He was coming at last, and she smiled happily
before she saw him.
He came down and asked how she was, and he sat on the Aphrodite beside
her.
"If I could only get warm!" she answered.
"Perhaps you can warm your hands a little on the sides of the
lantern," he said.
She tried that and felt a momentary sensation of comfort, and asked
him what progress he was making.
"Very slow," he replied. "I cannot hear the least sound from the other
side yet. Masin is not there."
She did not expect any other answer, and said nothing, as she sat
shivering beside him.
"You are very brave," he said presently.
A long pause followed. She had bent her head low, so that her face
almost touched her knees.
"Signor Malipieri--" she began, at last, in rather a trembling tone.
"Yes? What is it?" He bent down to her, but she did not look up.
"I--I--hardly know how to say it," she faltered. "Shall you think
very, very badly of me if I ask you to do something--something that--"
She stopped.
"There is nothing in heaven or earth I will not do for you," he
answered. "And I shall certainly not think anything very dreadful." He
tried to speak cheerfully.
"I think I shall die of the cold," she said. "There might be a way--"
"Yes? Anything!"
Then she spoke very low.
"Do you think you could just put your arms round me for a minute or
two?" she asked.
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