IX.
WHEN the Señora came back to the veranda, she found Felipe asleep, Alessandro standing at the foot of the bed, with his arms crossed on his breast, watching him. As the Señora drew near, Alessandro felt again the same sense of dawning hatred which had seized him at her harsh speech to Ramona. He lowered his eyes, and waited to be dismissed.
“You can go now, Alessandro,” said the Señora. “I will sit here. You are quite sure that it will be safe for Señor Felipe to sleep here all night?”
“It will cure him before many nights,” replied Alessandro, still without raising his eyes, and turning to go.
“Stay,” said the Señora. Alessandro paused. “It will not do for him to be alone here in the night, Alessandro.”
Alessandro had thought of this, and had remembered that if he lay on the veranda floor by Señor Felipe's side, he would also lie under the Señorita's window.
“No, Señora,” he replied. “I will lie here by his side. That was what I had thought, if the Señora is willing.”
“Thank you, Alessandro,” said the Señora, in a tone which would have surprised poor Ramona, still sitting alone in her room, with sad eyes. She did not know the Señora could speak thus sweetly to any one but Felipe. “Thank you! You are kind. I will have a bed made for you.”
