She inherited it from her father, who was dead.

Of course, because she was beautiful and a village heiress, she soon found a sweetheart, and became engaged to Francesco, a fisherman who lived down on the Marina.

Everything was going on very happily, and the wedding was fixed, when suddenly it was found there was something wrong with Luigia's glorious eyes.

She went to a doctor in Naples, and he told her that unless a certain operation were performed she would go blind.

If she went to Paris, to a specialist whom he named, her sight might be saved.