United States or Croatia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
On that morning, after eleven o'clock, Matilde came to Veronica's room, bringing a piece of needlework with her, and she sat down to stay a while. They talked idly about dull subjects, and from time to time Matilde looked up and smiled sadly. She sat so that she could not see Bosio's photograph on the mantelpiece. After she had been there half an hour, she started, suddenly remembering something.
DOÑA MATILDE. No, papá duerme todavía y estará sin duda bien lejos de soñar o de pensar que el terrible momento se aproxima en que va a decidirse para siempre el porvenir de su hija única y querida ... ¡para siempre! Ay, Bruno, si tú pudieras comprender toda la fuerza y la extensión de esta palabra ¡para siempre!
Matilde was almost distracted. "You will be arrested at once," said Veronica, pitilessly. "Never mind, Pulcinella!" exclaimed Macomer. "Courage, my friend! You know you always get away from the policeman! Ha! ha! ha!" Matilde saw Veronica moving to go to the door. She straightened herself and pointed to her husband. "Yes," she said. "He did it and he is mad."
They had talked a little of the incident that had occurred on the previous day, of Gregorio's feeling about not letting Veronica spend money uselessly. He was so conscientious, Matilde had said. Though the guardianship had expired, he still felt it his duty to watch his former ward's expenditure.
As though a good destiny had anticipated her desire, the first call for her help came suddenly, on the day after the last recorded conversation between Gregorio and Matilde. It was still early in the morning when Elettra brought her a letter, bearing the postmark of the city, and addressed in one of those small, clear handwritings which seem naturally to belong to scholars and students.
For your sake I would not deny the engagement altogether " "For my sake!" exclaimed Matilde. "Do not use such phrases to me. They mean nothing. For some wretched quibble of your miserable conscience as you still have the assumption to call it you will ruin us in another day." "Yes, I still have some conscience," replied Bosio, trying to be bold under her scornful eyes.
That was the only outward sign that she was not in her usual state, and Veronica scarcely noticed it, for as the time wore on, she spoke less excitedly, and more often waited for an answer to what she said. Of course, the conversation turned for some time upon what had occurred on the preceding evening. Matilde scouted the idea that any one had attempted to poison her.
Only the purring of the cat was heard, as Veronica, letting her arm hang down without stooping, gently rubbed its broad head. It pushed itself under her hand, bending its back to her caress, turned quickly, and pushed its head under her hand once more, doing the same thing again and again. Matilde sat upright, lifted the cover of the teapot an instant, and then began to move the cups.
She laid the money upon the polished table, beside the volumes in their gilt bindings. "Very well," said Giuditta. "If you desire it, I thank you. If you should wish to come again, I am always to be found between ten and three o'clock." "I will come again," answered Matilde. She passed through the door while Giuditta held it open for her, and in the passage she was met by the one-eyed woman.
Bosio sank into his chair again, and pressed the palms of his hands to his eyes, resting his elbows on his knees. "The infamy of it!" he groaned, in the bitterness of his weak misery. Matilde stood beside him, and gently stroked his hair where it was streaked with grey. He moved impatiently, as though to shake off her strong hand. "No," she said, and her voice grew as soft as velvet.
Word Of The Day