He got but little notice,
however, for his pains. Nanina was thinking again of all that the
physician had said the day before by Fabio's bedside, and these
thoughts brought with them others, equally absorbing, that were
connected with the mysterious story of the young nobleman's
adventure with the Yellow Mask. Thus preoccupied, she had little
attention left for the gambols of the dog. Even the beauty of the
morning appealed to her in vain. She felt the refreshment of the
cool, fragrant air, but she hardly noticed the lovely blue of the
sky, or the bright sunshine that gave a gayety and an interest to
the commonest objects around her.
After walking nearly an hour, she began to feel tired, and looked
about for a shady place to rest in.
Beyond and behind her there was only the high-road and the flat
country; but by her side stood a little wooden building, half
inn, half coffee-house, backed by a large, shady pleasure.
garden, the gates of which stood invitingly open. Some workmen in
the garden were putting up a stage for fireworks, but the place
was otherwise quiet and lonely enough. It was only used at night
as a sort of rustic Ranelagh, to which the citizens of Pisa
resorted for pure air and amusement after the fatigues of the
day. Observing that there were no visitors in the grounds, Nanina
ventured in, intending to take a quarter of an hour's rest in the
coolest place she could find before returning to Pisa.
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