Page:In Maremma, by Ouida (vol 1).djvu/178

 hours, he did not come any nearer towards changing her convictions.

'She is a crafty, crabbed soul,' thought her neighbour. 'Maybe she has some one in Savoy'

At that moment Musa came in sight.

'We were talking of marriage for you,' said Andreino with a grim smile, as she drew near them.

Musa looked at him a little perplexedly under her straight brows, then her grave face laughed.

'Marriage! I know what that is: it is for the woman to stay at home and spin while the man is at sea, and to go out and rake wood and salt while he is drinking at the wine shop. That 1s what it 1s; it is not for me.'

The old fisherman laughed.

'It is not only that. 'There are'

'Hold your tongue, Andreino,' said Joconda. 'It is oftenest only that or worse. The child need not think cf it for many a day.'

'Men will think of it,' said the old sailor, 'and you have a pretty penny, and it would be well to find a decent lad.'

'When I show the penny the lads will