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And in urging all these considerations, the Signora Assunta Fagiani spoke at least sincerely, and expended for the benefit of her pupil the best wisdom that was in her. Partly, however, she was working for her own purposes, as well as for the advantage, as she understood it, of her charge.
The widow leaped to her aid, cried comfortable words and prayed the young wife to fear nothing; but it was some time before Jenny came to her senses and when she did so her nerve appeared to have deserted her. "Did you see him?" she gasped, clinging to Assunta and gazing fearfully where her uncle had stood. "Yes, yes a big, red man; but he meant us no harm.
Giacomo. She can learn, can't she? Assunta. And with the cook gone, too! It's a great task for us. Giacomo. You'd better be about it!... Going walking alone in the hills! And calling me "Excellency." There's no telling what Americans will do. Assunta. She didn't know any better. When she has been here a week she won't call you "Excellency"! I must make macaroni for dinner. Giacomo. Ma che!
It was in 1063, after the great victory at Palermo, that the ships of the Republic returning full of spoil, "after much discourse made in the Senate," it was decided at last to build "a most magnificent temple" to S. Maria Assunta, for it was about the time of her Festa, that is to say, the 15th August, that the victory had been won.
Perhaps he was not a man but a spirit, signora." "I wish he were," declared Jenny. "But it was not a ghost you heard leap into the wood, Assunta. I will run as fast as I can and take the short cuts." They parted and Jenny hastened, risked her neck sometimes, and sped forward with the energy of youth and on the wings of fear.
"I think I prefer her to the Contessa after all," said Giacomo that afternoon to Assunta as he was beating the salad dressing for dinner. "She is simpatica! It is wonderful how she understands, though she cannot yet talk much. But her eyes speak." They served her dinner with special care that night, for kindness to an unfortunate fellow peasant had won what still needed winning of their hearts.
"He smiled and talked most kindly, and when he went away the Signorina understands?" Daphne nodded. "He gave his hand to Antoli," said Giacomo breathlessly. "I will make the wreath," said the Signorina, smiling. "It shall be of these," and she held up a handful of pink daisies, mingled with bits of fern and ivy leaves. "Assunta shall take it to the church when she takes hers.
"Morti della peste," read Jenny, on the front of the altar, and Assunta, in gloomy mood before the recollection of the past, spoke to her young mistress and shook her head. "I envy them sometimes, signora. Their troubles are ended. Those heads, that have ached and wept so often, will never ache and weep again." She spoke in Italian and Jenny but partially understood.
He has seen from the window the Signorina making a wreath for our Lady, and he too wants to present her with a thank-offering for the miracle she wrought for him. But will the Signorina permit him to come and tell her?" Even while Giacomo was speaking Daphne saw the man slowly approaching, urged on apparently by encouraging gestures from Assunta, who was standing at the corner of the house.
The shadow of branching palms fell on the Signorina's hair and hands as she sat at work near the fountain in the garden weaving a great wreath of wild cyclamen and of fern gathered from the hillside. Assunta was watching her anxiously, her hands resting on her hips. "It's a poor thing to offer the Madonna," she said at length, "just common things that grow."
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