THE FOOL ERRANT - World eBook Library - World Public Library
THE FOOL ERRANT - World eBook Library - World Public Library
THE FOOL ERRANT - World eBook Library - World Public Library
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"I will tell you, sir, the reason of both your puzzlements," I said. "I was put into the cupboard because Donna Aurelia was rightly<br />
ashamed of me, and I came out because I was honestly ashamed of myself."<br />
"Ha!" said he, "so now we have it."<br />
"You shall have it now," I replied. "I was honestly ashamed of myself, and honestly glorious that I had been rebuked by so<br />
noble a lady. Sir, it is true that I love this lady." Aurelia gave a shocked little cry, but I went on. "It is true that I kiss her feet. Sir,<br />
I worship the ground she presses with them—it is holy ground."<br />
He scoffed at me. I said, "My feelings overcame me—I sinned—I am utterly unworthy. Punish me for my sin as you will, I shall<br />
not defend myself. But do not, and do not you, madam, I entreat, punish me for the one thing I have done this night of which I<br />
may be rightly proud."<br />
"Bah," said he, "you are a fool, I see. And now, madam—-"<br />
"Yes, Porfirio," said she, poor soul.<br />
"You, and that she-wolf over there—what have you to say?"<br />
"I say," said Nonna, "that the young gentleman is out of his wits."<br />
Aurelia said, "I am wretched. He was very foolish."<br />
"You have deceived me," he thundered at her, "made a fool of me at your ease. You spoke your wheedling words, and he was<br />
in there to listen, and to laugh, by my soul! You coaxed, you stroked, you sidled, you whispered, and he was in there laughing,<br />
laughing, laughing! Oh, madam, you talk of his young foolishness, but you make your profit of my old foolishness."<br />
"It is false," said Aurelia. "I never did it."<br />
"By my soul," says he, "I'll not be contradicted. I say that you do. O Heaven, is this your duty, your gratitude, your thanks due<br />
to me? Why— why—why—what did I take you from? What did I make of you? Your wretched mother—-"<br />
She looked up with flashing eyes. There was danger to be seen on its way. "She is not wretched."<br />
"Then she should be, madam," he said. "She is parent of a wicked, false—"<br />
Aurelia, crying, shook to get free. "No, no! Be silent. You shall not say such things." She stamped her foot. "It is absurd, I won't<br />
have it," she said. He gave a strangling cry of rage and despair, released her and rushed towards the cupboard. Dramatically, he<br />
flung his arms towards it as if he would shake off his two hands and leave them there. "Explain that, woman," he screamed.<br />
"Explain it if you dare—-"<br />
She was now equally angry, with patches of fire in her cheeks. "I shall explain nothing more. You will not believe me when I do.<br />
My mother will understand me."<br />
"Then she shall—if she can," says the doctor, "and as soon as you please." Aurelia peered at him. "What do you mean, sir?"<br />
"Why, madam, that you shall go where you are best understood."<br />
"What!" she cried, "you mean—? You cannot mean—Oh, preposterous!"<br />
The doctor was looking at the cupboard. "Ay, and it is preposterous, and I do mean it."<br />
She stared at him for a moment, perplexed, then flew into a towering and ungovernable rage. "Ah," she cried, and she shook in<br />
every member. "Ah, now you may mean what you please, for I have done. Do you dare to suspect me? Do you dare to treat<br />
me as an infamous woman? Oh, oh, do you dare? You shall have no need to repeat it. I will go to my mother's house—I will go<br />
now—now—now. Nonna, my cloak and shoes—at once. I have been good—I have always tried to be good—and do you<br />
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