Page:In Maremma, by Ouida (vol 3).djvu/150

 Had she come by the sea? Was she living as far off as the foundries, then? No? Under the mountains? Then why come by sea? She looked grand and proud; a little pale, but quite a woman now. Had she no wooers? Was she still the Musoncella? Well, time would cure her of that. And then the sly old man looked at her sideways, and said with a low chuckle:

'And the youth that was sick, my dear? Do you make the muso to him too? Eh—eh? I fancy not! Well, pluck your cherries while they are ripe; the cherry-time soon passes.'

The only answer she gave him was the hot blush that came over all her face, and he chuckled the more.

Then all at once he said to her:

'There is a fine piece of news put up all down the coast. But no doubt, my dear, you have seen it; though in that cherry-time I talked of most of you are blind. But if you do know that stray dog, you may as well get the reward for him.'

'A stray dog?' she repeated. She was ready to help any dog, for sake of dead Leone.