nursing is absolutely essential. The most important point is that the
surgeon must not let you be out of his sight for a moment."

"Ah, Antonio!" whined the old gentleman, "you know how fond I am of
you--what a high opinion I have of your talent! Don't leave me--give me
your dear hand! That is it! My dear, good son, you won't go away from
me, will you?"

"Although I am no longer a surgeon," said Antonio, "although I have
cast away the abominable slavery of that calling to the four winds of
heaven, I do not mind making an exception in your case, Signor
Pasquale, and I undertake to cure you. The only thing which I ask of
you in return is, that you will give me back your friendship--your
confidence; you have been a little hard towards me."

"Say nothing about that," whispered the old fellow; "do not let us
allude to it, dear Antonio."

"Your niece," said Antonio, "will be half-dead with anxiety at your not
having come home. All things considered, you are wonderfully strong and
well, and we will move you to your own house as soon as it is daylight.
When we have got you there, I will have another look at your bandages,
and see to the bed upon which you are to be laid; and I will tell your
niece all that will be necessary to do in your case, so that you may
very soon be quite better."

The old gentleman heaved a very deep sigh, closed his eyes, and
remained silent for some moments. He then stretched his hand out toward
Antonio, drew him close to him, and said, in a whisper: "Tell me,
dearest Antonio, I am right, am I not, in supposing that all that about
Marianna--my niece--was merely your fun--the sort of jesting which gets
into young fellows' heads?"

"I beg you," said Antonio, "not to think about matters of that sort at
such a time as this. Put them out of your head altogether. It is
certainly true that your niece did attract my eyes a little; but I have
very different matters in my mind at present. And--I must tell you
quite candidly--I am very glad that you sent me and my foolish attempt
to the right about so speedily. I thought I was in love with Marianna,
but it was merely that I saw in her a splendid model for my Magdalene.
I presume that is why I have become completely indifferent to her since
my picture was finished. I have no longer the slightest interest in
her."

"Antonio!" cried the old gentleman; "Antonio, blessed of heaven! you
are my comfort, my help, my consolation! If you are not in love with
Mari