I

David Rossi was in his bedroom writing his leader for next morning's

paper. A lamp with a dark shade burned on the desk, and the rest of the

room was in shadow. It was late, and the house was quiet.

The door opened softly, and Bruno, in shirt-sleeves and slippered feet,

came on tiptoe into the room. He brought a letter in a large violet

envelope with a monogram on the front of it, and put it down on the desk

by Rossi's side. It was from Roma.

"DEAR DAVID ROSSI,--Without rhyme or reason I have been expecting

to see you here to-day, having something to say which it is

important that you should hear. May I expect you in the morning?

Knowing how busy you are, I dare not bid you come, yet the matter

is of great consequence and admits of no delay. It is not a

subject on which it is safe or proper to write, and how to speak

of it I am at a loss to decide. But you shall help me. Therefore

come without delay! There! I have bidden you come in spite of

myself. Judge from that how eager is my expectation.--In haste,

"ROMA V.

"P.S.--I open my envelope, to wonder if you can ever forgive me

the humiliations you have suffered for my sake. To think that I

threw you into the way of them! And merely to wipe out an offence

that is not worth considering! I am ashamed of myself. I am also

ashamed of the people about me. You will remember that I told you

they were pitiless and cruel. They are worse--they are heartless

and without mercy. But how bravely you bore their insults and

innuendoes! I almost cry to think of it, and if I were a good

Catholic I should confess and do penance. See? I do confess, and

if you want me to do penance you will come yourself and impose it."

It was the first letter that David Rossi had received from Roma, and as

he read it the air seemed to him to be filled with the sweet girlish

voice. He could see the play of her large, bright, violet eyes. The

delicate fragrance of the scented paper rose to his nostrils, and

without being conscious of what he was doing he raised the letter to his

lips.

Then he became aware that Bruno was still in the room. The good fellow

was in the shadow behind him, pushing things about under some pretext

and trying to make a noise.

"Don't let me keep you up, Bruno."




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