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What the elder sister was doing, the priest had not time to see; for the dog barked the moment he presented himself, and Nanina hastened to the door to ascertain who the intruder might be. All that he could observe was that she was too confused, on catching sight of him, to be able to utter a word. La Biondella was the first to speak.
You have always been kind to me, Marta be kinder than ever now. Take me with you take me with you to the palace!" "You, child!" exclaimed the nurse, gently unclasping her arms. "Yes yes! if it is only for an hour," pleaded Nanina; "if it is only for one little hour every day. You have only to say that I am your helper, and they would let me in. Marta!
'And why do you let that great, shaggy, ill-looking brute lie before your fireplace? I asked. 'Oh! cried the little mat-plaiter, 'that is our dear old dog, Scarammuccia. He takes care of the house when Nanina is not at home. He dances on his hind legs, and jumps through a hoop, and tumbles down dead when I cry Bang!
"Does Marta Angrisani, the sick-nurse, live here?" inquired the man, as soon as Nanina showed herself at the window. "Yes," she answered. "Must I call her up? Is there some person ill?" "Call her up directly," said the servant; "she is wanted at the Ascoli Palace. My master, Count Fabio " Nanina waited to hear no more.
I will pass over, then, all reference to the words he may have been speaking to you; and I will come at once to what I have now to say, in my turn. Nanina, my child, arm yourself with all your courage, and promise me, before we part to-night, that you will see Signor Fabio no more." Nanina turned round suddenly, and fixed her eyes on him, with an expression of terrified incredulity. "No more?"
Nanina had only, therefore, to state that he knew her well, and that she had sat to him as a model in the days when he was learning the art of sculpture, to be immediately accepted as Marta's privileged assistant in the sick-room. The worst apprehensions felt by the doctor for the patient were soon realized. The fever flew to his brain.
Here the servant stopped; for, to his astonishment, he saw Nanina suddenly turn away from him, and then heard her crying bitterly as she went back into the house.
"A very pretty child," said the steward, patting La Biondella on the cheek. "We ought to have her at the hall. If his excellency should want a Cupid, or a youthful nymph, or anything small and light in that way, I shall come back and let you know. In the meantime, Nanina, consider yourself Shepherdess Number Thirty, and come to the housekeeper's room at the palace to try on your dress to-morrow.
"Do you believe that I am your friend, my child, and that I have always meant well toward you?" he began. "The best and kindest of friends," answered Nanina. "Then you will hear what I have to say patiently, and you will believe that I am speaking for your good, even if my words should distress you?" I am only going to tell you what you must do for the future."
But before we say anything more about that, suppose you tell me first something about yourself who you are, and so forth. You know who I am already." "I am only a poor work-girl, and my name is Nanina. I have nothing more, sir, to say about myself than that." "Do you belong to Pisa?" "Yes, sir at least, I did. But I have been away for some time. I was a year at Florence, employed in needlework."
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