Page:In Maremma, by Ouida (vol 3).djvu/259

 She stood irresolute upon the shining shore; the old hag looked longingly at her, but dared not speak again. Something in the grand innocence of those troubled eyes awed and frightened her.

'Will you not even take my boat?' said the voice of Daniello near her, as he came from under the shadow of the sea-wall, and stood in her path, submissive, timid, with bared head as before an empress.

'You are all alone,' he added, feebly and stupidly, not knowing well what he did say.

'Have I so many friends?' she said curtly. 'Nay, do not think I want any. Now they have set me free I need nothing.'

'But you will not go on foot all that long way to your own moors?'

'Will I not! It is so long since I have felt the ground under my feet, I could walk on, and on, and on, I think, all day, all night'

'You fancy so, because it is beautiful to you to be free. That I understand. But you are not as strong as you were a year ago. You are weaker than you know. You may faint by the way, and if you sleep out, you know that sleep after sunset means death where you go. Will you not let me take you