mpulsive as to be dangerous,
perhaps, even to those she loved best. Almost she divined that curious
desire of his to protect Vere against her. And yet without her impulsive
nature he himself might long ago have died.

She could not help at this time dwelling secretly on one or two actions
of hers, could not help saying to herself now and then: "I have been
some good in the world. I am capable of unselfishness sometimes. I
did leave my happiness for Emile's sake, because I had a great deal
of friendship and was determined to live up to it. My impulses are not
always crazy and ridiculous."

She did this, she was obliged to do it, to prevent the feeling of
impotence from overwhelming her. She had to do it to give herself
strength to get up out of the dust. The human creature dares not say to
itself, "You are nothing." And now Hermione, feeling the withdrawal from
her of her friend, believing in the withdrawal from her of her child,
spoke to herself, pleading her own cause to her own soul against
invisible detractors.

One visitor the island had at this time. Each evening, when the
darkness fell, the boat of Ruffo's employer glided into the Pool of San
Francesco. And the boy always came ashore while his companions slept.
Since Hermione had been charitable to his mother, and since he had
explained to her about his Patrigno and Peppina, he evidently had
something of the ready feeling that springs up in Sicilians in whom
real interest has been shown--the feeling of partly belonging to his
benefactor. There is something dog-like in this feeling. And it is
touching and attractive because of the animalism of its frankness and
simplicity. And as the dog who has been kindly, tenderly treated has
no hesitation in claiming attention with a paw, or in laying its muzzle
upon the knee of its benefactor, so Ruffo had no hesitation in relating
to Hermione all the little intimate incidents of his daily life, in
crediting her with an active interest in his concerns. There was no
conceit in this, only a very complete boyish simplicity.

Hermione found in this new attitude of Ruffo's a curious solace for the
sudden loneliness of soul that had come upon her. Originally Ruffo's
chief friendship had obviously been for Vere, but now Vere, seeing her
mother's new and deep interest in the boy, gave way a little to it, yet
without doing anything ostentatious, or showing any pique. Simply she
would stay in the garden, or on the terrace, later tha