Casa Braccio, Volumes 1 and 2

mself with more care than he had bestowed upon his hasty toilet at dawn. And now that he had plenty of time, he was even more care

, giving himself easily that extremely grave and trust-inspiring air which distinguishes many Scotchmen, and s

foreigner should wear one sort of coat rather than another, when he took his walks abroad. He walked leisurely; for the sky had cleared, and the sun was hot. Moreover, he followed the longer road in order to keep his shoes clean, instead of climbing up the narrow and muddy lane in which Sor Tommaso had been attacked. He reached the convent door at last, brushed a few specks of dust from his coat, settled his high co

d but good Italian that Sor Tommaso had met with an accident in the night; that he, Angus Dalrymple, was a friend of the doctor's and a doctor himself, and had undertaken all of Sor Tommaso's duties, and, finally, t

ia Addolorata," she said. "

, as the little shutter of th

opening it again, and shuttin

t midday. He grew hot, after his walk, and softly wiped his forehead, and carefully folded his handkerchief again before re

you," said the portress's voice, as he

far as seeing anything was concerned, he was disappointed.

prevents him from leaving his bed." And he went on to repeat all that he had told

ually raised her head, throwing it back until she could see Dalrymple's face from beneath the edge of the black material. In so doing she unconsciously uncovered her mouth. The Scotch

y of admitting the stranger. A glance told her that Dalrymple was a gentleman, and she was reassured by the gravity of his voice and by the fact that he was evidently acquain

ister Filomena,"

ould have been admitted to the parlour itself, and they should have said what they had to say to one another through the bars, in the presence of the portress. But Maria Addolorata was the abbess's niece. The abbess was too ill to give orders-too ill even to speak, it was rumoured. In a

assed the threshold, he stood up to his height and then made a low bow to Maria Addolorata, whose ve

to the portress, who nodded respectfully and walked away into the gloo

"lest you should meet any of the sisters unveiled

fully shaped white hands, which she held carelessly clasped before her and holding the end of the great rosary of brown beads which hung from her sid

Maria Addolorata, as though impatient at the long absence of the portress, tapped the pavement softly with her

se than when Doctor Taddei saw he

h a little emphasis, as though to teach him the proper mode of

e to her most reverend excellency," said Dalry

hall come with me to the antechamber, and I w

will do my best to give good ad

t the world to have lost the habit of making conversation to break an awkward silence. Years of seclusion, too, instead of making her shy and silent, had given her something of the

ume, Signor Doctor?" she obser

e, correcting her and drawing himself u

nglishman or a Scotc

is a great difference. The Scotch are ch

estants. It is theref

He did not answer the nun's last remark, but bowed polite

he said presently. "

, Ma

Maria Addolorata. "Ma

you,

il at the polite simplicity of the r

"It is more usual to speak to us as 'Sister' or 'Reverend Sister'-or 'Sister Maria

Taddei t

ing footsteps, turned her head from Dalrymple, raising her veil a little, so th

er veil again, and beginning to w

ime in healing. It had all come about so naturally that he had lost the sensation of doing something adventurous which had at first taken possession of him, and he now regarded everything as possible, even to being invited to a friendly cup

waited outside to conduct him back again. But Maria did not take him into the abbess's parlour, into which she went at onc

," she said, as she ente

er Maria Addolorata," he answered, rising qu

ill not hear of seeing you. I fear she will

she

complains that she cannot draw her breath

s clearly. The long conversation, with its little restraints and its many attempts at a mutual understanding, did more to accustom Maria Addolorata to Dalrymple's presence and personality

patient myself. Is there no possible means of obtaining her consent? She may die for the want of just such advice as I can o

views. I have heard it said in Rome. I could write to him that Doctor Ta

upted Dalrymple, with hi

He will be the more ready to use his influence, for he is much attached to my aunt. Then, if he can p

er school than Doctor Taddei. If you will follow my directions, I will almo

rata for a long time, though he had only had one glimpse of her eyes, just when she had raised her head to ge

ou tell me," she

els, and not knowing what might be required of him at the

ing the bottles to the nun. "And five drops of

could, about the general treatment of the pa

hat the cardinal says to the plan," she said. "In

, he held out his hand, for

Addolorata, thrusting each of her

fancied that she was almost on the point of laughing at that moment

servant," he sai

rough the open door, as the portress jingle

without much satisfaction at t