to see this wreckage? Madonna purissima, what is one to do with a boy of
this sort?"

"Let me go," said I, "to my proper fate. I know very well what I have
done." It may be that I did, and I hope that I did; but very certainly I
did not know what to do next; nor did Aurelia. Sobbing and trembling she
lay upon Nonna's breast, imploring her to save us both. I heard the
professor clear his throat upon the floor below, and knew that I was too
late. Nonna took the command.

She flung open the door of the clothes-press, and, "In with you," says
she to me. "Little fool! a pretty state of things!" She turned to her
mistress, "Mistress, go you down and meet him. Keep him at the door--
hold him in talk--hug, kiss, throttle, what you will or what you can,
while I set this to rights." Aurelia, drying her eyes, flew to the door;
and Nonna then, taking me by the shoulders, fairly stuffed me into the
clothes-press, among Aurelia's gowns, which hung there demurely in bags.
"Keep you quiet in there, foolish, wicked young man," said she, "and
when they've gone to bed maybe I'll let you out. If I do, let me tell
you, it will be because you have done so much folly and wickedness as no
one in his senses could have dared. That shows me that you are mad, and
one must pity, not blame, the afflicted."

All this time she was working like a woolcarder at the disordered room,
but could not refrain her tongue from caustic comments upon my
behaviour. "Wicked, wicked Don Francis! Nay, complete and perfect fool
rather, who, because a lady is kind to you, believes her to be dying for
your love. Your love indeed! What is your precious love worth beside the
doctor's? Have you a position the greatest in the university? Have you
years, gravity, authority, money in the funds? Why, are you breeched