ses nearly disappeared. "But I loathe
him, I hate him, I abhor him! And were it not wicked to kill, he would
have been dead long ago. Enough! If you ever ask another question, I
will leave you. I like you, but I insist that my secrets shall be my
own, since they concern you in no manner."

"I am sorry," said Kitty with contrition. "But I suspected there was a
man. I understand. He was false to you and broke your heart,"
romantically.

"No, Kitty; only my pride."

"It is a strange world," mused Kitty.

"It would be otherwise were it not that the heart and the mind are
always at war. But let us turn to our affairs. I received a letter
to-day."

"From home?" eagerly.

"I have no home, Kitty. The letter is from a friend in Naples. Mr.
Hillard and Mr. Merrihew, friends of yours, are in Italy."

Kitty could scarce believe her ears. "Where are they? Where are they
stopping?"

"That I do not know. But listen. They have started out to find us. When
I tell you that Mr. Hillard is the gentleman I dined with that night
before we sailed, you will understand my reasons for wishing to avoid
him. From this time on we must never appear on the streets without our
veils. If by chance we meet them, we must give no sign. It will be only
for a little while. Your letter will come soon, and you may renew your
acquaintance with these two gentlemen when you return home. It may be
hard for you; but if you wish to stay with me, my will must be a law
unto you."

"Not to speak to them if we meet them?" urged Kitty in dismay.

"No."

"But that is cruel of you. They are both gentlemen," said Kitty, with
fierce pride.

"I do not know Mr. Merrihew, but I can say that Mr. Hillard is a
gentleman. I have proved that. As for being cruel, I am not; only
selfish."

"Are you not a queen who has run away from a kingdom?" asked Kitty
bitterly. "One reads about them every day in the papers."

"My dear, you are free to choose one of two paths. Sometimes I need you,
Kitty; and the sight of you and the knowledge of your nearness helps me.
I shall not urge you one way or the other, but you must make your final
choice at once."

Several minutes passed. Kitty looked out to sea, and La Signorina closed
her eyes. In her heart Kitty knew that she could no more leave this
woman than she could fly. She was held by curiosity, by sentiment, by
the romantic mystery.

"I have chosen," she said at length. "I shall stay with you."

"Thanks, Kitty. And now