Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Book I - V. Don Ferrante
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
80
80 the miracles of antichrist.
" It is about my sister Donna Elisa," he had said.
" She knew your mother, signorina, and she is very
anxious to make your acquaintance. She is sitting
here near the cathedral. Let me conduct you to
her."
And without more ado, Don Ferrante had placed
her arm on his and led her to Donna Elisa. And
she made no resistance. Donna Elisa would have
liked to see the one who, to-day, could have
withstood Don Ferrante.
But Donna Elisa had then risen and gone to meet
the lady in black, and thrown back her veil. And
she had kissed her on both cheeks.
But what a face, what a face ! Maybe it was not
at all beautiful, but it had eyes that spoke for
themselves, and that mourned and wept, even when the
whole face smiled. Gaetano would not perhaps want
to carve or paint a Madonna from that face, for it
was too thin and too pale, but surely the Lord knew
what He was about when he did not place those eyes
in a face that was rosy and plump.
When Donna Elisa kissed her, she had laid her
head on her shoulder, and a few short sobs had
shaken her, and then looked up with a smile. It was
as if the smile had said : " Ah, is the world like this ?
Is it so beautiful? Let me look and smile at it!
May a poor unfortunate like myself really dare to
look at it and be seen ? "
All this she had said without words, with a smile
only. Such a face, such a face !
Here Gaetano interrupted Donna Elisa. " Where
is she now ? " he said. " I too must see her."
Then Donna Elisa looked Gaetano straight in the
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
