Page:In Maremma, by Ouida (vol 1).djvu/255

 'Get out,' said old Andreino fiercely; 'who should she come to if not to her oldest friends? My Serafina is in bed with the ague, or she would have been here all night. My house is Musa's, and that I promised long ago to the good dead soul sitting out by the threshold there. I said to Joconda—I said'

He continued to talk for ten full minutes, but no one heard a syllable more that he said, by reason of the superior strength of screaming that the women's lungs possessed.

Amidst the hubbub and outcries she stood quite still; she scarcely seemed even to see that the people were there.

When they found her silence continue so long, and that neither by look nor word was she moved to respond to their hospitable and fond entreaties, they began to grow angry; and one of them said tartly and hotly:

'We come in charity and good will, but we may go in wrath. Musa, there is money here, and there are debts that should be paid with it.'

'Debts!'

It was the first word she spoke. She had heard of debt; she knew that it was a great calamity. Joconda had always spoken