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the coming-home
357
the street. And all feel as happy as though they
were giving away a daughter in marriage.
They have all been patient till now, in order to
give Gaetano time to declare himself. But now it
surely must be done. And they commence to shout:
" Long live Gaetano ! long live Micaela !"
Donna Micaela looks up with unutterable anguish.
Surely he must understand that she cannot help
that.
She goes out in the gallery and sends down Lucia
to beg them to be quiet.
When she returns, Gaetano has risen. He offers
her his hand. He wishes to go.
Donna Micaela holds out her hand to him hardly
aware of what she is doing. But then she pulls it
back. " No, no," she says.
He wishes to go, and who knows whether he
will come back to-morrow. And she has not yet
spoken with him; she has not said a word to him of
all she wished to tell him.
Surely it need not be between them as between
ordinary lovers. Had he not given color and
meaning to her life during many years ? If he now talked
love or not to her, that mattered not. She must
nevertheless tell him what he has been to her.
And now, now immediately. She must not waste
time where Gaetano is concerned. She dares not
let him go.
" You cannot go yet," she says. " I must tell
>>
you.
She drags forward a chair for him and seats
herself somewhat behind him. His eyes are too merry
to-night. They distract her.
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