Page:In Maremma, by Ouida (vol 2).djvu/148

140 to go out and fish took her as long as it would take to go to the little sea-town.

She went, and told him for whom she slaved that she must be absent some hours. She was going to Telamone.

He was lying on one of the stone couches, in that prostration and silence which had been habitual with him since he had crept off his bed of fever.

He lifted his languid lids, and looked at her with suspicion.

'Why should you go?' he said angrily.

'There is nothing to eat in the place,' she answered him gently. 'You want food and you want wine, and I am going to get them both. I will be quick.'

'How long will you be?'

'I must be several hours. We are on the moors here; the nearest place is far.'

'They may take me while you are gone.'

'There is no fear of that. I will cover the entrance so that a polecat would not find its way down.'

'That may not preventHow do you go?'

'I will walk over to Telamone. It will be nearer so. I had thought of the boat, but it will be nearer across the land,'