But to have submitted that sweet, angelic woman to suffering--to have incurred her just anger! Woe me! I came to the table that evening full of uneasiness, very unhappy, feeling it an effort to bring myself into her presence and endure be it her regard or her neglect.

To my relief she sent word that she was not well and would keep her chamber; and Fifanti smiled oddly as he stroked his blue chin and gave me a sidelong glance.

We ate in silence, and when the meal was done, I departed, still without a word to my preceptor, and went to shut myself up again in my room.
I slept ill that night, and very early next morning I was astir.

I went down into the garden somewhere about the hour of sunrise, through the wet grass that was all scintillant with dew.

On the marble bench by the pond, where the water-lilies were now rotting, I flung myself down, and there was I found a half-hour later by Giuliana herself.
She stole up gently behind me, and all absorbed and moody as I was, I had no knowledge of her presence until her crisp boyish voice startled me out of my musings.
"Of what do we brood here so early, sir saint ?" quoth she.
I turned to meet her laughing eyes.