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Els was standing at the head of the bed, supporting her mother with her strong young arms, while Sister Renata pushed the cushions between the sufferer's back and the bedstead. The old difficulty of breathing had evidently attacked her again.
When Els at last entreated her to go to rest without her, she willingly consented, for her mother was comfortable, and Sister Renata was watching at her bedside. Eva kept her promise, after Els, who wanted to see the Countess von Montfort, had satisfied her concerning the welfare of the nuns and promised to go to rest herself as soon as possible.
Very slowly this latter aspect blotted out the first triumphant joy of his discovery. Mundane things, such as Renata Aston's wishes, Cæsar's consent, and even the person of Geoffry Leverson interposed between Patricia and him. This mood had its sway and in turn succumbed to an awakening of his dormant will and every fighting instinct.
"Wasn't nobody's, only mummy's. You said they were for her. Charlotte wasn't naughty." "Did you find it on the floor?" "No." "Where then?" "Dey was all in nice itty rows on the table. I only taken one pitty goldy penny. Mummy gives me goldy pennies always." "Sovereigns for playthings, Renata. That's very immoral." "No, only new halfpennies. Charlotte didn't know any better, Aymer."
Renata knelt by the fire with her back to him and took off her long soft gloves, her bracelets making a little jangling sound. Then she saw the torn picture and picked it up and shook her head disapprovingly. The overturned box lay nearer the sofa. She picked that up too, and began replacing its contents in a matter-of-fact way. "You can't possibly see things in this light," she remarked.
If you will take the risk of being accused of burglary by Vespasian, I happen to know there is some money in the right hand drawer of the table over there. I don't know how much. Fivepence, perhaps, but you shall have whatever it is." Renata walked with great dignity across the room and opened the drawer. A little smile hovered about her lips.
She saw she was unobserved, saw his attitude, and her whole being seemed to melt into an expression of longing compassion. Nevil or his father would have gone away unseen in respect for his known weakness, but Renata for all her shyness had the courage of her instincts. "May I come and warm myself, Aymer? You always have the best fire in the house." He did not move for a moment.
The old hushed cry awoke in her heart "Christopher and Love Love and Christopher." If she looked at him he must see it, her eyes must needs betray the pitiful whisper but for the clamour of foolish words. Where was Renata? Why were they all so late to-night of all nights? Yet she had hurried her dressing chosen her gown even, on the chance of this interview that outmatched her schooled frivolity.
The grant of the red hat to the latter appears to have caused some scandal, for, owing to the Pope's relations with his sister, to which it was openly said that Farnese owed the purple, he received the by-name of Cardinal della Gonella Cardinal of the Petticoat. Roma Bovem invenit tunc, cum fundatur aratro, Et nunc lapsa suo est ecce renata Bove. From an inscription quoted by Bernardino Coaxo.
The afternoon wore on and she fell into a lethargy with no desire to escape it, and did not hear Christopher's motor arrive. Christopher for once paused in the hall, instead of going straight to Aymer's room, as was the invariable rule, after even a day's absence. "Where is Mrs. Aston?" he asked the footman, who replied vaguely, when Renata herself appeared.
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