Once she had even, perhaps, saved him from
death. She had put aside her own happiness. She had shown the divine
self-sacrifice of woman.
And now, after long years, life brought to him an hour which would
prove him, prove him and show how far he was worthy of the friendship
which had been shed, generously as the sunshine over these vineyards
of the South, upon him and his life.
He came down to the sea and met the fisherman, Giovanni, upon the
sand.
"Row me quickly to the island, Giovanni!" he said.
"Si, Signore."
He ran to get the boat.
The light began to fall over the sea. They cleared the tiny harbor and
set out on their voyage.
"The Signora has been here to-day, Signore," said Giovanni.
"Si! When did she come?"
"This morning, with Gaspare, to take the tram to Mergellina."
"She went to Mergellina?"
"Si, Signore. And she was gone a very long time. Gaspare came back for
her at half-past eleven, and she did not come till nearly three.
Gaspare was in a state, I can tell you.
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