Captain Mansana and Mother's Hands

lso arrived before their accustomed time, as though they, as well as he, found pleasure in these meetings, a

ith the old man; then turning suddenly to Amanda, changed the conversation by

Mansana's face from underneath her lowered lids. Seeing her blushes, and little knowing how easily and quickly a young girl's colour com

xclaiming, "Ah! of course! now I understand it! It was Luigi, my nephew, Luigi Borghi! He is staying in the

ose companionship he had specially selected this garrison. He would discover from him details of Luigi's past career. The

town to-morrow to make ready for my marriage, which is shortly to take place. I mention this that you may not misunderstand my motive in speaking to you as

nda!

is your

e i

in which you stand to her? In other words, tell

, no!

an of another; you are at liberty to wi

n repeating that it is not my intention to make Ama

why do you deliberately deceive her as to your intentions and fill her mind wi

our last remark as a

of public knowledge that yo

med Luigi, as he

ain also rose

"I, Giuseppe Mansana, who make th

nd he had no fancy for being run through the body by one of the most formidabl

make any attempt to see her, or you must take the consequences. I inten

icer, I object to b

aused, then added: "But perhaps I have been hasty. I ought first to have given you the chance of complying wit

officer among my friends, and shall in future recko

you pledge m

promis

ful; your h

all my

rew

rew

ide the shop, evidently settling the account. Neither of them noticed Mansana till he was close upon them, when the sudden sight of his white, livid face so scared Amanda that she instantly sought refuge with her father. The lieutenant, however, more horrified than she was at

osition of safety, suddenly saw Mansana, without a sound or even a warnin

a leopard on its prey. Another ins

, as she stood holding tightly by her father's arm. They gazed from her to her companions in the vain hope of discovering the cause

a little crowd of idlers, who came clustering round Aman

t moment Mansana came up, and making his way through the bystanders, with an air of quiet authority, offered her his arm. Thankfully she allowed him to lead her away from the gaping crowd, and her father gladly followed them. Mansana

ough her notions as to the meaning of the term were somewhat vague-but also t

ll extent, as, with a vain hope of gathering info

uld not resist a smile at her simple innocence and at the curious charm and beauty of her expression. And so, restored suddenly to good humour, Mansana gav

minated in an invitation to Mansana to accompany them home; and this Mansana accepted. Amanda-still half afraid le

sweet, rosy, dimpled mouth, and the clear, mystic, playful eyes peeping from their half-closed lids. He gave himself up to the charm of her whole personality, and to

the afternoon. And then he left her as one bewitched. Under the tranquillising influence which her presence brought, he went that very afternoon to seek Luigi, found him in his apartments, and

hing at you," declare

en almost justified. I can see now how l

d felt as though he were in the presence of his executioner, was now seized with a bewildering sense of joy at his departure. He jumped about the room, and broke into a loud peal of laughter. Mansana, who was still upon the staircase, heard

heard laughi

answered Amorin, wit

riefly round the

he went off to the military café, where his little story created a welcome diversion amongst his brother officers. To the accompaniment of their wine, they rained their witticisms over the unfortun

g before the usual time, and only ended when they reached Amanda's door.

ch she herself had done towards this. A young girl's tears flow readily at words of praise, and our little maiden wept as she listened to Mansana's flattering talk. She thought it necessary in return, to tell him what confidence she too had felt in him; and though in her own heart she knew she had always, in his presence, been conscious of a slight sense of fear, she would not mention this. Then, as though in confirmation of her words, which were not so truthful as she would have wished, she gave him one of her smiling glances. The sunshine of her smile caught the glistening tear-drops on her cheeks, and framed a rainbow of indesc

"that you are in love with the little girl up

d, his eyes flashed, his brea

stopped wondering what he could be about to hear; surely no one c

ul, you see

epened colour, his brows knit, and one hand l

should say, but in his own defence, and with a desire of still further irritating the unjustly aroused temper of his friend,

a challenge would be inevitable between the two friends. But Sardi, almost immediately recovering his composure, represented to Mansana what an ugly sensation it would create, were he t

on from Mansana. He would look after his own affairs, and protect his own reputation; Sardi must give the names of his detractors! The major saw no reason for conce

re all these officers would now be assembled. Sardi,

di undertook himself to carry the challenge to the lieutenant. "

s said of me,"

That you are in love with Aman

olerably certain that he would, in two or three days' time, have been marrie

dness to assert t

vil does it concern you if the young whelp says so, or whether he

d a scoundrel to u

ly abuse a young man for the crime of

scornfully, with clenched fists and k

after her when

t go!" shou

o? Have you los

his hands and arms raised above his

as take

ly do love her

ho feared an attack of apoplexy, but after a brief struggle with himself, Mansana's

urning to Sardi, he added:

he was like a drive

rried away, in a

for?" asked Sardi, as

oing to

reed that I wa

ell, th

re are y

"I love her, and whoever tries to take her f

d Sardi, quite forgetting that

sinewy hands above his head, Man

hall l

grew a

our mind which causes you to feel and speak like this. You are not yourself, Giuseppe! Do not ru

Mansana

t that I ever paid attention to those people in the street! I must needs h

step nea

n to proclaim it aloud to

him by the arm, guided him quietly into a less frequented street. But Mansana paid no hee

teward of her ladyship's estates, the slave of her ladyship's caprices? Now, for the first time,

almost any mad feat might be possible; so, with an ingenuity and perseverance that did him credit, he sought to induce him to take a little journey, just