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THE FOOL ERRANT - World eBook Library - World Public Library

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me. The silence, as it became oppressive, made Aurelia angry. She bit her lip.<br />

"Well," she said at last. "Well! have you nothing to say to me, now that you have found me?"<br />

"Madam," said I, "my fault——"<br />

"Oh," cried she in a rage. "Your fault! Do you not see how hateful your 'fault' makes me appear? Do you think the best way of<br />

amending this wonderful fault of yours is to be for ever bewailing it? Has a gentleman never loved a lady before, or am I a lady<br />

whom no man should love? Do you suppose I am flattered to learn that you have hunted me all over Italy only for the pleasure<br />

of telling me that you are ashamed of ever having loved me?"<br />

I said, "I loved you unworthily—I played a knave's part. I distorted your lovely image, I presumed upon your gracious<br />

kindness. I was accursed—accursed. I did sacrilege—I profaned the temple." I strode about before her declaiming against<br />

myself, not looking at her.<br />

She laughed her vexation away. "My poor Checho," she said, "if you knew, if you could understand! Those days and nights of<br />

ours were very sweet. Come, let us walk a little. It is chilly here. Come, we will go into the house and you shall tell me of your<br />

travels." She took my arm; I led her back to the house.<br />

I sat by her side in the little saloon which had been Donna Giulia's boudoir, and served Aurelia now for the same purpose; and<br />

judging honesty the kindest, and only, course, I told her everything of my defence of Virginia, hinting at the same time at my<br />

suspicions of Count Giraldi. I said that the poor child had certainly been betrayed to the marchese, that the count and Father<br />

Carnesecchi alone had known her story, that I could not suspect the Jesuit, and therefore——At this point Aurelia stopped me,<br />

not by any words, but by her appearance of being upon the point of words. She was very much excited, but she controlled her<br />

speech; and I went on to tell her that, in consequence of that betrayal, I had felt bound to make Virginia my wife. At this I<br />

thought that she was ill. She stared at me as if I had suddenly stabbed her; she went perfectly white. "Your wife!" she whispered<br />

—"you have—— "<br />

"Madam," I said, "that is the truth. I have never shrunk from my duty, I believe, and never saw duty plainlier than then. I married<br />

Virginia, or thought that I did; but it now appears that my marriage was none at all— not by my fault, but by that noble girl's<br />

mistaken generosity. And now that I have lost her I must by all means find her. She must be mine for ever."<br />

Aurelia had recovered her colour and self-possession. She was now also very angry, tapping her foot and breathing fast. She<br />

looked disdainfully at me, and reproachfully. "But," she said, with scorn, "But what I am to think of you, Don Francis? Do you<br />

purpose to spend your life seeking ladies whom you have compromised? No sooner have you lost me than you look for<br />

another! And when you find your wife—as you choose to call her—if you are so fortunate, shall you treat her as you have<br />

treated me?"<br />

"I hope so," said I. "My first duty will be to ask her forgiveness; my second to convince her of my repentance; my third——"<br />

"Oh, spare me your THIRDLY," said Aurelia drily. "I have no doubt what your third duty will be, and I am sure you will<br />

perform it admirably." She grew red, tears gathered in her eyes—she stamped her foot. "Vexatious boy!" she cried out, "I wish<br />

to Heaven I had never seen you! You loved me once—but I was not ready. Now that I am—what I am—you are not ready."<br />

"I did you a wrong—I was a villain." A great terror struck me. "God have mercy upon me," I cried. "Aurelia! is it possible— is<br />

it possible—that you——?"<br />

She came very near me—so near that her quick breath fanned my face—so near that I could distinguish her heart-beats. She<br />

took my hands, tried to draw me to her.<br />

"Yes, yes—it is possible—it is possible—it is certain—it is true! I love you—I need you—I will follow you across the world.<br />

Do you think me bold? Judge then of my need. Do you suppose such a confession easy to a woman—or lightly made——? Do<br />

you think me a bad woman? I shall not deny it—but I shall add to your judgment that I am a loving one. Ah, there was a time,"<br />

she said bitterly—for she saw my dismay—"there was a time when you prayed me to love you, and I refused. If then I had<br />

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