Note: Translator Pauline Bancroft Flach died in 1966, less than 70 years ago. Therefore, this work is protected by copyright, restricting your legal rights to reproduce it. However, you are welcome to view it on screen, as you do now. Read more about copyright.
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74
THE MIRACLES OF AJVTICHRIST
She could not marry, for she brought dishonor and
disgrace with her as a marriage portion.
“If you marry an Alagona, dear signorina,” said
Don Matteo, “you need not fear that any one will
ask of what family you are. It is an honorable old
name. Don Ferrante and his sister, Donna Elisa,
are considered the first people in Diamante, although
they have lost all the family riches, and have to
keep a shop. Don Ferrante knows well enough that
the glory of the old name would not be tarnished by
a marriage with you. Have no scruples for that,
signorina, if otherwise you may be willing to marry
Don Ferrante.”
But Signorina Palmeri repeated what she had said.
Don Ferrante should not marry the daughter of a
convict. She sat pale and despairing, as if wishing
to practise saying those terrible words. She said
that she did not wish to enter a family which would
despise her. She succeeded in saying it in a hard,
cold voice, without emotion.
But the more she said, the greater became Don
Matteo’s desire to help her. He felt as if he had
met a queen who had been torn from her throne. A
burning desire came over him to set the crown again
upon her head, and fasten the mantle about her
shoulders.
Therefore Don Matteo asked her if her father
were not soon coming out of prison, and he wondered
what he would live on.
The signorina answered that he would live on her
work.
Don Matteo asked her very seriously whether she
had thought how her father, who had always been
rich, could bear poverty.
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