Page:In Maremma, by Ouida (vol 1).djvu/181

 if a man come, it will be the worse for him if he come not honestly. I am tough still. But when I am gone there will be no one, for Andreino is but a gawky gossip full of tales. Promise me that; let no man touch you till the Church has blessed you. Promise that.'

Musa at last was astonished and startled. A warmth of blood came over the delicate brown of her face and throat.

'I promise,' she said quickly. 'But I do not see any men; I do not want them.'

'Some one will come,' muttered Joconda. 'Some one always comes. Swear me that by the image you wear.'

The child kissed the gold Madonnina that hung about her throat, and said, 'I swear it—but a promise is the same.'

'With you I think it is,' said Joconda. 'But, Lord, what are you yet? A bird not out of nest—a bud all folded up. You do not know what you will be in a year or two. And now that you have sworn you will remember.'

'I will remember,' said Musa.

Joconda was silent, recollecting, as she twirled her flax, on what the Maremma had always said of Saturnino—that he was true