Part 78 (2/2)
”One word, Excellenza. If it is not too great a favor, the hotel where my beautiful Natalushka and her mother are staying?”
The other gave him the name of the hotel; and Calabressa, saluting him respectfully, departed, making his way down through the terraces of fruit-trees under the clear twilight skies.
Calabressa walked back to Naples, and to the hotel indicated, which was near the Castello dell' Ovo. No sooner had the hotel porter opened for him the big swinging doors than he recollected that he did not know for whom he ought to ask; but at this moment Natalie came along the corridor, dressed and ready to go out.
”My little daughter!” he exclaimed, taking her by both hands, ”did not I say you would soon find me when there was need?”
”Will you come up-stairs and see my mother, Signor Calabressa?” said she. ”You know why she and I are together now?--my grandfather is dead.”
”Yes, I will go and see your mother,” said he, after a second: she did not notice the strange expression of his face during that brief hesitation.
There was a small sitting-room between the two bedrooms; Natalie conducted him into it, and went into the adjoining chamber for her mother. A minute after these two friends and companions of former days met. They held each other's hand in silence for a brief time.
”My hair was not so gray when you last saw me,” the worn-faced woman said, at length, with a smile.
Calabressa could not speak at all.
”Mother,” the girl said, to break in on this painful embarra.s.sment, ”you have not seen Signor Calabressa for so long a time. Will he not stay and dine with us? the _table-d'hote_, is at half-past six.”
”Not the _table-d'hote_, my little daughter,” Calabressa said. ”But if one were permitted to remain here, for example--”
”Oh yes, certainly.”
”There are many things I wish to speak about; and so little time.
To-morrow morning I start for England.”
”For England?”
”Most certainly, little daughter. And you have a message, perhaps, for me to carry? Oh, you may let it be cheerful,” he said, with his usual gay optimism. ”I tell you--I myself, and I do not boast--let it be cheerful! What did I say to you? You are in trouble; I said to you, count upon having friends!”
Calabressa did stay; and they had a kind of meal in this room; and there was a great deal to talk over between the two old friends. But on all matters referring to the moment he preserved a resolute silence. He was not going to talk at the very outset. He was going to England--that was all.
But as he was bidding good-bye to Natalie, he drew her a step or two into the pa.s.sage.
”Little child,” said he, in a low voice, ”your mother is suffering because of your sorrow. It is needless. I a.s.sure you all will be well: have I spoken in vain before? It is not for one bearing the name that you have to despair.”
”Good-bye, then, Signor Calabressa.”
”_Au revoir_, child: is not that better?”
CHAPTER L.
A WEAK BROTHER.
George Brand was sitting alone in these rooms of his, the lamps lit, the table near him covered with papers. He had just parted with two visitors--Molyneux and a certain learned gentleman attached to Owens College--who had come to receive his final plans and hints as to what still lay before them in the north. On leaving, the fresh-colored, brisk-voiced Molyneux had said to him,
”Well, Mr. Brand, seeing you so eager about what has to be done up there, one might wonder at your leaving us and going off pleasuring. But no matter; a man must have his holiday; so I wish you a pleasant journey, and we'll do our best till you come back.”
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