My child, my child, the world is strong, the
pride of rank is rooted deep, and the human will is frail at
best! Be warned! For your own sake and for Fabio's, be warned in
time."
Nanina stretched out her hands toward the priest in despair.
"Oh, Father Rocco! Father Rocco!" she cried, "why did you not
tell me this before?"
"Because, my child, I only knew of the necessity for telling you
to-day. But it is not too late; it is never too late to do a good
action. You love Fabio, Nanina? Will you prove that love by
making a great sacrifice for his good?"
"I would die for his good!"
"Will you nobly cure him of a passion which will be his ruin, if
not yours, by leaving Pisa to-morrow?"
"Leave Pisa!" exclaimed Nanina. Her face grew deadly pale; she
rose and moved back a step or two from the priest.
"Listen to me," pursued Father Rocco; "I have heard you complain
that you could not get regular employment at needle-work. You
shall have that employment, if you will go with me--you and your
little sister too, of course--to Florence to-morrow."
"I promised Fabio to go to the studio," began Nanina,
affrightedly. "I promised to go at ten o'clock. How can I--"
She stopped suddenly, as if her breath were failing her.
"I myself will take you and your sister to Florence," said Father
Rocco, without noticing the interruption. "I will place you under
the care of a lady who will be as kind as a mother to you both.
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