calm and vacant as the hour following thunder. But, of her safety by his
side she had no longer a doubt. She let him gather weeds and grasses,
and bind them across her feet, and perform friendly services, sure that
nothing earthly could cause such a mental tempest to recur. The
considerate observation which at all seasons belongs to true courage
told her that it was not madness afflicting Angelo.

Near nightfall they came upon a forester's hut, where they were welcomed
by an old man and a little girl, who gave them milk and black bread, and
straw to rest on. Angelo slept in the outer air. When Vittoria awoke
she had the fancy that she had taken one long dive downward in a well;
and on touching the bottom found her head above the surface. While her
surprise was wearing off, she beheld the woodman's little girl at her
feet holding up one end of her cloak, and peeping underneath, overcome by
amazement at the flashing richness of the dress of the heroine Camilla.
Entering into the state of her mind spontaneously, Vittoria sought to
induce the child to kiss her; but quite vainly. The child's reverence
for the dress allowed her only to be within reach of the hem of it, so as
to delight her curiosity. Vittoria smiled when, as she sat up, the child
fell back against the wall; and as she rose to her feet, the child
scampered from the room. 'My poor Camilla! you can charm somebody,
yet,' she said, limping; her visage like a broken water with the pain of
her feet. 'If the bell rings for Camilla now, what sort of an entry will
she make?' Vittoria treated her physical weakness and ailments with this
spirit of humour. 'They may say that Michiella has bewitched you, my
Camilla. I think your voice would sound as if it were dragging its feet
after it just as a stork flies. O my Camilla! don't I wish I could do
the same, and be ungraceful and at ease! A moan is married to every note
of your treble, my Camilla, like December and May. Keep me from
shrieking!'