Page:In Maremma, by Ouida (vol 2).djvu/331

 Sanctis was silent; he had not yet looked at her face; her presence hurt him. He wronged her; he thought her bold and without the natural shame of her womanhood.

She had no shame because she was as yet as innocent as a forest-doe.

'Do you want anything of me?' he said abruptly.

She looked at him in some surprise.

'No; I only wanted to say that. I could not bear to seem thankless and a coward. I am sorry, too, that I was harsh and rude, since you have been so brave and have saved him.'

The face of Sanctis darkened.

'I should not have lifted my hand to save him; I did what I did for you. How can you harbour him? how can you care for him? He is a felon.'

'He is innocent. He never killed her.'

He did not reply. The scene in the judgment-hall of Mantua rose up before his eyes.

Watching him she grew angry at his looks and at his silence.

'You believe he is innocent? You must; you shall. He loved her; he would not have hurt a hair of her head.'