song before trying it. She did not look up as the door opened and was
shut, for she supposed it must be Cucurullo who had come to ask a
question. Don Alberto stood still a few seconds in silent admiration.
She had evidently been washing her hair, for it was loose and was combed
out over her shoulders in red-auburn waves; and the shorter locks at her
temples and round her forehead floated out in little clouds full of rich
but transparent colour. The morning was warm, and she was still clad in
a loose dressing-gown of thin white silk trimmed with a simple lace.
Never, in many misspent days, had Altieri seen a more radiant vision.
When she had read all the words of the song, she laid the sheet on the
table beside her, and spoke without looking round, for, as her chair was
placed, the door was a little behind her, and she was sure that it was
Cucurullo who had entered, since she had not heard the slight sound of
Pina's cotton skirt.

'What is it?' she asked quietly.

'A thief, dear lady,' answered Don Alberto, smiling; 'one who has forced
your door to steal a sight of you----'

At the first word she had risen, turning towards him as she rose, and
laying the lute on the table at her left, which was between her and the
door.

'How dare you come here?' she cried, indignantly interrupting his pretty
speech.

'I dare everything and--nothing,' he answered; 'everything for the
happiness of seeing you and hearing your voice, but nothing else that
can displease you! See, I do not move a step, I stand here your prisoner
on parole, for I give you my word that I will not run away! I will
stand here like a statue, or kneel if you bid me, or lie prostrate at
your feet!'

'I bid you go, sir! I bid you leave me, for you have no right to be
here!'

'No right? I have the right to live, sweet lady! The meanest creature
has that.'

'I do not bid you die,' Ortensia answered with some contempt. 'I only
tell you to go!'

'And so to die most painfully, for I cannot live without seeing you!
Therefore I will do anything but go away before my eyes have fed me full
of you and I can bear another day's fasting!'

'Then, sir,' said Ortensia proudly, 'it is I that will leave you; and if
you mean in earnest not to displease me, you will not stay here.'

She made two steps towards the door of her own room, before he moved;
then he sprang nimbly forward and placed himself in front of her, at a
little distance.

'I ask nothing but a kind wor