you love the sea—and down on my Sicilian shore I would make you a nest as the lory makes his amongst the orange-trees, and your nest should be all amongst the white orange and lemon flowers, and overhang the waves so that you should be able to see the coral and the fish of the deep water, just leaning from your balcony. When I heard the church-bells ringing inland as I went along the black, wintry, bitter coast, it was for you I prayed. I took my good ship into her dock, and then I came back here to find you. Why will you not say something gentler? To love you is no offence.'
'You have seen me twice!'
'When I had seen you once it was enough: I love you, and I was not afraid———'
He was thinking of the fierce Mastarna blood which he knew ran in her veins; he was thinking, 'though I knew that she would live to plunge a knife into my breast, yet would I make her mine—if I could, if I could.'
She heard him with pain and with anger. Her whole nature had softened and changed under the influence of a great passion as
