A hunger was awake in her,
now that she had a home so near the enchanted island.
He realized it. But he was no longer much afraid. So many years had
passed that even if Hermione revisited Marechiaro he believed there
would be little or no danger now of her ever learning the truth. It
had never been known in the village, and if it had been suspected, all
the suspicions must have long ago died down. He had been successful in
his protection. He was thankful for that. It was the one thing he had
been able to do for the friend who had done so much for him.
The tragedy had occurred because of him. Because of him all knowledge
of it had been kept from Hermione, and would now be kept from her
forever--because of him and Gaspare.
This he had been able to do. But how powerless he was, and how
powerless was Vere!
Now he looked vaguely at the villas of Posilipo, and he realized this
thoroughly.
Something for her he had done, and something Vere had done. But how
little it all was!
To-day a new light had been thrown upon Hermione, and he realized what
she was as he had never realized it before.
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