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It was at this time that Loretta received a letter from Billy that was somewhat different from his others. In the main, like all his letters, it was pathological. It was a long recital of symptoms and sufferings, his nervousness, his sleeplessness, and the state of his heart. Then followed reproaches, such as he had never made before.
"He did not at first, but twice Francesco came to see Loretta with messages from her mother, and went sneaking off when Vittorio came up in his boat, and then that night some one would tell him 'that fellow meets Loretta every day; that he was her old lover. These people on the Giudecca do not like the San Giuseppe people, and there is always jealousy.
But in the end, he paid the man some money, for I remember he insisted on having the check certified, and the secretary himself took it over to the bank. I don't know for what amount it was drawn." "Why didn't you tell me that before, Loretta?" asked Anita, reproachfully. "I mean, about the the names Mr. Carlis called me, and his suspicions.
Before the door stood the Red Fox and Uncle Billy, the miller, who peered at her for a moment through his big spectacles and gave her a wondering shout of welcome that brought her cousin Loretta to the door, where she stopped a moment, anchored with surprise. Over her shoulder peered her cousin Dave, and June saw his face darken while she looked.
Vittorio has cursed Loretta, torn her wedding ring from her finger, and thrown it in her face!" "Vittorio!" "Yes, he will listen to nothing! He is a crazy fool and I have done all I could. He believes every one of the lies that crab-catching brute of a Francesco is telling. It would be over by to-night, but Loretta does not take it like the others: she says nothing.
But then, were there any girls better than Loretta, or as good? She helped her mother; she paid her share of the rent to Francesco's father; she gave to the poor box. That she was the sunshine of the Quarter every one knew who heard her sweet, cheery voice.
"Is that what you're crying about?" "N no." His heart sank. "Then what are you crying about?" he asked in a hopeless voice. "Because you said I had to marry Billy. And I don't want to marry Billy. I don't want to leave Daisy. I don't know what I want. I wish I were dead." He nerved himself for another effort. "Now look here, Loretta, be sensible. What is this about kisses.
And here the real trouble began, just as it begins for every other pretty Venetian, and here, too, must I place the second pin in my chart. It all came through Francesco. The older sister had died with the first child, and this crab catcher had begun to stretch out his claws for Loretta. She and her mother still lived with Francesco's father, who was a widower.
Once he approached Luigi and began a tale, first about Vittorio and his escapades and then about Loretta and her coquetry, which Luigi strangled with a look, and which he did not discuss or repeat to me, except to remark "They have started in to bite, Signore," the meaning of which I could but guess at.
She could hear Loretta Barker's sweet high voice chattering on behind closed doors, and, higher up, the deep moaning of Mary Lord, who was going through one of her bad times. But she met nobody as she ran up to her room. "Hello, Mary Lou, darling! Where's everyone?" she asked gaily, discerning in the darkness a portly form prone on the bed. "Jinny's lying down, she's been to the oculist.
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