"First," she whispered, "I wish to beg the Signorino to pardon

all this trouble I am making for him. I am the Signorino's

servant; but instead of serving, I make trouble for him."

She paused. The Cardinal smiled at Peter.

Peter answered, "Marietta, if you talk like that, you will make

the Signorino cry. You are the best servant that ever lived.

You are putting me to no trouble at all. You are giving me a

chance--which I should be glad of, except that it involves your

suffering--to show my affection for you, and my gratitude."

"There, dear," said the Cardinal to her, "you see the Signorino

makes nothing of that. Now the next thing. Go on."

I have to ask the Signorino's forgiveness for my impertinence,"

whispered Marietta.

"Impertinence--?" faltered Peter. "You have never been

impertinent."

"Scusi, Signorino," she went on, in her whisper. "I have

sometimes contradicted the Signorino. I contradicted the

Signorino when he told me that St. Anthony of Padua was born in

Lisbon. It is impertinent of a servant to contradict her

master. And now his most high Eminence says the Signorino was

right. I beg the Signorino to forgive me."

Again the Cardinal smiled at Peter.

"You dear old woman," Peter half laughed, half sobbed, "how can

you ask me to forgive a mere difference of opinion? You--you

dear old thing."

The Cardinal smiled, and patted Marietta's hand.

"The Signorino is too good," Marietta sighed.

"Go on, dear," said the Cardinal.

"I have been guilty of the deadly sin of evil speaking. I have

spoken evil of the Signorino," she went on. "I said--I said to

people--that the Signorino was simple--that he was simple and

natural. I thought so then. Now I know it is not so. I know

it is only that the Signorino is English."

Once more the Cardinal smiled at Peter.

Again Peter half laughed, half sobbed.

"Marietta! Of course I am simple and natural. At least, I try

to be. Come! Look up. Smile. Promise you will not worry

about these things any more."

She looked up, she smiled faintly.

"The Signorino is too good," she whispered.

After a little interval of silence, "Now, dear," said the

Cardinal, "the last thing of all."

Marietta gave a groan, turning her head from side to side on

her pillow.

"You need not be afraid," said the Cardinal. "Mr. Marchdale

will certainly forgive you."




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