Page:In Maremma, by Ouida (vol 1).djvu/183

 Fortunes are not made by weaving hemp and mending sails.

There were some score of gold Grand Ducal coins, and some handfuls of Papal silver ones; that was all. Before the child had come to her she had thought the money would do to bury her, and buy some masses for her soul. Now the child was there she said to herself, 'my soul can do well enough without masses; she must have it all;' and caused to be scrawled in Grosseto, by a friend, on a scrap of stamped paper to make it good, these words of formal bequest:—

'All this is for the child Maria Penitente, whom they call Musa or the Musoncella, and the parish may bury my body, and my soul will be with God, who will do what He likes with it. Deus exaudit nos.'

This, which had been written at her own dictation, she wrapped carefully round the money, and with a sigh replaced it in the hole, and set the stone down over it. It was but little to be the only plank between a girl, and hunger, and thirst, and homelessness, and shame.

Yet over the face of Joconda a grim smile fluttered as she put out her lantern. 'Andreino thinks I have a pretty penny,'