ess mingled with a flaming
anxiety.

"From the boat. She came to the window and let down the blind."

Gaspare did not ask anything. They went to the terrace above the sea.

"I will tell the Signorina you have come, Signore."

"Sha'n't I go down?"

"I had better go and tell her."

He spoke with conviction. Artois did not dispute his judgment. He went
away, always softly. Artois stood still on the terrace. The twilight
was spreading itself over the sea, like a veil dropping over a face.
The house was dark behind him. In that darkness Hermione was hidden, the
Hermione who was a stranger to him, the Hermione into whose heart and
soul he was no longer allowed to look. Upon Monte Amato at evening she
had, very simply, showed him the truth of her great sorrow.

Now--he saw the face at the window, the falling blind. Between then and
now--what a gulf fixed!

Vere came from the garden followed by Gaspare. Her eyes were wide with
terror. The eyelids were red. She had been weeping. She almost ran to
Artois, as a child runs to refuge. Never before had he felt so acutely
the childishness that still lingered in this little Vere of the
island--lingered unaffected, untouched by recent events. Thank God for
that! In that moment the Marchesino was forgiven; and Artois--did he not
perhaps also in that moment forgive himself?

"Oh Monsieur Emile--I thought you wouldn't come!"

There was the open reproach of a child in her voice. She seized his
hand.

"Has Gaspare told you?" She turned her head towards Gaspare. "Something
terrible has happened to Madre. Monsieur Emile, do you know what it is?"

She was looking at him with an intense scrutiny.

"Gaspare is hiding something from me--"

Gaspare stood there and said nothing.

"--something that perhaps you know."

Gaspare looked at Artois, and Artois felt now that the watch-dog trusted
him. He returned the Sicilian's glance, and Gaspare moved away, went to
the rail of the terrace, and looked down over the sea.

"Do you know? Do you know anything--anything dreadful about Madre that
you have never told me?"

"Vere, don't be frightened."

"Ah, but you haven't been here! You weren't here when--"

"What is it?"

Her terror infected him.

"Madre came back. She had been to Mergellina all alone. She was away
such a long time. When she came back I was in my room. I didn't know. I
didn't hear the boat. But my door was open, and presently I heard some
one come up-stairs and go i