"Marcello is camping there. He is probably asleep now."
"Asleep!" It was Aurora that uttered the single word, in a puzzled tone.
"He did not go to bed last night," Kalmon explained, going on.
"Oh!" Again the Professor was struck by the young girl's tone.
They reached the third landing, and Kalmon pushed the door, which he had
left ajar; he shut it when they had all entered, and he ushered the
mother and daughter into the small sitting-room. There they waited a
moment while he went to tell Regina that Aurora had come.
The young girl dropped her cloak upon a chair and stood waiting, her
eyes fixed on the door. She was a little pale, not knowing what was to
come, yet feeling somehow that it was to make a great difference to her
ever afterwards. She glanced at her mother, and the Contessa smiled
gently, as much as to say that she was doing right, but neither spoke.
Presently Kalmon came out with the Sister of Charity, who bent her head
gravely to the two ladies.
"She wishes to see you alone," Kalmon said, in explanation, while he
held the door open for Aurora to pass in.
He closed it after her, and the two were together.
When Aurora entered, Regina's eyes were fixed upon her face as if they
had already found her and seen her while she had been in the other room.
She came straight to the bedside and took the hand that was stretched
out to meet hers. It was thin and hot now, and the arm was already
wasted.
Pages:
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363