so suddenly grown thorny.

"Ma--madonna!" he stammered.

She swallowed hard, and spoke at last.

"Do you defy my will, Agostino?"

"On the contrary, madam mother, I am enforcing it. Your will shall be
done; your order shall be given. I insist upon it. But it shall lie with
the discretion of the grooms whether they obey you. Am I to blame if
they turn cowards?"

O, I had found myself at last, and I was making a furious, joyous use of
the discovery.

"That... that were to make a mock of me and my authority," she protested.
She was still rather helpless, rather breathless and confused, like one
who has suddenly been hurled into cold water.

"If you fear that, madam, perhaps you had better countermand your
order."

"Is the girl to remain in Mondolfo against my wishes? Are you so... so
lost to shame?" A returning note of warmth in her accents warned me that
she was collecting herself to deal with the situation.

"Nay," said I, and I looked at Luisina, who stood there so pale and
tearful. "I think that for her own sake, poor maid, it were better that
she went, since you desire it. But she shall not be whipped hence like a
stray dog."

"Come, child," I said to her, as gently as I could. "Go pack, and quit
this home of misery. And be easy. For if any man in Mondolfo attempts to
hasten your going, he shall reckon with me."

I laid a hand for an instant in kindliness and friendliness upon her
shoulder. "Poor little Luisina," said I, sighing. But she shrank and
trembled under my touch. "Pity me a little, for they will not permit me
any friends, and who is friendless is indeed pitiful."

And then, whether the phrase touched her, so that her simple little
nature was roused and she shook off what self-control she had ever
learnt, or whether she felt secure enough in my protection to dare
proclaim her mind before them all, she caught my hand, and, stooping,
kissed it.

"O Madonnino!" she faltered, and her tears showered upon that hand of
mine. "God reward you your sweet thought for me. I shall pray for you,
Madonnino."

"Do, Luisina," said I. "I begin to think I need it."

"Indeed, indeed!" said my mother very sombrely. And as she spoke,
Luisina, as if her fears were reawakened, turned suddenly and went
quickly along the terrace, past Rinolfo, who in that moment smiled
viciously, and round the angle of the wall.

"What... what are my orders, Madonna?" quoth the wretched seneschal,
reminding her that all had not