ly dare offer you such a trifle as this; but as it
really belonged to Fabio, and to Fabio's father, whom you knew, I think
you ought to have it. Will you take it and wear it to please me?" and
she slipped on my finger the diamond signet--my own ring!

I could have laughed aloud! but I bent my head gravely as I accepted it.

"Only as a proof of your affection, cara mia," I said, "though it has a
terrible association for me. I took it from Ferrari's hand when--"

"Oh, yes, I know!" she interrupted me with a little shiver; "it must
have been trying for you to have seen him dead. I think dead people
look so horrid--the sight upsets the nerves! I remember when I was at
school here, they WOULD take me to see a nun who died; it sickened me
and made me ill for days. I can quite understand your feelings. But you
must try and forget the matter. Duels are very common occurrences,
after all!"

"Very common," I answered, mechanically, still regarding the fair
upturned face, the lustrous eyes, the rippling hair; "but they do not
often end so fatally. The result of this one compels me to leave Naples
for some days. I go to Avellino to-night."

"To Avellino?" she exclaimed, with interest. "Oh, I know it very well.
I went there once with Fabio when I was first married."

"And were you happy there?" I inquired, coldly.

I remembered the time she spoke of--a time of such unreasoning, foolish
joy!

"Happy? Oh, yes; everything was so new to me then. It was delightful to
be my own mistress, and I was so glad to be out of the convent."

"I thought you liked the nuns?" I said.

"Some of them--yes. The reverend mother is a dear old thing. But Mere
Marguerite, the Vicaire as she is called--the one that received
you--oh, I do detest her!"

"Indeed! and why?"

The red lips curled mutinously.

"Because she is so sly and silent. Some of the children here adore her;
but they MUST have something to love, you know," and she laughed
merrily.

"Must they?"

I asked the question automatically, merely for the sake of saying
something.

"Of course they must," she answered, gayly. "You foolish Cesare! The
girls often play at being one another's lovers, only they are careful
not to let the nuns know their game. It is very amusing. Since I have
been here they have what is called a 'CRAZE' for me. They give me
flowers, run after me in the garden, and sometimes kiss my dress, and
call me by all manner of loving names. I let them do it becaus