Don't you hear it hammering now, as though it would burst my breast
and go to you? But if you say this to try me, or because you pity
me, I can forget it. You are not to think you owe me this, because
you know what I have suffered for you."

"No!" she said very resolutely, looking up from his shoulder into
his face, with her tearful eyes; "it is because I love you; and let
me tell you, it was because I always feared to love you that I was
so cross. I will be so different now. I never could bear again to
pass you in the street without one look! And lest you should ever
feel a doubt, I will kiss you, that you may say, 'She kissed me;'
and Laurella kisses no man but her husband."

She kissed him thrice, and, escaping from his arms: "And now good-
night, amor mio, cara vita mia!" she said. "Lie down to sleep, and
let your hand get well. Do not come with me; I am afraid of no man,
save of you alone."

And so she slipped out, and soon disappeared in the shadow of the
wall.

He remained standing by the window, gazing far out over the calm
sea, while all the stars in heaven appeared to flit before his eyes.

The next time the little curato sat in his confessional, he sat
smiling to himself. Laurella had just risen from her knees after a
very long confession.

"Who would have thought it?" he said musingly--"that the Lord would
so soon have taken pity upon that wayward little heart? And I had