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Updated: May 7, 2025
I slept heavily; she must have unlocked the door, for it was undone at dawn; her bed is empty, she has not returned." "You speak of Nerina?" "Of Nerina, reverence. I did all I could. It was not my fault. She was like a hawk in a cage." "I am grieved," he said; and he thought: "Is it Adone?" He feared so. "Is she not at the Terra Vergine?" he asked. Alaida shook her head. "No, reverend sir.
She did not break her fast; she drank great draughts of water; then, with no word except a brief good-night, she went to the sacking filled with leaves which the old woman Alaida pointed out for her occupancy. "She is soon reconciled," thought the old crone. "They have trained her well." Relieved of all anxiety, she herself lay down in the dark and slept.
"I have found a home for awhile for you, with old Alaida Manzi; you know her; she is a good creature. I am very sorry for you, my child; but you did wrong to be absent at night; above all not to go back to your chamber when Clelia Alba bade you to do so." Nernia's face darkened. "I did no harm." "I am sure you did not mean to do any; but you disobeyed Madonna Clelia." Nernia was silent.
Poor child, I have done you harm enough. I will not do you more." "You have done me only good." "What! When my mother has turned you out of the house!" "It is her right." "Let it be so for a moment. You shall come back. You are with old Alaida?" "Yes." "How can you be out to-night?" "She sleeps heavily, and the lock is not hard." "You are a brave child." "Is there nothing to do to-night?"
As soon as she heard by the heavy breathing of the aged woman that she was sunk in the congested slumber of old age, the child got up noiselessly she had not undressed and stole out of the chamber, taking the door key from the nail on which Alaida had hung it. A short stone stair led down to the entrance.
"No, dear." "Where do you go?" "To meet the men at the tomb of Asdrubal." "Who summoned them?" "I myself. You must be sad and sorry, child, and it is my fault." She checked a sob in her throat. "I am not far away, and old Alaida is kind. Let me go on some errand to-night?" "No, my dear, I cannot." He recalled the words of the message which he had received from Don Silverio that day.
"All I can say counts as naught." "Adone will send her on no more midnight errands, unless he be brute and fool both. Take her away. Look to her, you and Alaida." "I will do what I can, sir," said Gianna humbly, and pushed the girl out into the village street before her.
The morning was hot, and the scent of buds and blossoms and fresh-cut grass came in from the fields over the broken walls and into the ancient houses. When Mass was over, old Alaida crept over the mouldy mosaics timidly to his side, and kneeled down on the stones. "Most reverend," she whispered, "'twas not my fault.
"Do you think that it is fitting for you to have secrets from me, your confessor?" Nernia was silent; her rosy mouth was closed firmly. It was very terrible to have to displease and disobey Don Silverio; but she would not speak, not if she should burn in everlasting flames for ever. "Take her away. Take her to Alaida," he said wearily to Gianna. "She only obeys Adone, sir," said the old woman.
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