But when the Signora was alone, she was sorry that her friend was gone, and was all at once aware that her head was aching terribly.

Every movement she made sent an agonizing thrill through her brain, and her hand trembled from the pain, as she pressed her palm to her forehead.
She meant to go down to the beach alone, for she was sure that she could find Marcello, and at least she would meet the men who were searching for him, and have news sooner than if she stayed in the cottage.

But she could not have walked fifty steps without fainting while her headache lasted.

She would take five grains of phenacetine, and in a little while she would be better.
She found the glass tube with the screw cap, and swallowed one of the tablets with a little water.

Then she sat down on the edge of her long chair in the verandah to wait for the pain to pass.