Of course
he is feverish. He ought to be in his bed, like a decent Christian."
"Some one must help me with the work," said Zorzi faintly.
"There is no one but me," answered Marietta after a moment's pause.
"You?" cried Nella, greatly scandalised.
Even Pasquale stared at Marietta in silent astonishment.
"Yes," she said quietly. "There is no one else who knows enough about my
father's work."
"That is true," said Zorzi. "But you cannot come here and work with me."
Marietta turned away and walked to the window. In her thin dress she
stood there a few minutes, like a slender lily, all white and gold in
the summer light.
"It is out of the question!" protested Nella. "Her brother will never
allow her to come. He will lock her up in her own room for safety, till
the master comes home."
"I think I shall always do just what I think right," said Marietta
quietly, as if to herself.
"Lord!" cried Nella. "The young lady is going mad!"
Nella was gathering together the remains of the things she had brought.
Exhausted by the pain he had suffered, and by the efforts he had made to
hide it, Zorzi lay on his back, looking with half-closed eyes at the
graceful outline of the girl's figure, and vaguely wishing that she
would never move, and that he might be allowed to die while quietly
gazing at her.
Pages:
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203