Vere came down the steps and found him there.
"Gaspare!"
He got up instantly when he heard her voice, rubbed his eyes, and
yawned.
"I was asleep, Signorina."
She looked at him intently, and he saw tears in her eyes.
"Gaspare, what is the matter with Madre?"
"Signorina?"
"Oh, what is the matter?" She came a step nearer to him. "Gaspare, I'm
frightened! I'm frightened!"
She laid her hand on his arm.
"Why, Signorina? Have you seen the Padrona?"
"No. But--but--I've heard-- What is it? What has happened? Where has
Madre been all this time? Has she been in Naples?"
"Signorina, I don't think so."
"Where has she been?"
"I believe the Signora has been to Mergellina."
Vere began to tremble.
"What can have happened there? What can have happened?"
She trembled in every limb. Her face had become white.
"Signorina, Signorina! Are you ill?"
"No--I don't know what to do--what I ought to do. I'm afraid to speak
to the servants--they are making the siesta.
Pages:
851
852
853
854
855
856
857
858
859
860
861
862
863
864
865
866
867
868
869
870
871
872
873
874
875