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Updated: May 2, 2025
Don Silverio sat down at his deal writing-table and wrote in his fine, clear calligraphy a few lines: "In the name of my holy office I forbid you to risk the life and good name of the maiden Nernia on your unlawful errands." Then he signed and sealed the sheet, and sent it by his sacristan to Adone. He received no answer.
She was la bimba to them all; a brave little soul and honest; they respected her as if she were one of their own children, or one of their own sisters, and Nernia coming through the starlight, with an old musket slung at her back, which Adone had taught her to use, and her small, bronzed feet leaping over the ground like a young goat's, was a figure which soon became familiar and welcome to the people.
What had drawn him to Nernia had been that flash of ferocity which he had seen in her; that readiness to go to the bitter end in the sweet right of vengeance; instincts which formed so singular a contrast to the childish gaiety and the sunny goodwill of her normal disposition. He knew that nothing which could have been done to her would have made her reveal any confidence placed in her.
At the fourth hour of the night? Is that an answer for a decent maiden?" Nernia was silent. "Go back to your room, and I will lock you in it; in the morning you will account to me." Nernia recovered her self-possession, though she trembled still. "Pardon me, Madama Clelia," she said humbly, "I must go out." She did not look ashamed, and her small brown face had a resolute expression.
"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.
"Go to your room, wanton!" she said in tones of thunder. "In the morning you will answer to me." But Nernia, who had before this slipped the bolt aside, and who always kept her grasp upon the great key in the lock, suddenly turned it, pushed the oak door open, and before the elder woman was conscious of what she was doing, had dashed out into the air, and slammed the door behind her.
"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.
As a forest fire sweeps away under its rolling smoke and waves of flame millions of obscure and harmless creatures, so the baneful fires of men's greed and speculations came from afar and laid low these harmless lives with neither thought of them or pity. Later in the day he sent word to Gianna to bring Nernia to the presbytery. They both came, obedient.
She went out on to the doorstep and listened, but there was no sound. The wind was high; the perfume of the stocks and wallflowers was strong; far away the sound of the river rushing through the sedges was audible in the intense stillness, an owl hooted, a nightjar sent forth its sweet, strange, sighing note. Of Nernia there was no trace.
It was to arrange these nightly exercises, and summon to or warn off men from them, as might be expedient, that Nernia was usually sent upon her nocturnal errands.
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