Four Phases of Love

Marina, which is situate in a narrow inlet under the high Torrentine cliffs; fishermen and their wives were already busied, dragging in with stout ropes the net boats, which had been fishing at s

the long rows of those who drew the nets, and here and there there stood an old woman with her distaff o

to take him over to Capri. Maria Santissima! how sleepy the holy man looks still!" and therewith she waved her hand towards a kindly looking little priest, who had seated himself cautiously in a boat bel

child. "Have the people over there got no priest o

hould live through the night. Well, the Holy Virgin helped her, and she got strong and well again, and was able to bathe every day in the sea. When she went from here to go over to Capri, she left a pretty heap of ducats behind for the Church and the poor people, and said that she would not go until our padre promised to v

on?" asked the little priest, loo

the young man; "It will soon scatt

ong oar, in order to push off the boat, when he suddenly checked himself, and looked up t

small bundle under her arm, and was poorly enough dressed; yet she had an almost noble, though rather wild way of throwing

ing for?" asked t

ri. If you will permit it, padre, we shall not go the

f the wall which bordered the winding path. "Laure

The girl approached with hasty st

re if the proximity of their padre had not kept them a little in order, for the short de

dre, "how goes it with you? Do you

ll permit

he patron of the boat. Every one is m

retta, without looking at the youn

lled with oranges on one side to make room. He was going to sell them at Ca

othing." said the girl; and t

reached her his hand, "and seat yourself near me. See there! He has spread his jacket for you that you may sit the softer. He was not half

y excuses, 'Tonino; it is God's l

on one side without saying a word. The young fisherman let it be, and muttered something between hi

padre, as they swept over the sea, just begi

going to sell the silk to a woman in Capri,

spin it y

, pa

y, you have learned t

se, that I cannot leave her for long at a

, when I saw her at Eas

ince we had the great storm and the earthquake,

y Virgin, my child,--she alone can help her. And be

u, 'Good day, La Rabbiata.' Why do they call you so? It is not a p

face glowed, and

and sing and gossip, like the others. They m

who lead easier lives may dance and sing; but kin

m. For a while they, voyaged on in silence. The sun now stood glorious over the mountains. The peak of Vesuvius ranged high over the ban

hat painter, Lauretta," asked the padre,

ook he

your picture--why di

knows what he might have done with it? He might have bewitched me wit

rmission not a hair can fall from your head? And do you think that a man with a poor picture like that can be stronge

as si

nd well to do, and could have kept you and your mother in comfort. Muc

ong time. We should only have been a burden to him; and I am not fit to be a

e was willing to settle in Lorento. Another like him will not come

, never!" she said almost fi

w, or do you intend

ook he

e in the world, and that this resolution of yours makes your sick mother's life and illness still more bitter? What possible

," she said, low and hesitati

old father confessor, whom you used to trust, and

no

you right; but you are young, and know but little of the world, and you might repent

boat, with his woollen cap plucked deeply over his brows, gazing sideways at the sea, and seemi

her," she whispered, and

were hardly ten years old. What can your father, whose

u did not know that he was the c

w s

ave broken, and used to draw the coverlid over my head, and pretend to be asleep, but cried all the night through. And when he saw her lying on the floor, he changed suddenly, and raised her up, and kissed her, till she cried that he was suffocati

emed undecided as to what extent he shou

sten your thoughts on that sad picture, Lauretta. Better

ne moment and caress me the next. If any one tries to strike me or to kiss me now, I know how to defend myself; but my mother could not defend herself

d? Are all men like your father, giving way to every fancy and ill-humour, and beating their w

, or complained of him, and all because she loved him. If that is what love does, closing one's lips when one should cry for

you whether it is to love or not when its time is come! All those fine fancies you have got into that little h

her in his arms and make friends with her--I know those eyes! A man can give that look, too, who can

y pretty speeches, which he thought might suit the girl's case; but the neighbourhood of the yo

last shallow waves, and placed him respectfully upon the shore; but Lauretta would not wait until he waded back to fetch her

it for me; possibly I may not return home till to-morrow. And you, Lauretta, rememb

nity," said the girl,

ded as a tone of indifference; "I will wait for you till the Av

tle priest; "you must not leave your mother a

Anac

d guard you, my chi

o might have divided between them. Antonino, however, did not claim his sh

rl, who was mounting the hill to the right, holding his hand over his eyes to shade them from the bright sun. When she reached the place where the road begins to run between the walls, she paused for a mome

he had sent after her. They both made a movement, like persons who wish to excuse themselves--