Mare Nostrum (Our Sea) A Novel

mmediately realized. The most difficult part of the road was already passed

ew seconds as long as years. The steps of the guard, growing neare

light haze flitted across her pupils now, lik

They are wa

stammering and tremulous. The questions and petitions with whic

r," she said at one o

ne another.... I formal

leav

ess, as serene of countenance as though not recalling the

ed her promise. Ferra

les and glances with the sailor, who fortunately was sitting at a distant table. Then they took strolls a

ly he spoke, in a natural reciprocity, of the island of Java, of the mysterious dances before Siva, of the journeys through the lakes of the Andes. Freya had to make an effort to recall them. "Ah!... Yes!" And after giving this

irmed that the doctor was the only companion of the hours that she passed outside of the hotel. In order to tranquillize himself, the sailor insisted that the widow should

y the artistic souvenirs of the Bourbon domination and that of Murat, they entered into a nearby trattoria with tables placed on an esplanade from whose balconies they could take

of the sea tossing up from its enormous white mass, as though

ng odor that had been half a week perhaps in ascending from the city to the heights of Vomero. Freya jested about the oysterman's typical good looks and the languish

or voice or was playing alone, enlarging upon the melodies

y, the gulf, and its capes spread itself before her eager eyes. The air on this peak enchanted her after two weeks passed without stirring outside of Naples. The harps and violins gave the situation a p

h the cloth and place knee against knee with frenzied pressure. The two were smiling, looking at the landscape and then at each other. Perhaps they were foreig

past in order to paint directly in their albums, with a childish painstaking crudeness, the same

with a petticoat of

s to the table. She ri

ting with water the re

ian

he Argonauts, must have

ather, Ulysses, u

th an exaggeratedly careful division of th

o make a libati

onscientious work, turn their glances toward her. The sailor felt himself overcome by a warm feeling of w

sing with blushing precipitation as though overpowered by some sudden de

e widow recalle

You haven't yet told me this w

his desires. Wine was giving to his words a thrill of emotion; the musical moaning of the orchestra was exci

ght, was singing a romance of the fiesta of Piedigrotta, a lamentation of

g. "These Mediterraneans.... Wha

him or to the singer. She continued talking, placid and d

industry, somewhat scrupulously prepared for the credulous and simple people from t

added mal

at you have a rival. Be

f a fat lady with grisled hair and abundant jewels, a lady escorted by her husband, who was l

dust. He was a handsome pirate disguised as a gentleman. Upon noticing Freya's interest, he changed the course of his glances, poised his fine figure and replie

ith peals of laughter. "I al

h this lady was receiving his mysterious insinuations. Ferragut spoke of

Perhaps he has a wife and many children.... He is t

wo. Ulysses appeared offended by the l

ded because I wished to compare you with that clown?... What if you are the only man that I appreciate at all!... Ulysses, I am speaking to you se

ing light of his eyes. Freya averted her glance while speaking, not wishing to meet his eye, as th

of Spain only a few hours, when disembarking in Barcelona from the transatlantic liner which he had commanded. The S

in love with me, without fine phrases or passionate fictions, your affection would be more sane and deep than that of other men.... My friend, the doctor, says that you ar

the sailor, maki

diocre. You do not abandon a woman intentionally; you do not exploit her.... You are a new species of man for me, who

on of the head. She was accustomed to this cloying music, this Serenata of Toselli,-a passionate lament that always touches the soul of the tourist in

mured. "To wander alone through the world

eternal passion, his offer to unite his life to hers fore

to me. I hate men and do not mind injuring them, but now you inspire me with a certain interest because I believe you are goo

Ferragut running toward danger and was

were born to represent this personage.... I am a 'Fatal Woman,' but really and truly.... If you could know my life!... It is better that you do

him. Flee? Loving her so much? If she had enemies, she could rely upon h

not the conquest that is cherished for a few weeks, no more. Nobody can trust me with impunity. I have suckers just like the animals that

rrenness of her lonely future m

conversation. The two Englishmen had interrupted their painting in order to glare at this gentleman who w

us go," she said, div

and repaired the ravages to her complexion, drawing from her gold-mesh bag a pow

rangement of the lemons that were adorning his stand. She could not see his face, but she guesse

side of which was yellow in the golden sunlight and the other blue in the shade. She it was who sought Ulysses'

ody could see them; their footsteps resounded on the pavements with the echo of an abandoned p

ad!..." he murmured, drawing closer to him Freya

, faint-hearted kiss that in no way recalled the hysterical caress of the Aquarium. Her voice, whi

is for your own good.... I bring trouble. I should be s

rt with his kisses. She advanced limply as though towed by him with no will power of her own, as thoug

pe!... Now it

ys in a direct line, not knowing whithe

ket and spectacles. He gave them the card of a hotel which he owned in the neighborhood, boasting of t

ke?... Would

ake up, dropping

ysses.... That will

on with a haughty step, without looking around, without not

volous as though she had no recollection of her recent indignation. The sailor, und

more strongly than ever the effects of the intoxication that was dominating him,

kness of his knees pushed him toward his hotel and he flung himself face downward on the bed,-whilst his hat rolled on t

his eyes opened again, or at least he believed that they opened

, who was not able to move, saw out of the tail of one eye that what was approac

e same oval face. It was Freya and it was not, just as twins exactly alike phy

d the air with explosive force. Whenever he had seen the widow this subconsciousness had asserted itself, forewarning him that he had

ld; some rather barbarous gems were adorning her bosom and ears, and a flowered skirt was covering the rest of her person. It was

Consta

the very same, perpetuated across the centuries, through extraordinary i

important thing to him was that they should exist; and Freya was at his side; Freya a

Constanza! Oh, Do?a Constanza!..." And night overwhelmed him, cuddling his pillow as when he was

form as in the books of chivalry, or she might simply be the wandering widow of a learned sage,-for the sailor it was all the same thing. He desired her, and to his carnal desire

ries of the expeditio

rt

ss and my tears. You, on the other hand, were as you always ar

ke her to dine at one of the trattorias on the road to Posilipo where they coul

. These strolls represented for her hours of joy and liberty, as thoug

ious to win the prize in the circus-with a noisy clattering of hoofs, cracking of whips, wrathful gesticulations and threatening appeals to the Madonna. Listening to their Neapolitan curses, Ferragut believed for an instant that they were go

e cabman, in order not to be discourteous to his two clients, w

e pointed with his

leman ought to see it

rn from it with a f

harles III to put the

ri....

e steed's pace with a professional howl.... And as though his cry were amo

he year. There was proclaimed the latest fashionable love song, and long after we h

a shor

grotta. Then we'll see the little church of S. Vitale. Many foreign ladies hunt for it in

a good look at them. The gentleman was taking the lady's hand and was pressing it, speaking in a very low tone. The lady was

o instruct his indifferent clients, showing them with the

escribed the loves of shepherdesses, and Frederick II of Aragon made him the gift of a villa with gardens in order

the slightest attention to him, without acknowledging his erudite explanations. Ignorant foreigners!... And he said no mor

ts feet and the border of the sea. On this hanging slope may be seen villas with white or rosy facades midst the splendor of a vegetation that is always green and

palace never finished, with thick walls and huge windows. On the lower floor the waves enter

bout this ruin, and the forgiving coachman f

people! That is the Palazzo di Donn' Anna, and Donna Anna Carafa was a great Neapolitan signora, wife of t

more but stopped him

had begun to talk, with

fuge in offended silen

ly behind

tic Spanish magnate. His passion had made the grave viceroy commit the folly of constructing a palace in the sea

her, by way of explaining his enthusiasm,-"'seek thy

smiled

uld create children with a double country who would end by belonging to none, who would wande

iled with sadnes

" "The Joy of Parthenope," "The Cluster of Flowers."... And meanwhile he was squeezing Freya's hand, pu

and not being troublesome. He knew well what they were talking about behind him. "Lovers,-people who do not wish to arr

us and modern edifice with the name of a restaurant in letters of gold. On the opposite side was the annex, a terraced garden that slipped away down to the sea, and on these terraces were tables in the open

comradeship which passes down through all the social strata, uniting them as simple men. He had brought many f

n as he spied Ferragut. "I have whatever the gentleman may need." And crossing a low, embowered terra

oom whose paper was hanging loose at intervals. "How beautiful!" The gulf pictured through the window appear

g the door half open, his fingers fumbling with an enormous archaic bolt on the under side which had belonged to a much larger door and looked as though it were goi

r contemplation of t

s trying to ca

we have agreed. Remember that I have accepted your in

s already an accepted thing. As it had the force of custom, she did not resist it, remem

true love has promised me," she said gayly in

he old seats, the walls with their loose papering and the chromos in greenish frames, she spied something dark, rectangular and deep occupying one corner of the room. Sh

never be able to eat beside that filthy piece of furniture wh

her, and hiding with his back that bolt which was the waiter's pride. He stammered

ot know me. That kind of thing is for others.... Back, if you

lysses was letting her pass freely, reiterating his excuses and

enly tranquillized upon finding h

uch more comfortable in the open air looking at the gulf. Come, now

s and evaded the lady's eye like a convicted criminal, looking at the gentleman with the forlorn air which he always employed when announcing that there was no more of some dish on the b

us with a slight taste of sulphur. Freya was thirsty and was suspicious of the water of the trattoria. Ulysses must forget his recent mortification..

ars and an apron of many colored stripes, was dancing under the arbor, waving on high a tambourine that was almost the size of a parasol.

al. The blue of the sky had also turned rosy and the mountain seemed aflame in the afterglow. The plume of Vesuvius was less white tha

any a time he had seen this same panorama with its dancing girls and its volcano there in his old

ochre; although the houses had tawdry fa?ades, all these discordant elements were now blended and interfused in subdued and exquisite harmony. The s

land of burned-out rocks denuded of vegetation that she had seen and

she murmured with misty eyes. "To di

imagination described the delights of life for the two,-a life of love and mystery in some

as the day was fading. The waiter had ushered some highly-painted women with enormous hats, followed by some young men, into t

the memory of her passage t

to serve dinner. To the bottle of Vesuvian wine had

their hands toward the glass. The wine was depressing to Freya. The sweetness of t

would have started a violent discussion on any pretext whatever. He did not relish the oysters, the sailor's soup, the lobster

" She was just amusing herself with him. She was a playful and ferocious cat prolonging the death-agony of the mouse caught in her claws. In his brain a brutal voice was saying, as though counseling a murder: "This wi

f his countenance, continued chatting with her glance fixed on the horizon, t

pletely alone, an existence of monastic isolation with all the c

this landscape is for love. To grow old slowly, two who love each other, before th

ggressiveness that was seething beneath his bad humor. How about him?... Was h

ys left this woman cold, accepti

ric. And what if they did kill themselves really? What does that prove?... To leave life on the spur of a moment that gives no opportunity for repentance;-a simple nervous flash, a posture ma

lf out of his sullen silence. A malicious voice w

that he had killed himself for me ... a tiresome, horrible scene.... And nevertheless I am sure that he was deceiving himself, that he did not love me. He killed himself through wounded vanity on seeing that

ined himself in order to listen better to the cruel counsels of the malignant voice speaking within his thoughts.... He was not trying to kill himself for her. Quite the contra

ntinued

me the sacrifice of their existence from the very first words

overlet of its water, exhaling a mysterious freshness that was spreading to the mountains and trees. All the landscape appeared to be acquiring the fragility of crystal. The silent air was trembling with exaggerated reso

ed in paper shades. The mosquitoes and moths, revived by the twi

the twilight air with the vagu

s beloved. What does life signify to a man like you?... Your profession puts it in danger every da

gain and the

ccupy. Only the man that would risk his honor and position for me, who would descend to the lowest depths

opose to him?... But he grew calmer as he listened to her. It was all a fancy of her d

ars in prison.... My poor thief!... I would live only for him, spending night and day near the walls of his prison, looking through the bars, working li

tainly is crazy"-and his thought was so clear

this that I am talking about is merely fancy, a whimsy invented to fill the vacancy of my soul. 'Tis the fau

y to the two empty bottles that wer

s of will o' the wisps. The candle shades in the restaurant were throwing purplish spots upon the table covers, casting upon the faces of those wh

o!" order

honoring the majesty of the night. She needed to move about, to walk

their offers. She wished to return to Naples on foot, following the easy descent of the road of Posilipo

At the very first step the sailor advised her with a kiss on the neck. He was going to take advantage of all the windings of the road, of the hills and terraces cut through in certai

besides, she was sure of her ability to keep her lover at whatever distance she might choose to fi

The only trouble was the necessity of walking on, of accompanying his embraces and protests of love with the incessant activity of walki

as soon as possible. Down there in the curve of the light near the gul

punctuating his words with kisses

sed around her waist, letting herself be dragged along as if s

ice in his brain was chanting victoriously, "Here it is!... I

n hour, fancying that only

people and more life here than in the road to Posilipo. They avoided the electric lights of the Via Caracci

erself for her languor during the walk. Finding herself near the h

ther again to-morrow.... I am going to

. "Was it a jest?..." But no, he could not think that

ounselor was rancorously chanting, "She's making a fool of you!... It's time to put an end to all this..

n her as though he Were going to kill her, holding her tightly in his arms, and th

raising his two hands to his shoulders. He felt a sharp pain, as though one of his bones had just broken.

d, hurling upon her the w

, uniting to his original purpose the desire of ma

er eyes, Ulysses without knowing why recalled the "eye

contact on his forehead of a diminutive metal circle,

. It had appeared in Freya's hand, drawn secretly from her clothes, o

surmised her familiarity with the weapon that she had in her han

ing it until he broke it, without the slightest fear of the revolver. But he had opposite him a woman ... an

emonious and threatening tone as though

ed back, thoughtful and confused. She turned her back on him

ng at him for the last time with contemptuous eyes. They must be terrible insults, and ju

t is all ended. It

ng all the wakeful night between agonizing attacks of nightmare. When the morning

last tip to the porter, telling him that a few hours

his liberty as though he had gained this liberty of his own free will and it had not been imposed upon him by her scorn. Since

. "Adieu, accursed albergo!... Never will I see you again

faction became immeasurably increased. Here only could he live

aw the sun coming out after a tempest. He distributed kindly words and affectionate grasps of the hand. The repairs w

imation worth a good dish of rice. Ah, the great man!... He surely was going to live to be a hundred! And the cook fl

e road of duty. When the young officials used to talk in his presence of boisterous suppers on shore with women from distant coun

of the planet without permitting himself any distraction whatever, but would awake with an overpowering tensio

the dates of his voyages by the age of his eight children. "This one was on returning from th

secret of the captain's enthusiasm and wrath. "It must be a woman," he said to himself, upon seeing him installed in

city, Toni again ejaculated mentally, without the captain's suspecting anything from his impa

e had been told of a certain cargo for Barcelona,-some cheap freight,-but that was better than going empty.... If the cargo should be delayed, they would set sail merel

d Toni who, during the entire m

opposite the commercial wharf, shining and rejuvenate

ing,-the third officer, a young Andalusian, presented himself greatly excited by the piece of news of which he was the bearer. A most beautiful and elegant lady (the young man empha

He did not really know whether she was from Naples; he had never seen her, but he was certain that she wa

rm chair, jumped up from the table,

the depths of the hold, from the metallic corridors of the engine rooms. Even Uncle Caragol was sticking his episcopal face out through the door o

ing of the multi-millionaires who live on their yachts. The seamen, cleaning brass or polishing wood, were pretending extraordinary occupations i

y extended her hand, as though she

, I felt obliged to visit you on your ship. I have always wante

d, challenging, of a calm seductiveness. She appeared to be surrendering herself entirely. Her smiles, her words, her manner of crossing the deck t

same time that he was foretasting the sweet satisfaction of love and triumphant pride, there arose in him a vague instinct of suspi

At the very first glance he understood and excused the captain's conduct. Then he fixed his eyes upon her with an expression of alarm, as though her presence made

s a true Mediterranean, just the kind she had imagined to herself,-a faun p

retty little hoofs like a goat's. He must know how

r stolidly as he went away. Ferragut felt greatly relieved at

ses, she ran through the great

everywhere. Everything of yours interests me. You will not say now that I do not love

gently from the sailor. He, forgetting the past, and wishing to take advantage

. "Now let me look around. I

ome thin and plaintive chords, showing many years' lack of tunin

otten in the depths of a wardrobe among the clothes of some dec

the captain's sleeping room without wishing to pass the threshold, without loosening her hold on the brass doorknob in her rig

ill be yours, I promise you; I give you my word of honor. But wh

a caressing and submissive voice, all possible pride in such spon

ous glasses filled with a ruddy and foamy cocktail,-an intoxicating and sweet mixture, a composite of all t

manner. She was offering her libation to Eros, the god of Love, the most beautiful of the gods, and Ferragut who always had a certai

ragut would return ashore, lodging in the same albergo. They wou

ns of the Villa Nazionale.... Yes, there whe

ed her recollections with feminine astuteness.... It was Ulysses who

ts to see you and has asked me to bring you. She is very much i

. But before returning to her launch, she felt curious to inspect

e galleries of the engine room and the four-sided abyss of the hatchways, sniffing the musty odor of the hold. On the bridge she to

l lines of casseroles into lamentable disorder, and poking the tip of her rosy little

and goings, perturbed the apostle. His chef-like, sense of smell made him feel annoyed by the perfume of this lady. "Pretty, but with the smell of ..." he repeated mentally. For him all femin

ere driving away flies. He wished to clear the atmosphere of bad odors. He felt as scanda

gs in order to follow the course of the l

idge, also contemplated

ay the sea swallow you u

Captain!" And the captain nodded his head, smiling and gratified by t

as though foreseeing the chance of getting an easy fee from his client, took it upon himself to select a room f

know where the doctor was hiding her majestic personality. He anticipated something extraordinary in this dwelling-place, but was disposed t

stopped before this door, but had gone on, misled by the little metal door pla

e as one of the hill-side streets, with broad turnings which in former time permitted the passage of the litters and chairmen. As souvenirs of the white-wigged personages and ladies of voluminou

or before a row of doors rath

is," sa

f green leather displaying a commercial sign,-enormous, gilded and pretenti

s tables. One employee only was working here,-a man of uncertain age with a childish face and a clipped beard. Hi

, and passed on as though he were a mere porter. Ulysses upon following her

ole, too?"

He is a protégé

, glaring imitation-Oriental rugs, and on the walls, prints from the periodicals between gilt moldings. On a table were displayed their marble ornaments and silver things, a great dressing-case with a cover of cut leather, and a few l

he was bending over an American desk, but she saw them immediately in a mirror which

The narrow skirt drawn tightly over the edge of her knees appeared like the handle of an enormous club. Over the green sea of her dress she was wearing a spangled white tull

Her meeting was almost an embrace.... "My dear Captain! Such a long time since I have seen you!..." She had heard of him freque

bidding him farewell in Salerno and the care whic

of her person and the affection of her eyes. She was a real mother for her young friend. While speaking, she was patting Freya's great locks of hair, which had just escaped from underneath her hat,

he matron. "Freya speaks only of you. She has been

s to a son-in-law. Her kindly glance was somewhat melancholy. It was the sweet sadness of mature people who find the present monotonous, the

ther so much!... Life is worth

els, threw one arm around the doctor's globular, corseted

You may kiss each other...." And the imposing dame, trumping up an insignificant pretext, so as to facilitat

g referring to the adornment of his person. The suit of gray wool appeared to have achieved its finishing touch in the harmony of cravat, socks, and handkerchief sticking out of his pocket,-all in the same tone. The three pieces were blue, without the s

clipped on the cheeks and forming over the chin a short, sharp point. The captain suspected that he was a sailor. In the German fleet,

th a brusque stiffness, upon kissing the hands of the two ladies. Then he raised his imp

ine ... Capt

for and vigorous, which for a long time enclosed that of U

which was the language employed by the

r?" asked Ferragut in ord

light ripple of surprise appeared to cross its

now on leave, regaining his health. He has tr

tinued her

f a Russian family e

The doctor, being a P

many years.... And she

cue in the

in his words, as though he could not possibly lay aside his d

d of many of Ferragut's nautical adventures. Men of action, the

to make himself agreeable, just like the doctor's. What a lovely home this w

egan talking to him in Spanish, as though he had reserved this final touch in

in his knowledge of the language. "I made a long tri

eler who was displaying in his tastes a certain artistic refinement. For half an hour, there filed through the vulgar atmosphere of this salon, images of enormous pagodas with superimposed roofs whose strings of bells

nds, held herself aloof, understanding the conversation, but without taking any part in it, as though she were offended at the forgetfulness in which the two men

nued on in no way affe

d the Asiatic waters

e he anchored himself w

ion for Ferragut who w

pite of his slight

as speaking since, with brief and exact questions, he was making

e mare nostrum, and especially in the details of its western bow

new mile for mile all its shores,-Spanish, Fren

erranean enclosed between Sardinia, southern Italy, and Sicily,-the part which the ancients had called the Tyrrhe

alizing exactly whether it was curiosity on the part of the listener, or whet

the depths of the Mediterranean. In these the ancients had placed Aeolus, lord of the winds; in these was Stromboli, vomiting forth enormous balls of lava wh

that the Phoenicians had colonized and which had served as a refuge for Saracen pilots. Its population was sc

sted in this extinct and lonely crater in the m

Pantellaria, situated halfway between Sicily and Africa. It was a very high, volcanic cone that came up in the midst of the strait and had at its base alkaline lakes, sulphurous fumes, thermal waters, and prehisto

n aquatic layer that in some points was only twelve yards thick. It was the great shoal called

also appeared to inter

he sea well," he said

e captain saw nothing strange in their lack of servants. The doctor and her friend were to him a pair of women of extraordinary customs, an

nor to Italy's problem at that moment as to whether she should maintain or break her neutrality.

iliarity of persons in the same rank of life, but at times t

his visit to an end. The count offered to accompany him. While he was bidding the doctor good-by, thanking her with ex

htly, hardly moving her lips. "I s

e smile, the pressure of her hand w

ficant things in order to avoid silence, but to him they appeared to be observations of most profound wisdom. His voice sounded musical and affectionate. Every

he hotel. The count, in spite of his offers of fr

t Ferragut. "We shall meet

did not wish to eat; emotion had paralyzed his appetite.... And yet, once seat

guiling his uneasy wait. She would not return to the hotel until very late.... And he therefore retired to h

had been dwelling on the floor above. Poor man! How they must have made fun of him!... Ulysses admired himself as though he were an entirely new personal

ed the window, wishing to get rid of the perfume of strong tobacco. She only liked Oriental cigarettes.... And as the acrid odor of the strong, succulent Havan

s his room. He was not sure that he had given her the directions with sufficient clearness. It was

Every time that footsteps sounded on the stairway or the grating of the elevator creaked, the bearded sailor trembled with a ch

n out with useless calling, he were looking for the domestics; and at other times they surprised him with his head poking out of the half-open door or hastily withdrawing it.

ajar. The rectangle of bright light that it marked on the flo

tlemen in pyjamas were slipping discreetly down the passage way in soft, slipper-clad silenc

ook, but it was impossible to read two paragrap

She will not come!" h

should venture to come to his room while there was a light under the door. Love needed obscuri

wing himself down with an exaggerated noise, in order that nobody might d

me.... She will co

difficulty at the entrance. He put the door slightly ajar so as to avoid the swinging n

keep his watch all night, if it was necessary. He did not wish to sleep. No, he ought not to drowse.... And half a

sleeps without wishing to and feels himself shaken by reviving restlessness. Some moments passed without his taking in the situ

as approaching. A little mouse appeared to be moving down the corridor. The shoes placed outside one of the doors were

y little, very gently pushed. In the darkness he descr

stly voice, a voice fro

.

is right hand to the wall

ad ever seen, with her wealth of hair falling in golden serpents over her

ustanic cloth, embroidered with fantastic flowers and capriciously draped. Through its f

Ulysses' gesture, she reached her hand

*

dow, whose curtains he had forgotten to draw, was blue,-b

rfume of her hair still scented the pillow. The reality of awakening was as joyous for Ulysses, as swe

sweet gulf!..." That certainly was the most beautiful spot in the world. Proud and satisfi

the abundant bread, and the small pat of butter that the waiter brought him. A very small portion for him!... And while he was a

feet. Over her heart there was embroidered a design whose letters Ulysses was not able to decipher. Above this device the point of her handkerchief was sticking out of the pocket.

. She was a second Freya,-a page, an adorable, freakish novelty.

on her second amorous interview. She was trying to guess his impressions, to convince herself of his gra

ver who has achieved his ends and no longer needs to hide and poetize his gross

her head on her knees, and in this position smoked a long time, with her glance fixed on the sea. He guessed that

p this contemplation in order to fasten her eyes on Ulysses, measuring the effect of her words. He stopped

ou will do for me what

ish to lose

ose her?... He could

bout it.... You know nothing about me and you ou

his head; nothing

you, Ulysses. I

ay in which they had spoken together for the first time going to Paestum,

ian. I swear it.... Bu

listened to her with interest,

erman wom