Page:In Maremma, by Ouida (vol 3).djvu/54

 she ought to give him any peace she could? Ought she not to put her arms about his throat and kiss him on the eyes?

She doubted; she wondered; she was dissatisfied and ashamed at herself.

'So long ago, when I was but a child,' she said timidly, 'Joconda made me promise—I did not know well what she meant—that no man's hand should touch me without the blessimg of God upon it. Now I do know: you and I cannot go up to any house of God in the open day as others can do when they will; and I must keep my word to her, she is not living to release me.'

He looked at her askance in surprise, chagrin, annoyance, and perplexity.

Must these dead souls, so still and helpless, with the lids of their coffins shut down on them, come thus perpetually, one or another, betwixt himself and her? And could she think that, were he free to walk abroad in open day, it was to take the way to the house of God that his steps would turn with her?

A sombre irritation rose up in him.

Could he never pluck it out, this 'bit of sweet basil' that was her superstition and defence?