Gheta, she learned, had refused the morning chocolate and, with her
maid, had collected and packed all her effects. Lavinia had no desire
to see her. The situation now was past Gheta's mending.
After luncheon Lavinia remained in her room, Nelli departed for Naples
and Cesare joined her. It was evident that he was greatly disturbed;
but he spoke to her evenly. He was possessed by an impotent rage at his
unwieldy body and clumsy hand. This alternated with an evident
wonderment at the position in which he found himself and a great
tenderness for Lavinia.
At dusk they were in Lavinia's room waiting for a message from Naples.
Lavinia was leaning across the marble ledge of her window, gazing over
the dim blue sweep of water to the distant flowering lights. She heard
sudden footsteps and, half turning, saw her husband tearing open an
envelope.
"Lavinia!" he cried. "There has been an accident in the elevator of the
Grand Hotel, and Mochales--is dead!" She hung upon the ledge now for
support. "The attendant, a new man, started the car too soon and caught
Mochales----" She sank down upon her knees in an attitude of prayer,
and Cesare Orsi stood reverently bowed.
"The will of God!" he muttered.
A long slow shiver passed over Lavinia, and he bent and lifted her in
his arms.
TOL'ABLE DAVID
I
He was the younger of two brothers, in his sixteenth year; and he had
his father's eyes--a tender and idyllic blue. There, however, the
obvious resemblance ended.
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