hn, Ortensia was already packing her
own and Stradella's belongings for the journey to Naples. Though she and
Pina had left Venice with no baggage but a piece of white Spanish soap,
a comb, and a little yellow leather work-case, Ortensia now had enough
linen and gowns, and laces and ribbons, to fill two respectable trunks,
and Pina was well provided with all that a serving-woman needed in the
way of clothes.

Nothing had yet been said between the nurse and her mistress about Don
Alberto's last visit, but an explanation was inevitable. One day Pina
asked if she might have a small box or a valise for her own things.

'We shall not want you in Naples,' said Ortensia quietly. 'You shall
have your wages from the day when my uncle last paid you, and a present
of ten gold florins for your long service; but I shall not want you any
more.'

She had been folding some delicate laces while she spoke, and she did
not look up till she heard a little choking cry from the nurse. Pina
stood grasping the back of a chair to keep herself from falling, and her
face was grey.

'Good heavens!' cried Ortensia. 'Are you ill? What is the matter with
you?'

Pina could hardly speak; she slowly moved her bent head from side to
side as if in an agony of pain.

'It is death!' she moaned. 'You are sending me to die!'

Ortensia went to her and took her by the arm energetically, as if to
rouse her.

'This is absurd!' she cried. 'I know what you said to my husband before
we fled from Venice, and it is of no use to pretend that you are going
to die of grief if you leave me!'

But Pina only shook her head, and would not look up.

'And as for having been so very faithful,' Ortensia went on, in a tone
of displeasure, 'it was only the other day that you took money from Don
Alberto to let him see me when my husband was out and I was alone! Do
not deny it!'

Pina looked up now, with something of a born lady's pride in her eyes
and tone.

'I never took a bribe in my life!' she cried indignantly. 'Don Alberto
threatened to have me arrested and put to the question, and I was
afraid, and let him in. Yes, I was afraid. I am a coward, for I have
felt pain. That was done to me once, to make me confess, and more too!'

She held out her broken thumb, and her hand shook; and Ortensia
shuddered as she looked at it.

'He threatened to have my pardon cancelled, and to have me tortured
again, and then sent to the Convent of Penitent Women for life! Do not