"I fear not." "Can nothing be done ?" "Nothing--except to keep her as quiet and warm as possible.

I have left some medicine with the nurse which will alleviate the pain.

I shall be able to judge of her better when I return; the illness will have then reached its crisis." In a couple of minutes more he had left the house, and a young maid-servant showed me to the nursery.
"Where is the contessa ?" I asked in a whisper, as I trod softly up the stairs.
"The contessa ?" said the girl, opening her eyes in astonishment.

"In her own bedroom, eccellenza--madama would not think of leaving it; because of the danger of infection." I smothered a rough oath that roses involuntarily to my lips.

Another proof of the woman's utter heartlessness, I thought! "Has she not seen her child ?" "Since the illness?
Oh, no, eccellenza!" Very gently and on tiptoe I entered the nursery.