Her voice was
very weak, as if she were suffocating, and she coughed painfully. He did
not like to go away, but Kalmon promised to call him at midnight; he had
been in the room six hours, scarcely moving from his seat. He lingered
at the door, looked back, and at last went out.
"Will she come?" asked Regina, when he was gone.
"In half an hour. I have sent a messenger, for they have no telephone."
A bright smile lighted up the wasted face.
"Heaven will reward you," she said, as the poor say in Rome when they
receive a charity.
Then she seemed to be resting, for her hands lay still, and she closed
her eyes. But presently she opened them, looking up gratefully into the
big man's kind face.
"Shall I be alone with her a little?" she asked.
"Yes, my dear. You shall be alone with her."
Again she smiled, and he left the nurse with her and went and waited
downstairs at the street door, till the Contessa and Aurora should come,
in order to take them up to the little apartment. He knew that Marcello
must have fallen asleep at once, for he had not rested at all for
twenty-four hours, and very little during several days past. Kalmon was
beginning to fear that he would break down, though he was so much
stronger than formerly.
Marcello had always been grateful to Regina, even when he had convinced
himself that he loved her. Love is not very compatible with gratitude.
Two people who love each other very much expect everything because they
are always ready to give everything, not in return or by way of any
exchange, but as if the two were one in giving and taking.
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