"
"That is a terrible thing you tell me there," says he. "What else is a
girl to do if she cannot marry the man of her heart?"
"We have our compensations," I replied; "we worship in the dark, hoping
to be rewarded in the full light of heaven. Persecution has braced us;
the Church had grown lax. With us, for instance, you would never see
religious behave as here they do. Did you observe that nun that looked
me full in the face as the procession went by?"
Ercole's eyes flashed; but he said nothing. I went on, "That would be
impossible in my country, I can assure you."
"Pardon me," says Ercole; "you misunderstood the lady. It was not at you
that she looked."
"Certainly it was not," said Virginia with decision.
"She looked at me," the boy said, "and I looked at her. She knew that I
should be here."
"Ho!" said I, and Virginia said, "Gia!"
Ercole then explained. "That lady is Donna Domenica degli Onesti, who
was daughter of my master, the Marchese Onesti, when I was dog-keeper to
him at Bogazzano. She was always there, being in delicate health, and we
loved each other from the first. There was no doubt at all about the
matter."
"How could there be any doubt?" said Virginia; but Ercole took no notice
of her.
"There was no doubt. She jumped whenever I came round the corner, and
used to stand behind trees watching me. Also she used to come to see the
dogs fed. Now, when I knew beyond all question the state of her
feelings, I borrowed Guido's guitar, and struck one chord upon it at
night under her window, and sang but one word--Vieni! In three minutes
she came on to the balcony, and we looked at each other.
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