<p>They started amid wind and sunshine. A strong +breeze had sprung up, and changed the face of earth +and sky. The blue was breaking through in all +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_419">[Pg 419]</span>directions. The pasture-lands of Rancò, the chestnut-groves +of Drano, the sharp and naked summits—everything +sparkled. They left the Puria road at +the point where the girl from the hotel had talked +with Leila, and went along the narrow country path +that lost itself in the soft bosom of a broad valley +where the waters of Passo Stretto sang as they swung +merrily southward. The path appeared again +suddenly, following the waters, rising beside them +to the little stone bridge that spans them by a bold +spring upwards from the lower bank to the higher, +at a point where boulders pressed hard upon the +rebellious stream. Before reaching this rustic bridge, +which seemed more a part of Nature's work than of +man's, the path ran close to a cavern, large enough +to shelter two or three persons. The cavern faced +north and commanded a view of the slopes of Dasio, +of the Passo Stretto, and of the amphitheatre of rocks +that dominated the whole. Massimo and Leila sat +down here to rest.</p> + +<p>"And which is the dolomitic peak?" she asked.</p> + +<p>Massimo stared at her in amazement. What did +she know of the dolomitic peak? She bent her head +and remained silent. He took one of her hands between +his own, and repeated his question more +anxiously and pressingly. What did she know of it?</p> + +<p>"I should like to answer you with Schumann's +melody, and put my whole soul into it," said she, +softly, but without raising her head.</p> + +<p>Massimo knew now that Donna Fedele had spoken, +and he silently pressed the dear imprisoned hand that +quivered in his as memory brought back the "Aveu" +to both minds.</p> + +<p>"Show me the peak," said Leila.</p> + +<p>He pointed it out above the crest of the opposite +range. It was a small tooth leaning against the sky, +and biting into it just below the summit, towards the +east.</p> + +<p>"I thought it was that one," said she, "but the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_420">[Pg 420]</span>effect is different from the Montanina drawing-room."</p> + +<p>"Did you look for it there?" Massimo asked, for +the sake of the sweet answer he expected. But he +did not wait for the answer after all, but inquired how +Donna Fedele had come to repeat his words about +the peak. Again Leila bent her head low.</p> + +<p>"I read them all," said she.</p> + +<p>"All my letters?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, all, I think."</p> + +<p>Then he realised that she must be aware of the +bitter judgment he had passed upon her.</p> + +<p>"And still you came?"</p> + +<p>"Had I not read, I should not have come."</p> + +<p>Massimo was still clasping the dear little hand, +and he continued to stroke it in silence, as if seeking +to free it from an affront it had suffered.</p> + +<p>"I read the last one," said Leila, "up among the +rhododendrons of Priaforà. It was then I came +to a decision, and laid my plans."</p> + +<p>She smiled as she thought of Siora Bettina, and +Massimo had little trouble in drawing from her the +story of her flight. Half angrily, half gaily she +told of the Velo priests and Signora Fantuzzo's +manœuvrings, confessed her own hypocrisy, and made +even Massimo laugh by her description of the journey +from Arsiero to Vicenza. But never once did she +mention her father. As Massimo held her hand, he +pulled gently at the ring she wore. She took it off +and offered it to him with a sad and earnest glance. +The young man read the words "To Leila." Then +he remembered that his poor friend Andrea had told +him of the dispute he had had with his fiancée about +this very name. In silence he placed the ring upon +her finger once more, and, still in silence, released +her hand.</p> + +<p>"I was naughty," she said softly, "and he was +so good!"</p> + +<p>Again Massimo sought Leila's hand.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_421">[Pg 421]</span></p> + +<p>"At the time of his death Andrea's father wished +me to take his son's place," said he. "Andrea himself +must have put this desire into his father's heart. +We will never forget him, dear, will we? Never until +death! Would you like me to call you Leila in +memory of him?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes!" she cried, deeply moved. Both in +turn pressed the ring to their lips.</p> + +<p>"He used to talk to me about you very often," +said Leila. Massimo made no answer. Together +they rose as by a tacit understanding, and crossing +the bridge, followed the rapidly rising path, which +now followed the curving bank, now forced its way +into narrow, shady gorges, through which flowed tinkling +rivulets. Leila was the first to break the silence.</p> + +<p>"I fear I am too wicked, too strange to make you +happy."</p> + +<p>Massimo smiled.</p> + +<p>"Leila may have been both wicked and strange," +said he, "but Leila is not."</p> + +<p>Walking by his side, she took his hand and said +softly:</p> + +<p>"Yes, henceforward I will always be Leila. What +do you wish Leila to be like?"</p> + +<p>"I wish her to be more gentle than I am, and +her only peculiarity must be that she can love a +poor, struggling doctor, who offers her nothing but +a life of hardship," said Massimo.</p> + +<p>Leila clasped his arm passionately, as she +reproached him.</p> + +<p>"Leave that kind of thing for others to say," +said she.</p> + +<p>But hardly had she uttered the words than she +blushed and begged him to forgive her.</p> + +<p>"We shall stay here, shall we not?"</p> + +<p>Massimo explained that, as yet, he could not be +sure of this. He had come to Valsolda intending +to apply for the post of parish doctor, but had +abandoned the idea because the appointment appeared +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_422">[Pg 422]</span>to have been practically offered to some one else. +But this other man had now withdrawn, and there was +some hope for Massimo himself. He had therefore +decided to apply. If he failed to be appointed he +could not remain here. In that case he must try +somewhere else.</p> + +<p>"To-morrow," said he, "I am going to call on +all the mayors."</p> + +<p>"To-morrow!" Leila cried in dismay. "Shall +I not see you to-morrow, then?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you may, and perhaps not. But Leila +must realise that we cannot be together as we have +been to-day until the answers from Velo d'Astico +arrive."</p> + +<p>The girl was troubled, and murmured that she +feared she was not yet entirely Leila. Massimo did +not seem to understand, and begged her to repeat her +words.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I don't understand very well," she said. +"But I will obey. I will do everything you wish."</p> + +<p>She would have liked to follow all the paths that +led upwards, that they might never reach San +Mamette. When, near the washing-place at +Drano, they came out upon the paved way leading +to the lofty grazing-lands of Rancò, she wished to +explore the woods a few yards farther on. Everything +here suggested an excuse for lingering—the +gigantic boulders, looming out of the deep shadow, +a group of slender locusts, lost amidst the chestnuts +and walnut-trees, a huge and venerable chestnut, the +patriarch of the grove, a blue line of distant and +sun-flooded lake, showing amidst the branches, and +at last, where the path climbed upwards into the open, +the walls of rock above Dasio, rising bare and mighty, +and the slender dolomitic peak, slanting against the +sky. She was evidently very tired, but she would +gladly have mounted farther still. This, however, +Massimo refused to allow.</p> + +<p>"Leila obeys," said she.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_423">[Pg 423]</span></p> + +<p>Although ready enough to climb upwards, she +wished to rest at every step when they were descending, +at which they both laughed. Below Drano Leila +stopped to listen to the murmuring of water, hidden +beneath the spot where she stood.</p> + +<p>"I should like to know whether it is laughing +or crying," said she. "You probably think it is +laughing at me, but I believe it is weeping because +we shall reach San Mamette so soon."</p> + +<p>She inquired if they would pass the waterfall she +had seen in the morning, and on learning that they +would not, glanced at Massimo, laughing and blushing, +but without uttering her wish. It was but +slightly out of the way, however, and Massimo +yielded to her desire to go that way.</p> + +<p>There in the shadowy ravine, enclosed between +steep and wooded banks, and cut off at one end by +a wall of rock, they passed the last hour of this +memorable day, seated hand-in-hand upon a grassy +mound opposite the silver stream of falling water.</p> + +<p>"All this is like Schubert's music of 'Der Müller +und der Bach,'" said Massimo at last. "Oh for a +summer of love here alone, always alone!"</p> + +<p>Leila looked at him without speaking, so ardently +that Massimo's head swam.</p> + +<p>"I have an idea," said Leila. "I should like to +find a pool of water in which I could see to put my +hair tidy."</p> + +<p>They followed the stream downwards to a spot +where it spread peacefully, forming a quiet mirror. +From the bridge they had noticed this sheet of water +reflecting the cascade. With a smile Leila begged +Massimo to go away. He demurred somewhat, but +finally obeyed, and loitered along the Puria path. +But presently a silvery laugh called him back. +Seated upon the bank, she had let down her magnificent +fair hair, where the sun and shadow played +together. She had lost the tiny ribbon with which +she was in the habit of binding her tresses, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_424">[Pg 424]</span>finding it impossible to manage the golden mass, +was laughing at her own carelessness and awkward +plight. In her lap lay two shell combs, and she was +trying, with both hands, to form the heavy wave of +hair into a knot at her neck. She looked more lovely +than ever, and might well have been the naiad of +the waterfall. Massimo stood gazing at her, lost in +admiration, and she laughingly begged him to turn +round, for she could not possibly manage her hair +while he watched her thus. But he was unable to +take his eyes from her golden head. Yes, she might +indeed have been the naiad of the spot, the fair-haired +queen of this little kingdom of rocks, of water, and +of forest.</p> + +<p>"Stay as you are!" said he at last.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed!" cried the girl. "And pray what +would people think of you, seeing you with a wild +creature like this?"</p> + +<p>She decided to plait her hair in two braids, and +to let them hang over her shoulders. Then she +sprang lightly to her feet.</p> + +<p>"Will that do?" she inquired, turning her +laughing face towards Massimo.</p> + +<p>"It is a poem!" said he.</p> + +<p>"This Valsolda is a poem indeed," Leila murmured. +"Do you think you will be nothing but a +doctor here?"</p> + +<p>"What else should I be, dear?"</p> + +<p>She could not tell, but it seemed to her that he was +not the man to be satisfied only with paying medical +visits to the peasants.</p> + +<p>"I have no faith left," said he. He meant that +he had no faith in himself, but Leila, recalling his +letters, placed a different interpretation upon his +words.</p> + +<p>"Neither have I," said she. "And I am so glad +you no longer share the faith of those Velo priests!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dear!" cried Massimo, interrupting her. +"What was poor Signor Marcello's faith, and Donna +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_425">[Pg 425]</span>Fedele's and my own mother's? I am losing it, have +lost it already indeed, but I would not have Leila +lose it. However, I was not speaking of religious +faith. I meant faith in myself."</p> + +<p>"I have so much faith in you."</p> + +<p>Massimo smiled. She cast a rapid glance around +her, and seeing no one, bent forward to kiss him.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>It was time to start for San Mamette in earnest. +They went slowly downwards, speaking little, and +bearing themselves with prudent dignity. On +reaching the parish church brooding over the +roofs of the village, beneath a mighty crag, they +paused in front of it. Massimo had decided to +leave Leila here and go up to Muzzaglio to see his +patient once more. Leaning against the parapet +encircling the church place, they made the final +arrangements for the morrow. Massimo would not +come to San Mamette, nor would he meet her elsewhere, +but he would send her a letter towards evening +after his visits to the mayors.</p> + +<p>"A long letter, please," she begged, and promised +to write one herself, which Massimo's messenger +would carry back to him. She took the bunch of +cyclamen from her bosom, pressed it to her lips, +and then offered it to Massimo. Some one was +coming up the steps connecting the church place +with the village. Massimo kissed the cyclamen again, +and then quickly disappeared up the steep path.</p> + + +<h3>V</h3> + +<p>Shortly after nine o'clock Leila left the hotel and +climbed to the church place to find the exact spot +where Massimo had taken leave of her. Here her +intense longing seemed to find relief. On returning +to the hotel she remained at her window until nearly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_426">[Pg 426]</span>midnight, watching the fantastic flashing of the revolving +light, as it leaped from lake to stream, from +bank to bank, through the misty atmosphere, and +watching the signals glowing on Monte Bisgnago, +against the dark sky.</p> + +<p>Dreams—dreams—all was a dream! All was night +and flames, within her and around her.</p> + + + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_427">[Pg 427]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" > + CHAPTER XVII + <br> + <small>THE WHITE LADY OF THE ROSES</small> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Leila rose from her bed before dawn, and, without +waiting to dress, sat down at her table and wrote +as follows:</p> + + +<p>"The night is still dark; I am very tired, but, +nevertheless, I find it impossible to stay in bed. +I have been feeling as if you were going away from +me. I must talk to you. Last night, between nine +and ten, I went up to the church place once more, +to the place where we said goodbye. In memory +I went over all the paths we had travelled along +during the day, especially the one in the wood, where +we went soon after our meeting. I should like to +go there now if I could. I believe I should be able +to find the exact place, the very tree near which +we passed, and from which I pulled a leaf on our +return. I am covering that leaf with kisses now. +Ah, I am still Leila, Leila, Leila! But I promise +you to become Leila! Please love Leila also!</p> + +<p>"Now I am going to write what I should never +have the courage to say. Perhaps, at the bottom +of your heart, you despise me because I have come +to you thus, like a mad creature. You will despise +me still more when you learn that I came without +intending to ask anything of you, because I feel +I have no right to do so, because whatsoever you +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_428">[Pg 428]</span>may do for me, for my honour, for my life, for +my love, will be simply a noble gift. My love for +you is no sudden thing. I loved you even before +I knew you, before you came to the Montanina. +The night you arrived I listened with a beating +heart to the whistle of your train. Then I rebelled +against love. Why? From pride. The more I +loved you the more unkind and haughty did my +attitude towards you become. This is the truth. +I deserved all the bitter thoughts you harboured +against me. I came here to tell you this, and also +to place myself in your hands. And, after all, I +told you only of my love, but ah! I had no need +to tell you more.</p> + +<p>"I feared you would cast me off as unworthy. +I should have said, 'It is what I deserve!' I +should not have taken my life, for I have given +my word not to do that. I should not have entered +a convent, for I have lost my faith. I should have +arranged, in some way, to live near you, seeing you +sometimes without being seen. But you were kind +and generous. You took pity on one who has been +both proud and sinful. Your lips have pronounced +absolution, for you have said, <em>for ever!</em>—you have +said, <em>my wife!</em> The memory of this will be a never-ending +joy to me! But your gentleness terrifies +me. I tremble lest I may cause you unhappiness, +lest I be unable to maintain what I promise, lest +I fail to become Leila. I tremble because of the +evil blood that flows in my veins. Had I not +possessed this evil blood I could not have deceived +my father, my devoted maid, and that poor creature +who accompanied me to Vicenza, deceived them by +acting a part, with perfect naturalness and without +remorse.</p> + +<p>"But still, still ... still, when I reflect that you +are going to make me yours for ever, I feel that +no worshipper has ever served and adored his God +as I shall serve and adore you. I have written that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_429">[Pg 429]</span>I have lost my faith. I am a creature of passion +rather than of reason. I cannot analyse my religious +sentiments clearly for you. As long as I could +I clung to the religion of my convent school. You +may perhaps recall my aversion to innovation in +religion, to destructive yet not reconstructive ideas. +As long as I could I accepted the religion of the +archpriest and of the chaplain of Velo. Even Signor +Marcello's religion and Donna Fedele's did not seem +entirely pure to me. They spoke of the gospel as +if they had a right to interpret it, and I knew well +enough that no layman had such a right. I said to +myself, 'The whole, or nothing.' As long as I could +I accepted everything, and then, when I came to +know really well some of those who represent that +whole, and to see them intriguing together—the archpriest, +the chaplain, the archpriest's sister-in-law, my +own father, and a certain friend of his called Molesin—I +could stand it no longer, and I said, 'It shall +be nothing.'</p> + +<p>"But this nothing does not satisfy me, and I +turn to you, rejoicing that you are freed from your +old beliefs, from your ideas of a renovated +Catholicism. I ask you to give me a God whom +I can worship in the forests of Dasio, in the gorge +where the waterfall murmurs, upon the lake, and +in the bridal chamber, a God who shall not force +official mediators upon me; a God who shall ask +me for love only, and forbid me only to hate; a +God who will not torment my intelligence with incomprehensible +dogmas, nor annoy me with tedious +practices, nor expect to delight me with a paradise +and terrify me with a hell.</p> + +<p>"Shall I see you to-morrow? Did my window +overlook the street, I think I should stand by it +all day long, hoping! But my room overlooks the +courtyard. Shall I be doing wrong if I start from +San Mamette this afternoon at three o'clock, and +go and sit on the grass, opposite the waterfall? +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_430">[Pg 430]</span>Shall I be doing wrong if I linger near a half-ruined +chapel, where the path begins to descend, and where +a view of the whole valley, the rocks of Dasio, and +the dolomitic peak suddenly breaks into sight? +Would there be any harm in your passing that spot +on your way to visit your mayors?</p> + +<p>"Perhaps Leila should not write these things.</p> + +<p class="right" style="padding-right: 2em;">"<span class="smcap">Poor Leila.</span>"</p> + + +<p class="p1">Returning to bed, she slept the deep sleep of +fatigue and youth until the sun was high. She +could not wait for Alberti's messenger and sent the +boy who had been her guide to Dasio with the +letter.</p> + +<p>She did not leave her room again until two o'clock, +and spent the time in gazing upon the hills, the lake, +the clouds, the play of light and shadow, and in +dreaming and writing. She wrote to Donna Fedele, +telling of her joy at being loved and forgiven, +craving pardon once more for having left without +informing her friend of her intention, telling of the +letter she had written to her father, and begging +for news of the invalid's condition. She directed +her letter to the hospital in Turin, fearing it would +not find Donna Fedele at Arsiero. At two she went +out to buy some stamps, and on the threshold met +a messenger who was the bearer of a letter from +Massimo. He wrote:</p> + +<p>"Yesterday was such a dream, Leila, that your +letter of this morning was welcome to me if only +as a proof of the reality of those heavenly hours. +And last night, on my way to Muzzaglio, I saw +once more, and in reality, the wood where, in less +than an instant, we blotted out all the bitterness, +all the pain of the past. I did not pluck a leaf, +but I lingered there, for the delight of the memory +was overpowering. In that precious instant you were +still Leila to me. Please never again speak unkindly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_431">[Pg 431]</span> +of Leila; it hurts me. Do not speak of +kindness on my part, much less of noble actions. +Do not use the word 'pity' in connection with the +sentiment which you aroused in me when we first +met, and against which I also struggled at its birth. +Never again utter that horrible thought—which you +have never really believed—that I could despise a +woman capable of such a miracle of love and +humility. And, on my part, I will not ask you to +forgive me for my harsh early judgment of you. +I will tell you only that my love for Leila +now fills and stirs my soul like an eternal +melody.</p> + +<p>"Dearest, we will seek a faith together. I remember +your aversion to my Master and to my ideals +at the time, though I thought then that you probably +spoke in ignorance and only because you disliked me +so. Now I understand better. But—forgive me—I +still feel that if you knew those first ideals of mine +you would see that, in themselves, they were no +barrier to a religion such as you desire and long +for, a religion of the open fields and watercourses, +a religion of love and freedom from ritual. From my +letters to Donna Fedele you have learned what is my +present attitude towards dogmatic beliefs and of the +grief the overthrow of these has caused me. Only +yesterday did I cease to dwell upon this sorrow, +and I would not think of it to-day, nor to-morrow, +nor for all the time that I might have your love, +were it not for a fast approaching event to which +I cannot even allude without a feeling of deep +emotion and sadness. One who is dead has come +forth from his grave, and is drawing near me, is +seeking for me. He is my Master, the man I have +loved best in this world, the man whose wonderful +faith embraced all sinners. His body is to be +brought here the day after to-morrow in the evening. +I have this morning had a telegram to tell me. I +must go to meet him. Dearest Leila, you and I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_432">[Pg 432]</span>will indeed seek for a faith together, but the thought +of this meeting has paralysed me, I cannot tell +you how my mind is torn.</p> + +<p>"It will not be possible for me to meet you as +you have arranged. I must be at Cima at half-past +two to see the mayor. Please start from San +Mamette at that hour, and get some one to accompany +you to the Sanctuary of Caravina. When you +have passed the village of Cressogno, dismiss your +guide. You cannot miss the way, for the sanctuary +stands alone. Should we not have met before, wait +for me at the church. We will proceed to Cima +together, and you can return thence by boat to San +Mamette, while I go up to Dasio alone. Leila, my +own!</p> + +<p class="right" style="padding-right: 2em;">"M."</p> + +<p class="p1">A whistle! A steamer arriving from Oria. Leila +had forgotten to wind up her watch. She consulted +a time-table that had been placed in her room, and +concluded it must be nearly half-past two. She +sent for the boy who had accompanied her before, +and they immediately started out, walking rapidly, +and in half an hour's time she found herself at the +farther extremity of Cressogno, in sight of Caravina. +Here she dismissed her guide and went on +alone.</p> + +<p>She had brought Massimo's letter with her, and +now read it through once more, as she sauntered +slowly along the pleasant level path beneath the +olives and among the vineyards of the sunny hillside, +sloping gently downward to the lake. At about +a hundred paces from the cypresses that faced the +sanctuary she raised her eyes, and her face beamed. +Massimo was coming towards her.</p> + +<p>For a time they were silent, partly from emotion, +partly for another reason. Each felt that the other +was thinking of a shadow cast by a dead man, +and a diffidence constrained them both.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_433">[Pg 433]</span></p> + +<p>"You are sad," Leila said at last softly. "Can +I do anything to comfort you?"</p> + +<p>"Dearest," he began impulsively, as if he had +been waiting only for a word from her to pour out +his heart, "there were several things in my letter +that do not in the least express my true feelings. +I felt this somewhat while writing, but still more +strongly after the letter had left me. As long as +I possess your love I shall never feel contempt for +any one. I shall feel nothing but pity for those to +whom such a love is denied."</p> + +<p>Leila did not speak, but gazed upon him with +tender eyes. Presently she ventured to inquire +timidly about the dead friend. She remembered +that one evening after dinner, at the Montanina, +she had asked where Benedetto was buried, and that +Massimo had answered, "At Campo Verano, for the +time being."</p> + +<p>Massimo now told her everything, but without +touching upon the mental trouble he had referred +to in his letter. Leila approached it gently. She +repeated her question softly:</p> + +<p>"Can I do anything to comfort you?"</p> + +<p>As Massimo made no answer, she added:</p> + +<p>"I can see how much you still love your Master."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Massimo, "I love him still."</p> + +<p>He spoke excitedly and as if there were further +words to follow. At that moment a cloud cast a +rapid shadow over olives and vineyards, over the +path, and a long, pale-green strip of slumbering +lake along the shore. Massimo paused. Leila, convinced +that he was about to speak, gazed anxiously +at him as she waited. He did indeed wish to speak, +and was struggling to find his way amid the tumult +of thoughts and feelings that were warring within +him. The words seemed so close to his lips and +then they sank back again. He was so fully conscious +of this that he never doubted she would not +understand him when he cried sadly at last:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_434">[Pg 434]</span></p> + +<p>"I cannot!"</p> + +<p>He stepped away from the olive-tree against which +he had been leaning, and begged Leila to go on, for +the sky looked threatening over towards Lugano, and +a suspicious mist hung over Caprino and San +Salvatore. She obeyed sadly. She was pained that +he should not have relieved his feelings, and also +because she vaguely realised her own powerlessness. +Massimo, feeling that he had grieved her, took her +arm, and began stroking her hand tenderly. She +laid her right hand upon her left, that both might +share in his caresses, and so, in silence, they advanced +towards Cima. In the village they heard an old +piano quavering: <em>Sola, furtiva al tempio....</em></p> + +<p>Massimo paused, and stood listening.</p> + +<p>"The prelude to love!" said he. Leila glanced +at him in astonishment. What could he mean? On +learning that Massimo had been greatly moved by +that melody, which he had heard on the night of his +arrival at the Montanina, while the whole house slept, +she blushed and smiled.</p> + +<p>"It was not I who was playing," she said.</p> + +<p>"Not you?"</p> + +<p>"No; it was Signor Marcello."</p> + +<p>She had flushed hotly, fearing he would be disappointed, +and his face did indeed show some slight +disappointment. But he saw at once her distressed +look, and laughed heartily at his own mistake. She +joined in so readily, that he began to suspect she had +been jesting, and begged her to tell him the truth.</p> + +<p>"It <em>was</em> you who was playing!" he cried.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes!" said she, flinging up her head and +smiling, as was her wont at happy moments. "Yes, +I was playing!"</p> + +<p>Massimo did not know whether to believe her or +not, and both laughed in turn, without further discussion, +until the noise of distant wheels told them +that the steamer had left Porlezza, and was nearing +Cima. Now there was a little tussle. Massimo, half +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_435">[Pg 435]</span>serious, half in jest, proposed that they should not +meet on the morrow. They might expect an answer +from Leila's father or from Donna Fedele by +Monday. Leila protested. No matter what the +answer might be, it could not change anything, and +on Monday, answer or no answer, she was going with +him to meet Benedetto's body. It was decided at +last that early on the following morning he would +send her a letter containing the plans for the day.</p> + +<p>Once on board the boat, she took up her position +near the stern, and remained gazing at Massimo, +who was standing on the landing-stage, as long as +she could see him.</p> + + +<h3>II</h3> + +<p>At six o'clock she dined in her own room, and then +sat down to write to Massimo. Towards seven she +heard the whistle of the steamer from Oria, and +went to the window to see it pass, returning afterwards +to her writing. Suddenly there was a knock +at her door. It was the housemaid. Two ladies +had arrived by the boat, and were asking for the +Signorina. Leila inquired their names. The girl +did not know. What were they like, then? They +were both elderly; one was short and the other tall. +The tall one had white hair, and appeared to be +very ill. Leila sprang to her feet. Donna Fedele! +Was it possible? Bewildered and in silence she stared +at the girl, who went on to say that she had heard +the lady with the white hair inquire of the proprietor +if Dr. Alberti were also at the hotel. No further +doubt was possible. At a bound Leila reached the +door, thrust the girl aside, and flew down the stairs.</p> + +<p>In the narrow entrance-hall she saw Donna Fedele +sitting, while Cousin Eufemia stood near, talking with +the proprietor.</p> + +<p>"You?" she cried, and would have flung herself +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_436">[Pg 436]</span>into her friend's arms had not the old cousin +restrained her.</p> + +<p>"The poor Signora," said the proprietor, who was +holding a tray with a small glass of Marsala, "is +greatly fatigued."</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele, whose face was as colourless as +her hair, forced a sweet smile, while her beautiful +voice said painfully:</p> + +<p>"This is a surprise, is it not? Are you quite +well, and did you have a pleasant journey?"</p> + +<p>Leila could not keep back her tears.</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut!" said Donna Fedele. "What in the +world are you crying about? Are you sorry to see +me here?"</p> + +<p>"Poor Signorina!" said the sympathetic proprietor; +"it is only because she is so delighted." +He was sure there was some mystery, but he did +not know what it was.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Cousin Eufemia was trying to persuade +the invalid to taste the Marsala. Donna Fedele had +almost fainted on entering the hotel. They had +hastened to place her upon a chair, and some minutes +had elapsed before she was able to ask the proprietor +if a young lady, travelling alone, were stopping +in his house, and if Dr. Alberti were there also.</p> + +<p>The Marsala restored her somewhat, and Leila +also succeeded in calming herself. She arranged +that the invalid should have her room, which was +the best double-room that was available, and that she +should have a small one next to it.</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele now declared that she felt strong +enough to mount the stairs and go to bed, adding, +with a touch of her old love of teasing, that her companion, +having excited the admiration and curiosity +of the natives, was now at liberty to go for a walk +and show herself.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, nonsense!" laughed the delighted +Eufemia. "The Lord and Our Lady be praised, you +are better again!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_437">[Pg 437]</span></p> + +<p>With difficulty, leaning upon Leila's arm and +pausing at every step, Donna Fedele reached the +top at last, and entered her room, where Leila and +Cousin Eufemia hastened to get her into bed.</p> + +<p>As she helped to undress her friend Leila was +horrified by her emaciation, and by the signs +of illness. She said nothing in Cousin Eufemia's +presence, but as soon as the little old woman had +gone out of the room, Leila flung herself upon her +knees, and seizing the hand that hung beside the +bed, kissed it passionately.</p> + +<p>"What have you done, child?" said Donna +Fedele.</p> + +<p>She did not understand that the young girl was +shedding tears of compassion for her, for the sublime +and single-hearted woman whom she had wronged, +and who had come to her, sick and fainting, as the +tenderest of mothers might have come; while she +herself, absorbed in her love, had given so little +thought to her and to her terrible sufferings. Leila +sobbed out:</p> + +<p>"I am happy, dear friend—so happy! I did wrong +not to tell you, but I did right in coming here."</p> + +<p>"You did right?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. He loves me—he is going to marry me. +He is so noble, so good! We had written to you all +about it."</p> + +<p>"'He is going to marry me'!" Donna Fedele +repeated. "I should think so after what has +happened!"</p> + +<p>Leila, still on her knees, raised her head.</p> + +<p>"Why?" said she. "It is not his duty for him +to marry me."</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele silently withdrew her hand from +Leila's clasp, and placing it upon her head, said +softly:</p> + +<p>"Who knows what strange ideas of duty this little +head may contain!"</p> + +<p>It was dark in the room, and Donna Fedele could +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_438">[Pg 438]</span>not see the sudden flame in Leila's eyes, but she heard +it in her voice and in her excited utterance.</p> + +<p>"Why should it be his duty? It was I who came +to him. He loves me, but at the same time something +brotherly in his affection would protect me even +against myself, if that were necessary."</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele smiled and stroked the young girl's +hair tenderly.</p> + +<p>"It is necessary—very necessary," said she.</p> + +<p>Leila took the hand that had been caressing her +hair, and pressing her face upon it, murmured:</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it is."</p> + +<p>"For shame, for shame!" her friend cried.</p> + +<p>While Donna Fedele, who had withdrawn her hand, +was thus chiding the kneeling girl, patting her head +somewhat sharply the while, the searchlight flashed +through the room, and they heard a scream from +Cousin Eufemia. Even Donna Fedele had been +startled. Her terrified cousin came bustling in to +close the windows, exclaiming: "Oh, poor me! +What an awful thunderstorm we are going to have!" +and Leila had to explain where the light came from +before she went away, soothed. Donna Fedele now +wanted every detail of Leila's life during the past +three days. The girl gave a colourless account of +her doings, and then asked permission to inform +Massimo at once of their friend's arrival. Donna +Fedele herself desired this, but protested that she +would not see him until the morrow. Leila went +into the next room and wrote a few hurried lines, +telling Massimo also how ill Donna Fedele was, and +then begged the hotel proprietor to have the note +carried to Dasio immediately.</p> + +<p>Cousin Eufemia, who, in spite of her fatigue, was +fully determined not to go to bed until all her preparations +for the night were completed, and a supply +of broth, mineral water, and Marsala placed in the +invalid's room, took Leila aside and implored her, +with tears in her eyes, to arrange so that, should it +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_439">[Pg 439]</span>prove necessary, a physician might be sent for. She +trembled for Fedele, who, by this time, ought to have +been in the Turin hospital.</p> + +<p>"She thinks she will die," said Eufemia. "She +went to confession and received Communion the day +before yesterday, and yesterday she sent for her confessor +again. If we could only get off to Turin +to-morrow! But I am sure she will not wish +to go."</p> + +<p>Leila, frightened and distressed, went to inquire +about the doctor. The physician who was on duty +for the time being lived at Cadate, not ten minutes' +walk from San Mamette. Leila insisted upon +relieving poor old Eufemia, and sitting up with the +invalid at least part of the night. But Eufemia would +not agree to this.</p> + +<p>"I must sit on a chair," said she, "for if I lie +down, even in my clothes, I shall go fast asleep at +once. With my rosary, and my mind fixed on Our +Blessed Lady of Consolation, I shall be better off +than in bed."</p> + +<p>Leila was obliged to give way. She sent word +to the proprietor that the person to whom she had +sent the note might perhaps come, some time before +midnight, to inquire for the invalid. She did not go +to bed, but often went to listen at her friend's door. +Once she heard Donna Fedele ordering her cousin +to lie down. Eufemia resisted for a time, but Fedele +raised her voice, and the old woman was obliged to +obey, having first stipulated that she would not undress. +Again Donna Fedele made a request in a low +tone, and Cousin Eufemia began reciting the rosary. +The young girl brought a chair and sat down by +the door, determined to spend the night there, prepared +to enter the room should it be necessary.</p> + +<p>She was sure that Alberti would start as soon +as he received her note, and was therefore not surprised +when he arrived towards half-past eleven. +Hearing voices at the door of the hotel, Leila went +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_440">[Pg 440]</span>downstairs. Massimo was very troubled, and was +still more distressed by the account of the invalid. +They discussed the advisability of his seeing Donna +Fedele at once, should she be awake. Leila did not +think it wise, and so he went to the room he had +ordered for himself, begging Leila to call him immediately +in case of need, and to send for the Cadate +doctor as well.</p> + +<p>Leila was alone in the dark corridor, while the +entire household slept. Yesterday there had been +light in her heart, and to-day there was shadow. +For her sake, entirely for her sake, Donna Fedele +lay there suffering, perhaps dying. She felt almost +as if she now loved Massimo less, and she wept +silently, biting her lip that she might not sob aloud. +A small voice did indeed whisper to her that Donna +Fedele had not been obliged to come, that it had +not been necessary, and that she would have done +better to go to Turin. Leila would have listened to +this voice willingly enough, had her motherly friend +come to her in good health, and with reproaches +on her lips. But she had come in so pitiful a plight, +so kindly, and with such tenderness in her words and +upon her face! And to whom did she owe her +happiness if not to this friend, who had paved the +way to it?</p> + +<p>Towards two o'clock she feared she would fall +asleep, and rising softly, went to her room and stood +by the open window that the cool air might banish +her drowsiness. She saw a light shining beyond +another open window. Perhaps Massimo was lying +awake in that room. She withdrew from the window, +for she shrank from seeing him and being seen by +him at that moment. She listened to the whisperings +of the night, the gentle lap of the placid lake, the +leap of a fish, the hooting of an owl in the distance, +and presently, on resuming her post at Donna Fedele's +door, she became conscious that her love was undergoing +a transformation, that contact with painful +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_441">[Pg 441]</span>reality was imparting to it an earnestness and a +depth it had lacked before.</p> + +<p>At four she heard Donna Fedele ask for something. +Cousin Eufemia got out of bed, and ran +against a chair, at which Donna Fedele laughed +softly. After this all was quiet until morning.</p> + + +<h3>III</h3> + +<p>At half-past six Cousin Eufemia, who had come +out of the room at six, leaving Donna Fedele asleep, +cautiously opened the door again, and seeing that +the invalid was awake, entered on tiptoe.</p> + +<p>"Dr. Alberti is here," said she.</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele turned painfully on her side, so +that her face was towards the door, and said:</p> + +<p>"Let him come in."</p> + +<p>Massimo entered briskly, his tall person slightly +bent, his face wearing an expression of eager satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"What a pleasure!" he exclaimed, partly from +force of habit, partly to deceive himself and her, +although he was fully aware that those words were +not the most appropriate he could have uttered on +meeting a friend whose condition was so much more +serious than when he had last seen her.</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele smiled.</p> + +<p>"I don't know about the pleasure!" said she, +and held out her hand, which he kissed.</p> + +<p>"But why did you undertake this trying journey? +I assure you it was entirely unnecessary. How could +you doubt——"</p> + +<p>Massimo had been about to add "that I should +act as a Christian and a gentleman?" But he +checked himself, and flushed hotly, for the word +"Christian," after his last letter to the woman who +was now listening to him, would have scorched his +lips.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_442">[Pg 442]</span></p> + +<p>Donna Fedele gazed at him in silence, but with a +scrutiny so penetrating that his colour deepened still +more.</p> + +<p>"It will depend upon you and Leila," she said, +"to make this the best action of my whole life."</p> + +<p>Failing to grasp her meaning, Massimo made no +answer.</p> + +<p>"And now," said he at last, breaking a silence +that was embarrassing, "allow me to act the part of +a doctor."</p> + +<p>But with a slow shake of her forefinger, the invalid +refused. Greatly disappointed, Massimo asked the +reason of this refusal. She replied that she did not +need a doctor, that indeed she herself had come to +act the part of physician both to Leila and himself. +But not at once. At present she wished to +know what these young people intended to do. On +hearing that Leila had written to her father, and was +waiting for an answer, she pointed out that it was +absolutely certain to be a refusal, and that, answer +or no answer, the girl could not remain here.</p> + +<p>"God will give me strength to take her back to +her own home," said she, "or at least to the Villino +for a few days."</p> + +<p>Thereupon Massimo told her what Leila had +written to her father, and the reason for anticipating +a favourable answer. Donna Fedele readily admitted +this, and was furthermore pleased to learn that +Massimo had hopes of being appointed physician to +the Commune of Valsolda. But it was none the less +necessary that Leila should go away with her, and +Massimo at once recognised this necessity. He +believed, however, that it would be difficult to persuade +Leila, but this he did not say.</p> + +<p>"Call her," said Donna Fedele.</p> + +<p>Leila came, but on learning what was proposed +the colour fled from her face.</p> + +<p>"No, no!" she cried, rather beseechingly than +in protest.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_443">[Pg 443]</span></p> + +<p>Donna Fedele called her a foolish child, and +assured her that, as she and Massimo had come to +an understanding, matters would of necessity take +their natural course. Was it possible she could not +see the impropriety, the impossibility of her remaining +in Valsolda? Leila hastened to explain. She had +hoped Donna Fedele would remain a few days, that +this rest and quiet might benefit her. Then she, +Leila, would have gone to Turin with her friend. +Of course she was sorry to leave Valsolda, but it was +the bare thought of returning to Velo that horrified +her. Her coming of age and becoming her own +mistress was simply a question of months now, of +a very few months. Donna Fedele pointed out that +in Turin she would be left entirely on her own +resources.</p> + +<p>"If your father would consent," she said, after +a few moments' reflection, "I could leave you at +Santhià, with my cousin."</p> + +<p>After a brief discussion it was decided that Donna +Fedele should rest to-day, see the Cadate doctor +to-morrow, and, should he consent, start with Leila, +sending a telegram to another cousin to meet the +girl at the Santhià station, while Eufemia, who +had recovered her box, over which she had begun +to sigh frequently in private, should continue the +journey with the invalid. Letters coming to San +Mamette for Leila would be sent on to the Santhià +address. Donna Fedele determined to act without +waiting for Sior Momi's permission. He had always +shown himself most deferential towards her, while her +cousin's house at Santhià was so safe a refuge, and +Leila so abhorred the idea of going back to Velo, +that she felt she had the right to decide on her own +responsibility.</p> + +<p>The long talk had exhausted her small stock of +strength, and she begged for an hour's rest and +silence. She made another request, that Massimo +would return to Dasio, and that Leila would make +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_444">[Pg 444]</span>up her mind not to see him again until that evening +between six and seven o'clock, and then only in her, +Donna Fedele's, presence. She felt the share she +had had in bringing about Leila's mad flight, and +her responsibility weighed upon her more than it +would upon a real mother. Leila showed signs of +rebellion.</p> + +<p>"Leila, dearest Leila!" said Massimo, with a +smile. As by enchantment the little wild animal, +with flaming eyes, was tamed. He wished it to be +so, and that was enough. Donna Fedele started.</p> + +<p>"How is this? You have changed your name?"</p> + +<p>"Only for him," said Leila, blushing. "But for +him, I have really changed it."</p> + +<p>"But why?"</p> + +<p>With a rapid gesture Leila checked Massimo's explanation, +and implored Donna Fedele not to press +her for reasons.</p> + +<p>"It will be far better for you to call me Leila, +also," said she.</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele shook her head, and made a gesture +as if to say: "Who can make anything out of +this extraordinary pair?" And here the conversation +ended.</p> + + +<h3>IV</h3> + +<p>It was Sunday, and on Saturday, in obedience to +Donna Fedele's orders, Cousin Eufemia had sought +information concerning the whereabouts of the +church and the hours of the different services. She +had learned that the church, on the hillside above +the town, could only be reached by a flight of very +steep steps, and that the one Mass celebrated there +was at nine o'clock. Nor were there any other +churches in the neighbourhood which were easier of +access. She saw well enough that her cousin was +in no condition to go to Mass, but nevertheless, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_445">[Pg 445]</span>she did not dare to go herself without informing +the invalid of her intention. At half-past eight, +therefore, she told her. Donna Fedele sent for +Leila.</p> + +<p>"Go to Mass with Eufemia," said she. "Unfortunately, +I am not well enough to go. You must +hear it for me."</p> + +<p>Leila was anxious to stay with her, but she would +not hear of this. "No, dear," said she, "I insist +upon your going," and added that, had it been necessary, +Eufemia could have stopped with her. As +Leila still hesitated, she asked with a smile if, in +order to obtain a favour from her, she must call her +Leila. The young girl made no answer, but started +immediately with Cousin Eufemia.</p> + +<p>Donna Fedele was suffering. Sharp pains had +begun to torment her during her interview with +Massimo, and still continued. This was no new form +of suffering—she had had these pains before; now, +however, she could not help recognising how weak was +her power of resistance. She took her Prayer Book +and sought to read the prayers of the Mass, but she +could not, and presently her hand sank heavily upon +the coverlet, and the little book fell to the floor. +A heavy perspiration drenched her brow, and coursed +down her thin cheeks; but no groan escaped her +lips. Shortly before her cousin and Leila returned +from Mass the pains grew less severe, and during +the first moment of comparative ease she murmured +aloud to herself:</p> + +<p>"My dear Fedele, you will never leave this +place!"</p> + +<p>However, she found strength to receive them +calmly on their return, and in answer to their anxious +questions, said she had indeed been suffering some +slight pain, but that she was better now. She +asked for a little Marsala, and her voice betrayed +extreme exhaustion. Leila proposed sending for the +doctor.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_446">[Pg 446]</span></p> + +<p>"Send for him if you will," said the invalid, +smiling, "but mind you send for the right one!"</p> + +<p>Leila blushed, and explained that she had meant +to allude to the Cadate doctor, and not to Massimo +at all.</p> + +<p>Cousin Eufemia's heart was full of misgivings, for +she reflected that, if Fedele consented to see the +doctor, she must be feeling very ill indeed. The +sufferer sent her to see that the physician was +summoned, and then begged Leila to pick up the +Prayer Book, and read her the following words of +St. Augustine's:</p> + +<p>"And now it is time that I should come to Thee +for all eternity. Open Thy door to me, and teach +me how to reach Thy threshold. I possess nought +save a willing heart, and I know nothing save that +the things of the world and all frailties are to be +shunned, while the things of eternity and of truth +are to be sought after. This is all my wisdom; and +how to reach Thee I know not. I beseech Thee, +therefore, to watch for me, to enlighten me, and to +set my feet upon the right path. If those who +find a refuge in Thee reach Thee through faith, +then give me faith; if this be obtained through +virtue, then grant me to be virtuous; and if knowledge +lead to Thee, then give me knowledge. Cause +faith, hope, and charity to increase within me, through +Thine own admirable and singular bounty."</p> + +<p>At the opening words Leila had shuddered. Was +this a forewarning of the end? As she read on, it no +longer appeared so, but her first impression did not +fade, and it sounded in her voice until the end of the +paragraph.</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said Donna Fedele, gently and +seriously. "When I shall have crossed that threshold +I hope you will sometimes pray thus, in memory +of your poor old friend."</p> + +<p>Leila seized her hand and kissed it. After that +the invalid lay without speaking until the arrival of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_447">[Pg 447]</span>the doctor. His visit was to little purpose, for he +was not allowed to make the thorough examination +that alone could have enlightened him. Donna +Fedele told him of the operation, and said that she +had intended leaving for Turin on the morrow, but +would not do so without his permission. She therefore +requested him to come again the next morning +and give his verdict. Meeting Leila in the corridor, +the doctor told her he had found the patient's heart in +an extremely weak state, and that he feared the worst.</p> + +<p>Massimo came at six o'clock. The invalid was +free from pain. Cousin Eufemia, greatly distressed +because Fedele had left off teasing her, kept glancing +from Leila to Massimo with questioning eyes which +were full of dread and anguish. Silence and the +absence of the familiar smile terrified the watchers, +but each shrank from confessing this fear to the +others. At seven o'clock Donna Fedele begged her +cousin to leave the room for a time, and signed to +the two young people to come to her bedside. She +asked Leila if she had received an answer from +Velo. No, it was not possible yet.</p> + +<p>It was apparent that she intended to introduce +another topic, and was finding it difficult to connect +it with this preamble. She thought for a time, and +presently spoke.</p> + +<p>"If Leila has really made up her mind to give +up her fortune," she began, "there is no use +discussing the matter. But she is young. The day +will come when the Montanina will be at your disposal, +and I entreat you both not to forsake it. +Did I not fear to burden you with such a charge, +I would also beg you to have a Mass celebrated +once a year, for the repose of my soul, at Santa +Maria ad Montes, and——"</p> + +<p>She paused, stretched out her thin hands to the +two young people, and, finding her familiar smile +once more, finished the sentence.</p> + +<p>"—and to be present at it."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_448">[Pg 448]</span></p> + +<p>They pressed her hands in silence, and the +sufferer's beautiful dark eyes shone. She seemed to +be a little stronger, and requested Massimo to look +out the trains for her, in case she should be able +to start on the morrow. By leaving San Mamette +shortly after ten, the travellers would reach Santhià +at six in the afternoon, and Turin at half-past seven. +Massimo would go with them as far as Porto Ceresio. +Leila asked timidly:</p> + +<p>"Why not as far as Milan?"</p> + +<p>He explained to her in an undertone that he could +not do so. That other traveller from Rome would +reach Porto Ceresio from Milan eight minutes before +their arrival there from Lugano, and the steamer +he had chartered would start for Oria at once.</p> + +<p>"You cannot come?" said Donna Fedele, who had +not heard his explanation. "Ah!" she added. +"Perhaps for the reason of which Don Aurelio +informed me."</p> + +<p>Massimo was unaware that she had met Don +Aurelio in Milan, and they now spoke of him, of his +poverty, and of his untroubled soul. Donna Fedele +mentioned the conditions that had made him decide +to accompany the body.</p> + +<p>"Could they not have left those poor bones to +rest in peace in Rome?" she said.</p> + +<p>Leila glanced at Massimo, who made no answer.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Towards midnight Donna Fedele had another +attack of severe pain. By dawn she was easier, +but the doctor from Cadate who saw her at six +found her feverish, and naturally pronounced the +journey to be impossible. At ten Massimo started +for Porto Ceresio, expecting to be back at Oria with +the private steamer by two in the afternoon. From +the Albogasio cemetery, where Benedetto was to be +buried, it was only a quarter of an hour's walk to +San Mamette.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_449">[Pg 449]</span></p> + + +<h3>V</h3> + +<p>Pale, and with a beating heart, Massimo stood +at the entrance to the Porto Ceresio station, waiting +to see among the passengers by the train from Milan, +which was late, the familiar faces of Don Aurelio and +of the friends from Rome, who were expected to +arrive at the same time as the body. There was no +one of his acquaintance in the train. The first impression, +which was almost a relief, was quickly followed +by one of vexation that he should not have +been notified of the delay, and that he should have +left Leila and Donna Fedele so much earlier than +was necessary. He consulted the station-master, who +could give him no information, but promised to +telegraph to Milan for news. Massimo went to wait +at the station café, on the railed terrace overlooking +the lake.</p> + +<p>Here, in the presence of the peaceful waters +reflecting the green mountains, his quiet thoughts +also reflected three figures. One was that of +the beloved and fiery-souled girl; a second was +that of the sweet woman who had come for the +sake of the fiery-souled girl and for his own sake, +who had come to die, perhaps, in a strange house, +moved by a love of a nature different indeed, but +infinitely more lofty and serene. A third figure was +that of Benedetto, standing at a greater distance, +and at once loved and feared. This last figure suddenly +drew near to him, and stood alive before him +once more. He felt his dying Master's hand upon +his head, could almost feel his arm about his neck, +the arm that was too weak to press him close. He +heard the feeble voice saying, "Be holy!" and he +heard the words, "Let each one perform his religious +duties as the Church prescribes, according to strict +justice, and with perfect obedience." He reflected +that yesterday—Sunday—he had neglected to go to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_450">[Pg 450]</span>Mass. This had never happened before. The +breaking away from the Church in thought had been +an easier matter than the breaking away from her +external practices, than the breaking with long-standing +habits, an act which seemed almost an offence +to his beloved dead. A slight twinge of conscience +roused him, admonishing him to assert his will against +these dangerous impulses, proceeding from a sentiment +but imperfectly dominated by reason. The +painful conflict that for days had been going on +within his soul, and that had become more violent +on the news of the arrival of the dead Benedetto, +was now reaching the acute stage. The oft-repeated +and alternating prevalence of one impulse over +another was weakening that of reason, while the +impulse of sentiment—a force that never lies dormant, +that knows no doubt, and tends constantly to reconquer +lost ground—grew ever more vigorous as the +meeting with the dead friend grew nearer.</p> + +<p>Massimo scanned the surface of the distant waters +over towards the point of Melide for the special +steamer that, by this time, should have been in port. +The lake was deserted in that direction. There were +only two small boats to be seen between Morcote +and Brusino Arsizio. This second delay was a +mystery also. Once more he sought out the station-master. +Milan had answered that nothing had +arrived there, but that some other persons having +also made inquiries, a telegram had been sent to +Bologna, and that the answer would be forwarded +to Porto Ceresio as soon as it was received. Massimo +went back to the café, and at last discovered the +white prow of a steamer coming from Melide, and +keeping well in the middle of the lake. A slight +breeze had sprung up. Now a breath would break +the surface of the water into azure ripples above the +green reflections of the mountains; then the breath +would die down, and the reflections reappear. This +new unrest of wind and lake seemed to the young +man an unrest of waiting, like his own.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_451">[Pg 451]</span></p> + +<p>To Massimo's amazement the special steamer +arrived crowded with people. The fact was quickly +explained, however. The people of Albogasio looked +upon Piero Maironi as a benefactor. They had +chartered the steamer to Oria at their own expense, +and had started, more than one hundred strong and +led by their parish priest, to meet the dead son of +Franco and Luisa.</p> + +<p>On learning that there was no news of the body, +these poor souls were somewhat disconcerted, but +presently the station-master came to tell Massimo +that he had been notified from Milan that the body +would reach Porto Ceresio at eight in the evening. +It was then half-past two. Massimo telegraphed +news of the delay to San Mamette. The Albogasio +people, who had feared that they had gone to useless +expense, and had lost a day's work as well, +now appeared quite satisfied, despite the prospect +of a wait of nearly six hours. There was some +grumbling on the part of those who had come unprovided +either with food or money, but they +grumbled submissively. These good people would +have suffered the pangs of hunger uncomplainingly, +had not Massimo and their parish priest arranged +to provide them with bread at least, while those +provident ones who had brought food with them +showed themselves willing to share with the others. +A sense of gentle pity and of gratitude towards the +deceased, gentle memories of other dear departed +souls, a solemn demonstration of deep and unsullied +faith, bore witness to the presence of so many other +virtues in the hearts of this humble flock, that Massimo +was profoundly touched. The parish priest made +known to him a woman called Leu, who remembered +Benedetto's parents, and who could not say enough in +praise of <em>Sciora Luisa</em>. But the others were discussing +the man who had disappeared years ago +from Oria, leaving no trace, and whose dead body +was now returning. They spoke of the sensation +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_452">[Pg 452]</span>that disappearance had caused, of the many mistaken +suppositions, and of the good priest, a stranger in +these parts, who had seen to it that the charitable +dispositions of him who had disappeared were carried +out. A few old people remembered the other Piero, +the uncle, Engineer Ribera.</p> + +<p>Shortly after five o'clock a telegram from Don +Aurelio informed Massimo that he was about to +start from Milan with the body. When Massimo +had read the telegram he handed it to the priest from +Albogasio, and walking away without a word, began +to follow a deserted path along the shore, on the +left of the landing-stage. He continued walking +slowly up and down here for nigh on three hours, +without being able to formulate a single thought, +until evening's welcome shadows fell.</p> + +<p>When the train entered the station the darkness +was profound, for storm-clouds now lay massed +in the sky, where no moon shone. The people +from Albogasio had invaded the station, carrying +lighted candles and flaring torches, and led by +their priest, in surplice and stole. Don Aurelio +and Massimo's Roman friends alighted silently and +with grave faces. Massimo, shaken by a nervous +trembling, bit his lip that he might not sob aloud. +Short and measured greetings marked the solemnity +of the moment, and many of the bystanders were +weeping. Railway employees, carrying lanterns, +opened the freight-car that contained the body. +Massimo and the young men from Rome stepped +forward. Some slight confusion ensued, and excited +voices were heard. Don Aurelio commanded silence +in a tone of authority, and once more all was +quiet as the coffin appeared, borne towards the +station entrance on the shoulders of six young men, +of whom Massimo was one. The few passengers the +train had brought had all passed out. One woman +only, dressed in mourning, and accompanied by a +maid, followed the funeral procession on board the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_453">[Pg 453]</span>steamer. No one knew who she was, and even the +glare of the torches failed to reveal her face, hidden +by a thick veil.</p> + +<p>Amidst deep silence the bier was placed upon the +fore-deck, and covered with a black pall ornamented +with a silver fringe. Amidst deep silence +also those who bore lights lined up on either side of +the deck. The priest took up his position in front +of the pilot-house, and facing the bier. Still in deep +silence the rest of the little flock huddled in the +stern, leaving the space clear between the candle-bearers +and the bier. Don Aurelio, Massimo, and +the young men from Rome stationed themselves +beside the priest. Without a word of command, +the gang-plank was withdrawn from the landing-stage, +the crew pushed the steamer off, the captain +bent over his speaking-tube, the pistons creaked, and +slowly and heavily the paddles beat upon the water. +When the boat had swung half round, and brought +her prow towards the upper lake, the parish priest +of Albogasio began intoning the rosary. The assembly +responded, and the combined and steady sounds of +the pistons, the paddles, and the water, cleft by the +prow, formed a deep-toned accompaniment to the +monotonous chant. Like a phantom ship the vessel +thus broke the silence of the quiet lake and of the +sleeping shores, broke the darkness with two shining +lines of funeral candles.</p> + +<p>Massimo kept his eyes fixed on the black pall with +its silver fringe. The love that the dead man had +once borne him, the calumnies, the insults, the outrages +of every description for which that poor body +and the spirit that moved it had been the mark; the +thought of his own desertion, which had come so near +accomplishment, while others, like these friends from +Rome standing here beside him, had remained loyal +to the beloved memory, despite the contempt, the +derision, and the animosity of the world—all these +thoughts formed within him a confused tumult of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_454">[Pg 454]</span>love, grief, and remorse that completely unmanned +him, and slipping away quietly, he went down to the +cabin and wept bitterly, his sobs mingling with the +combined and steady sounds of the pistons, the +paddles, and the flying foam.</p> + +<p>"No, no, dear friend! I will not forsake you! +I am coming back to you! I am coming back!"</p> + +<p>He had not noticed the presence at the farther +end of the cabin of the two women who had been in +the train. When his sobbing had become less violent, +and he had risen to his feet, seeking to compose +himself before going on deck once more, she who +appeared to be the maid rose and came towards +him.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, sir," said she, "but can you +tell me whether any one will speak at the grave?"</p> + +<p>Massimo, who was taken by surprise, hesitated an +instant, and then replied in the affirmative. The +maid thanked him, and then returned to the dark +corner where the lady in mourning was sitting. The +young man went up the steps, and had nearly reached +the deck when the maid addressed him once more.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, sir, but are you going to +speak?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Massimo.</p> + +<p>The woman thanked him.</p> + +<p>This was a fresh grief to Massimo, for it showed +him that there were those who expected the favourite +disciple to speak the last farewell, while he had +refused, and now, at this eleventh hour, he would be +entirely unable to find fitting language. Grief he +felt, and astonishment as well. Why had these +women supposed he would speak? Did they know +him? Presently he went back to the place where he +had stood before. The priest had finished reciting +the rosary, and now all was silent, only the sounds +of moving things could be heard, while the shadows +that were cleft at the prow of the phantom ship by +the glow of the candles foregathered once more +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_455">[Pg 455]</span>about the stern, in a darkness that was deeper still. +When they had passed the Melide Bridge, some one +standing behind the priest said, in a loud voice:</p> + +<p>"<em>De profundis.</em>"</p> + +<p>A hundred voices began intoning the <em>De profundis</em>. +When the psalm was half over, the steamer, which was +making straight for the dark outline of the point of +Caprino, suddenly came to a standstill. The chant +was quickly interrupted. A great black shadow, set +with shining points, passed within fifty yards of them, +cutting across the steamer's path. But few were +aware of this shadow, and of the danger of a +collision between the ship of Death and that other +vessel. Those few shuddered in silence. Once more +the pistons creaked, and once more the psalm was +taken up. In the broad basin between Campione +and Lugano the darkness encompassing the funereal +illumination that shone on the fore-deck appeared +less deep. On all sides majestic profiles stood out +in black relief against the sky. The lights of Lugano +outlined the curve of the bay. As the boat sped +towards Caprino, the lights of Castagnola, of Gandria, +and at last the formidable summits and the distant +waters of Valsolda, with the lightning flashes from +the torpedo-boat, were revealed in rapid succession. +Massimo took Don Aurelio's arm.</p> + +<p>"You are going to speak?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio replied that he was, and as he felt +the young man draw him towards him, immediately +understood that there was something further he +wished to say.</p> + +<p>"I have returned to Christ and the Church!" said +Massimo, trembling violently. "I have returned but +now!"</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio folded him in a close embrace, and +whispered softly, in a voice that was full of joy:</p> + +<p>"Dear, dear friend, let us thank God! You have +lifted a great weight from my heart!"</p> + +<p>Don Aurelio told him presently that he was much +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_456">[Pg 456]</span>pleased with these young men who had come from +Rome, and that the misrepresentations and intemperance +of certain innovators had produced a salutary +reaction in their minds, so much so that, were it +not too late, he would have greatly preferred to +entrust the task of speaking at the grave to one of +them.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the boat had passed Gandria. The +dazzling eye of the torpedo-boat flashed upon Don +Aurelio and Massimo, who were going towards the +fore-deck. The brilliance swept the vessel fore +and aft, following it on its way, then suddenly forsook +it. Upon the black brow of Bisgnago, over against +the sky, the electric signals were glowing like flames +upon a sublime altar, whence prayers were ascending +for the valleys below. The shore at Oria was +crowded with people who had come from Castello +and from San Mamette, to meet the body. Those +who, from this spot, witnessed the slow growth of the +point of light advancing out of the west across the +black waters, the flashing around it of the silvery +ray that seemed to be guarding its path, the sublime +flames upon the mountain-top, and the silent eagerness +of the crowd, were filled with a sense as of a +mysterious solemnity in which both heaven and earth +were taking part. And aboard the boat also the +travellers, as they approached the end of their +journey, were experiencing a feeling of trepidation +for which they could not account. The parish priest +gave an order; the black pall was removed; Massimo +and Benedetto's other youthful disciples stood forth, +ready to raise the bier. The woman who seemed +to be a maid came on deck, asked a question, and +going down to the first-class cabin once more, +presently reappeared with the veiled lady. They +went as far astern as possible, evidently desiring +to be the last to leave the boat. The steamer came +alongside the pier, and the gangway was thrown +across. Six young men, of whom Massimo was again +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_457">[Pg 457]</span>one, raised the bier. Some orders were heard and +a few words of warning or reproof, but immediately +all was silence once more. The parish priest stepped +ashore first, then came the disciples with their burden, +while the bearers of candles followed close behind. +Then slowly and decorously the other passengers +crossed the gangway, the two women last of all. +The silent procession passed under a portico, across +a small square, through a first dark passage, and +then through a second, which lay beneath the house +that had belonged to the dead man, and so reached +the church, the very church where, but a few years +before, Don Giuseppe Flores had learned of the flight +of him who was now brought here for his humble +burial. The candles on the high-altar were already +alight. In an instant the church was full of people +and of lighted candles. The veiled lady would not +have been able to enter at all had not the crowd +parted before her, moved by instinctive respect. The +two took up their position in the last row of benches +near the holy-water font, and were much stared at. +No one knew who they were. Only Massimo and +Don Aurelio had any idea as to the identity of the +veiled lady, but the two friends exchanged no word +concerning her, respect for the past forbidding either +to confide in the other.</p> + +<p>The funeral service began, and the voice of the +congregation was raised in response to the priest. +Massimo, upon his knees, his face buried in his hands, +remained absorbed in prayer during the entire service, +and so also did the veiled lady. There was some +slight disturbance, first at the main door and then at +a side entrance, because a lad who had come from +San Mamette with a letter for Dr. Alberti was trying +to force his way in. He did not succeed, however, +and the letter, which some one took from him, could +not possibly be delivered to Massimo until later on. +When the service was over Massimo and his five companions +raised the bier once more, and moved forward +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_458">[Pg 458]</span>behind the priest. The church was soon empty, and +the last person to rise from her seat and go out was the +veiled lady; but seeing that the path was very rough, +and that the candle-bearers were already far ahead, +she returned to the church again. Among the +stragglers behind the procession her companion found +a boatman who was willing to undertake to row them +to Lugano later on.</p> + +<p>While the procession was traversing the short distance +that separates the church from the cemetery, +lightning flashes began to break from the banks of +heavy cloud, and a sudden gust of wind blew out +almost all the candles. The coffin was put down +at the head of the flight of steps leading to the gate +of the cemetery, and the bearers of the few candles +that were still alight took up their position on either +side. A second gust extinguished these last candles +also, and went whistling away through the olive-groves +that slope down to the lake. Don Aurelio, +who had remained behind, forced his way through +the crowd, and reached the steps. Some one tried +to strike a match, that he might not stumble on the +unfamiliar stairs, but it was immediately blown out. +Then a hand grasped his and guided him upwards. +Only those who were nearest could see him, the others +heard only his ringing tones, carrying above the noise +of the wind and of the waves breaking against the +embankments far below.</p> + +<p>"He is come," Don Aurelio began, "the much +afflicted wayfarer, unto his last resting-place, +succoured once more by the prayers of Holy Church, +who, when he died in her maternal arms, commended +him to Divine mercy. It was neither his friends nor +his disciples who, to his pain and vexation, proclaimed +him a saint, but simple souls from amongst +the people, souls full of faith and imaginings. When +the Church prays for a dead son, she does so in no +spirit of criticism, but, in her austere wisdom, considers +only the universal frailty of man, the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_459">[Pg 459]</span>universal misery of hidden or apparent sin before +the inscrutable mystery of Divine justice. But the +Church, remembering the tears that Jesus shed by +the tomb of Lazarus, allows poor human hearts to +utter words of love and grief beside the grave, allows +them to voice the praises which, indeed, are contained +in their tears. Love, pain, and praise all now rush to +my lips for utterance, but I cannot find words to +express them, for I feel within me I know not what +hidden influence restraining me; I believe this +influence is that of the dead; I believe he desires +neither expressions of pain nor of praise, but I also +believe that I hear the words he wishes me to speak."</p> + +<p>The speaker paused with heaving breast. A quiver +of emotion ran through the crowd that thronged the +steps. A few voices said softly, "Yes, yes!"</p> + +<p>"Peace!" Don Aurelio went on—"peace to thee, +O spirit of Piero Maironi! O spirit of Benedetto! +I will not speak my own words, the words of love +and pain and praise, but rather those that thou biddest +me speak! Let these hills of thine send their wind, +not to destroy my words, but to waft them far afield, +wheresoever thou hast been named with affection and +respect, or with anger and insult.</p> + +<p>"Listen, my friends! This man spoke much of +religion, of faith and of works. Being neither a +prophet nor the Sovereign Pontiff, speaking from his +high place, he may sometimes have been led astray; +he may sometimes have put forward views that the +authority of the Church would be justified in rejecting. +The true character of his mission was not to +agitate theological questions, wherein he might +deviate from the true path, but to bring back the +faithful, of all orders and conditions, to the spirit of +the gospel; it was to reinspire the world with this +spirit. He never failed to proclaim his humble submission +to the authority of the Church, to the Holy +See of the Roman Pontiff. Were he still alive he +would glory in giving proof of this as an example +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_460">[Pg 460]</span>to the world. It is in his name that I declare this! +He knew that the world despises religious obedience +as cowardice. He, on his part, fiercely despised the +contempt of the world, that glorifies military obedience +and the sacrifices it imposes, although military +authority is assisted by prisons and chains, by powder +and lead, while religious authority has no such +support. He loved the Church above all things on +earth. In thinking of the Church he was wont to compare +himself with the smallest stone of the greatest +temple, which, had it a soul, would glory in its small +ministry. Yes, he did indeed think he could perceive +the evil spirits which hell lets loose within Holy +Church; which we know cannot prevail against her—we +have the Divine promise for this—but which, +nevertheless, may inflict cruel wounds upon her by +conspiring with those other evil spirits that work their +fiendish havoc in the world. He thought he recognised +them, and it was an irresistible impulse of +filial affection, of filial sorrow, that carried him, a +suppliant, to the feet of the Sovereign Pontiff, the +Father of the faithful.</p> + +<p>"He wishes me to pardon in his name all those who, +possessing no ecclesiastical authority, passed judgment +upon him, condemning him as a Theosophist, a +Pantheist, and as one who shunned the Sacraments; +but that the scandal of these accusations may be +destroyed, he also wishes me to proclaim, in a loud +voice, that such errors were ever abominations in his +sight, and that from the moment when he, a miserable +sinner, turned from the world to God, he did always +and in all things suit his actions to the beliefs and +the prescriptions of the Catholic Church, and this +unto the very hour of his death.</p> + +<p>"He died trusting firmly that one day, when the +spirits of evil that afflict the Church shall have been +driven back behind the gates of hell, all men who +have received baptism, and who call upon the name +of Christ, will be united in one great religious body +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_461">[Pg 461]</span>around the Holy Throne of the Roman Pontiff. He +implores all those who are his friends to pray for +this end.</p> + +<p>"Friends and brothers, all you who resented the +false accusations brought against this man by Catholic +laymen, journalists, and libellers, let us unite with +him in forgiving them all. Let us also pardon such +as derided and insulted him for his faith. <em>Nesciebant</em>, +all of them! We ourselves are too ignorant to +dare to judge of the ignorance of others. Wanderers +amidst the darkness, we question the stars as we +grope blindly on our way, we call to each other with +voices that ask, that advise, that encourage; we cry +out the good news when we have discovered the right +path, that others may hasten towards it. But let us +not judge him who fails to answer our call, for we +know not whether the obstacles that lie between him +and us be not greater than his strength may overcome. +Let us pray for one and all, as we pass +through the darkness, longing for the dawn of the +day of God.</p> + +<p>"Poor body, that was once so dear to us, rest in +peace until the coming of that glorious dawn!"</p> + +<p>The coffin was lowered to the side of Elisa Maironi, +the last prayers were recited, the grave was closed. +The priest had returned to the church to lay aside +his robes, and the crowd was fast dispersing. +Massimo, Don Aurelio, and the young Romans who +had lingered long beside the grave, were descending +the steps, and the sexton was about to close the +gates, when the woman who seemed to be a maid +came to beg that they should be allowed to remain +open a few minutes longer. As the sexton hesitated, +Don Aurelio and Massimo intervened, and persuaded +him to consent. Hereupon the maid withdrew and +joined the veiled lady, who was waiting in the lane, +to the west of the cemetery. Not until that moment +did the person who had taken the letter which the +messenger had brought from San Mamette remember +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_462">[Pg 462]</span>to deliver it to Massimo. Between the gusts of wind +Massimo succeeded in reading it by the light of a +match:</p> + + +<p>"Our friend is very ill. Come as soon as +possible.</p> + +<p class="right" style="padding-right: 2em;">"<span class="smcap">Leila.</span>"</p> + +<p class="p1">Massimo implored Don Aurelio to go with him. +Don Aurelio should have returned to Milan at once, +but he gave up his intention of doing so on hearing +what had happened. The two took a hurried farewell +of their young friends, who were left behind to wonder +at their sudden flight. During the confusion of +leave-taking the veiled lady and her companion +passed the group of disciples without being seen by +them. Presently, however, they noticed that the maid +was standing with the sexton at the gate. They saw +how inconsiderate it would be to remain there, but +as they had retained the services of the steamer, they +felt bound to take the two strangers on board. One +of the young men went up to the gate and spoke +to the woman who was waiting there, but she refused +his offer with something like dismay. Hereupon the +friends started on their way towards Oria. The sexton +saw the tall, slim figure of the veiled lady kneeling +by the grave upon the upturned sod. She remained +there motionless for a few minutes, and then went +down the steps, leaning on the arm of the maid, who +told her of the offer, and of her refusal. Her mistress +made no comment. On the Oria road they met the +boatman, who had come to tell them that the lake +was very rough, and that a second pair of oars would +be necessary. The lady made a sign, and the maid +ordered him to engage another boatman to help him. +Shortly before reaching the church-place of Oria +they met the parish priest, who was carrying a +lantern and offered to guide them through the dark +and winding lanes of the village. The veiled lady +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_463">[Pg 463]</span>pressed her companion's arm as a sign that she was +to refuse, but the maid, who had no desire to break +her neck, saw fit to accept. Mistress and maid then +held a whispered consultation, and presently the +servant begged the priest to stop. Producing her +purse from a bag that hung upon her arm, she took +out a gold coin, and offered it to him.</p> + +<p>"From my mistress," she said, "for your poor."</p> + +<p>The steamer had not yet started on its way when, +by the light of a couple of lanterns, the veiled lady +and her companion stepped aboard a boat which lay +rocking on the waves. Shot vigorously forward by +two pairs of oars, the boat passed alongside the +steamer, and was seen in the light that shone from the +first-class cabin. The young men were watching it +with great curiosity from the deck. The lady had +thrown back her veil, and they saw that she was both +young and lovely. One of them exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"I know who she is! She must be the woman on +whose account Benedetto fled from the world."</p> + +<p>"Who is she?" another inquired.</p> + +<p>All were more or less vaguely acquainted with the +main facts of the matter, but no one knew the lady's +name. More curious than ever, they hastened to the +fore-deck, seeking to catch another glimpse of +the little boat, against which they could hear the +waves plashing in the distance. Again they saw it +for an instant in the light of the electric ray from +the torpedo-boat, and then Jeanne vanished from their +sight for that night and for ever.</p> + + +<h3>VI</h3> + +<p>Shortly after twelve o'clock Donna Fedele had +become suddenly and alarmingly worse. She was +suffering no pain, but the fever, which had risen +rapidly, convinced the doctor that there was nothing +further he could do for her. The end could not be +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_464">[Pg 464]</span>far away now. The sufferer, who was perfectly conscious +and aware of her condition, desired to see a +priest at once and receive the last Sacrament. The +parish priest of San Mamette was summoned, and by +five o'clock everything had been done. Greatly impressed +by the poor woman's piety, faith, and resignation, +the parish priest had given her Extreme Unction. +Massimo's telegram from Porto Ceresio troubled her +visibly. She did not say so, but Leila saw plainly that +she thought he might have arranged not to go there. +After having received the consolations of her religion, +the young man's return seemed to be the one thought +that troubled her. She asked for him so often that +at last she begged Leila to forgive her.</p> + +<p>"I know I am foolish," she said, taking the +girl's hand, "for according to his telegram he cannot +possibly be here yet. I have a few words to say +to him, and I am much afraid he will not arrive in +time."</p> + +<p>Leila sought to reassure her, but could not do +so, for a lump in her throat prevented her speaking. +She envied Cousin Eufemia, who appeared perfectly +calm. The old woman's affection for Donna Fedele +amounted almost to adoration, but her fear of not +being able to accept the will of the Almighty with +sufficient humility oppressed her even more sorely. +She was unceasing in her attentions to the sufferer, +but she came and went gravely and calmly, and with +dry eyes. Only once was she on the verge of failing +in her determination to be strong, and that was when +the invalid, reaching out to take her hand, said with +the shadow of her old smile:</p> + +<p>"Give my dear love to your sisters."</p> + +<p>The poor old cousin bit her lips, but did not +answer. The pious gentleness of the dying woman +and Cousin Eufemia's fortitude, both pointing to a +state of the soul at once so humble and so lofty, +were a revelation to Leila, and filled her with amazement +and reverence. At six o'clock the parish priest +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_465">[Pg 465]</span>withdrew, promising to return at seven, and Donna +Fedele, begging the doctor and Cousin Eufemia to +leave them alone for a few minutes, called Leila +to her side, and signed to her to kneel down, that she +might place her arm around her neck.</p> + +<p>"Dearest," said she, "tell Massimo that after +thinking of him and of his poor mother, I died with +a pain in my heart, and a hope also. Will you tell +him so?"</p> + +<p>Torn by an inner conflict caused by the belief that +she knew the nature of that pain and of that hope +in which she might not participate, and also because +she shrank from the idea of being appointed by +another to bring pressure to bear upon Massimo's +spirit, while, at the same time, to refuse would be +horrible, Leila breathed a "yes" which did not +deceive the dying woman. Donna Fedele sighed and +withdrew her arm, murmuring that she had much +to say to her, but that her strength failed her. She +asked for a crucifix, and then lay without speaking +until nine o'clock. At nine she inquired for Massimo +once more. Half an hour later Leila, who was standing +at the west window, saw a light appear in the +distance amidst the surrounding darkness. The +doctor recognised the special steamer, and announced +its arrival to the invalid, who begged that a note +might be sent to Massimo, asking him to come at +once. Hereupon there ensued a period of extreme +unrest for her. She seemed to have lost all notion +of time and space, and was continually asking, first +if the boat had arrived, and then, when it had been +seen to stop at Oria, if Massimo were come. And +so the time dragged on, and at last it was eleven +o'clock. Leila herself was uneasy, for they had heard +nothing from the boy who had carried the note. She +could not understand how Massimo, having received +the note, had not hastened to San Mamette. Shortly +after eleven the proprietor, who had sent some one +towards Albogasio, came rushing upstairs, and announced:<span class="pagenum" id="Page_466">[Pg 466]</span> +"He is coming! he is coming!" Leila +hastened downstairs, and met the two men in the +vestibule. She had not expected to see Don Aurelio, +who, perceiving her embarrassment, left her in the +midst of a rapid explanation to Massimo and hastened +upstairs. The proprietor accompanied him to the +door of Donna Fedele's room. The well-known voice +and familiar face, from which radiated content and +kindness, revived Donna Fedele somewhat.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Don Aurelio!" she cried. "And Massimo?"</p> + +<p>Placing his lips near the dying woman's ear, Don +Aurelio began speaking so softly that the parish priest, +the doctor, and Cousin Eufemia, standing at a little +distance, could not even hear his voice. But they +heard Donna Fedele's short and feeble exclamations +uttered with an indescribable accent of astonishment +and delight.</p> + +<p>"Here he is!" said Don Aurelio, raising his head +as Massimo entered.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>From that moment Donna Fedele appeared transformed. +The chamber of death seemed to have +become the chamber of convalescence, so much +that for a moment the watchers believed that a very +serious, but favourable, crisis had been passed. The +first indication of this was when Donna Fedele asked +Massimo if he had read a letter from Sior Momi, and +pointed to Leila, implying that she would show it +to him. To satisfy her he held before his eyes, but +without distinguishing a single syllable of it, the +letter in which Sior Momi gave his consent, protesting +at the same time that he desired to vacate +the Montanina, as he had discovered that the air +of those regions did not suit him. The letter further +contained kind messages for Massimo, and solicited +the favour of a few lines from him, endorsing what +Leila had said concerning the accounts to be +rendered.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_467">[Pg 467]</span></p> + +<p>Presently Donna Fedele begged Don Aurelio and +the two young people to draw near to her.</p> + +<p>"I was unkind to the archpriest and the chaplain +of Velo," she said. "Please let them know that I +am sorry."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes! I will see it is done," said Don +Aurelio. She thanked him with a long glance full +of ineffable meaning, and signed to him that she +wished to kiss his hand.</p> + +<p>Towards three o'clock they saw from the nervous +movements of her hands and the restless twitching of +her lips that she wanted something and could not +express herself. With her eyes she drew their attention +to a glass in which the roses from the Villino +were still languishing. Cousin Eufemia placed her +ear near the sufferer's lips, and asked:</p> + +<p>"Is it the roses?"</p> + +<p>The dying woman moved her head in acquiescence, +while her hands plucked at the sheet. Her cousin, +convinced that she wished to have the roses upon her +bed, went to bring them to her, but Donna Fedele +shook her head as vigorously as she could. Poor +Eufemia was distressed at not being able to understand. +Massimo and Leila understood but did not +dare to speak. Don Aurelio, who was more familiar +with death, ventured to intervene.</p> + +<p>"She wishes to have them scattered upon her +afterwards," he explained. Again Donna Fedele +thanked him with her eyes.</p> + +<p>At last the beautiful dark eyes were closed—those +eyes that for two-and-fifty years had shed so +much spiritual radiance, so many sweet and gentle +smiles. The hands rested quietly upon the Crucifix. +Don Emanuele bent over the still face. He was +not sure that the end had come, for the long lashes +still trembled slightly.</p> + +<p>"Dear friend," said he in a loud voice, "pray +for us. Are you suffering?"</p> + +<p>Her eyes remained closed, but her waxen lips +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_468">[Pg 468]</span>moved. Don Aurelio believed he caught the words, +"I am happy!"</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>He repeated this to the watchers. "She says, 'I +am happy!'"</p> + +<p>With his eyes still fixed upon the dying woman +he signed to the others to kneel.</p> + +<p>A few minutes of silence.</p> + +<p>"Yes, she is happy!" he added at last in a loud +voice. "Let us worship and rejoice!"</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>The sun was rising and Donna Fedele Vayla di +Brea, clad in black and clasping the Crucifix, lay +upon her bed, where side by side with the faded +roses from the Villino, there rested many bright +blossoms of Valsolda. Death had restored her sweet +smile. It shone through the closed lids like the +light of a secret vision of delight. It rested gently +on her waxen lips. No youthful, living countenance +could surpass the beauty of that ivory face, smiling +beneath its arch of thick, snowy hair. And thus, +having lived according to the faith of her fathers and +the spirit of the gospel, having redeemed her promise +to Signor Marcello, and consummated her supreme +sacrifice, did the White Lady of the Roses rest, in +the first light of her mystic dawn.</p> + + +<p class="p2 center big2">FINIS</p> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78258 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/78258-h/images/cover.jpg b/78258-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7c03917 --- /dev/null +++ b/78258-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6c72794 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This book, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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