Page:In Maremma, by Ouida (vol 3).djvu/64

 sleep or lie awake at night? I hear your voice always, saying cruel things.'

She coloured and did not answer him.

Was she cruel?—and to him?

It was early day, the sun had but just come over the mountains; there was a loud piping and trilling of birds above ground amongst the myrtle and olive.

She was ready to go; she had the cloth rolled in a bale, which she would carry on her shoulder. She looked at him wistfully; a great longing came over her to drop down at his feet and bury her face upon his knees and cry out to him—'I am thy servant, thy dog, thy love!'

But she was haunted by the memory of the dead Mantuan woman, and by the remembered words of Joconda; she restrained the passion of tenderness that welled up in her as the moment of her own departure drew nigh. She placed before him all that he might need during the day, and without meeting his eyes said to him: 'Farewell for a little while. Be careful, oh I pray you! Be careful.'

'Why should I take any care?' he said bitterly. 'If we are for ever to live thus,