y personified
and had resolved, on his return to Rome, to interest the Count of
Monte-Cristo in his welfare and advancement. With regard to Annunziata,
Esperance was as yet altogether undecided; she was a problem he could
not solve. Her innocence and virtue were apparent, but her childlike
simplicity and utter lack of worldly experience, while so charming and
delightful to behold, added to her wonderful beauty, exposed her to
risks that were frightful to contemplate. Had she only possessed a lover
in her own rank of life, all would have been well with her; but she
possessed no lover, was absolutely alone; if she escaped Giovanni, and
Esperance was determined she should escape him if he could effect it,
the chances were that she would eventually fall into the clutches of
some other admirer still more reckless and unscrupulous. The son of
Monte-Cristo could not think of the lovely girl and her future without a
pang that made his very heart ache. He, too, admired her beauty, her
grace and her artlessness, but his admiration was confined within the
proper bounds, and could he have seen her suitably and happily wedded,
he would have rejoiced to the depths of his soul.

Late in the afternoon Pasquale Solara reappeared suddenly and without
the least warning. The old man was covered with dust, as if he had been
journeying far on foot. He plainly showed that he was greatly fatigued,
also that something had occurred to irritate him. He entered the cabin
unobserved, and was there for some moments before his presence was
discovered. Annunziata was the first to see him, sitting upon a rude
wooden bench with his stout oaken staff in his hand on which he leaned
heavily. She threw her arms about his neck with a cry of joy,
endeavoring to snatch a kiss from his tightly-closed lips, but he
sternly and silently repulsed her. Lorenzo, in his turn, met with no
warmer reception at his father's hands. But his children were used to
Pasquale's moods and were, therefore, altogether unaffected by his
present morose deportment; they speedily left him to himself, giving
themselves no further trouble concerning him. Once when Esperance came
into the room the old man stared at him inquiringly, as if he had
utterly forgotten the fact that strangers were enjoying the shelter of
his roof; then he appeared to recollect and scowled so savagely that the
young man beat a hasty retreat, going to seek Lorenzo, whose cheery
voice was heard singing beyond the b