Marietta saw that she could not stay any longer at present, and she went
once more to Zorzi's side.
"Let Pasquale take care of you to-day," she said. "I will come and see
how you are to-morrow morning."
"I thank you," he answered. "I thank you with all my heart. I have no
words to tell you how much."
"You need none," said she quietly. "I have done nothing. It is Nella who
has helped you."
"Nella knows that I am very grateful."
"Of course, of course!" answered the woman kindly. "You have made him
talk too much," she added, speaking to Marietta. "Let us go away. I must
prepare the barley water. It takes a long time."
"Is he to have nothing but barley water?" asked Pasquale.
"I will send him what he is to have," answered Nella, with an air of
superiority.
Marietta looked back at Zorzi from the door, and his eyes were following
her. She bent her head gravely and went out, followed by the others, and
he was alone again. But it was very different now. The spasms of pain
came back now and then, but there was rest between them, for there was a
potent anodyne in the balsam with which Nella had soaked the first
dressing. Of all possible hurts, the pain from burning is the most acute
and lasting, and the wise little woman, who sometimes seemed so foolish,
had done all that science could have done for Zorzi, even at a much
later day.
Pages:
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205