reateningly. The listener outside misheard
this speech thus:

'You will be glad of a companion whilst I am away. I will go up to town
to-morrow and see Miss Perzio.'

He ground his teeth, and clenched his hands, and held himself in
resolute silence, fighting against the instinct which prompted him to
cry aloud and dash in upon the two, and either slay them both, or sell
his own life, then and there. But reflecting on the certainty of defeat,
unarmed as he was, and dreading to declare himself too soon, and so put
his enemy upon his guard, he fought the instinct down. Yet so strong was
it upon him that he knew that sooner or later it would master him. He
waded to the shore and crept along the field in the thick darkness,
groping his way with both hands. Turning, he could see the dull gleam
of the river, and the house-boat bulking black against it. He stood
watching, whilst within and without the storm swept swiftly up. Dead
silence. Then a creeping whisper in the grass at his feet and in
the trees about him, but no wind. Then the slow dropping of heavy
rain--drop, drop, drop--like blood. Then a fierce and sudden howl from
the wind, like some hoarse demon's signal, and the storm began. But
what a puny storm was that which raged outside could one have seen the
tempest in this murderous soul! Not all the tones of great material
nature's diapason could find this tortured spirit voice enough. Yet to
find the very heavens in tune with his mood brought the Greek to a still
madder ecstasy of passion.

At such times the mind, fearful for herself, catches at phrases
and fancies, as drowning men catch at straws. So now, with terrible
irrelevance, his mind caught at the simple couplet:--

Nenni, nenni, vattienne, non me sta chiu' a seccar
Sta rosa che pretienne non la sto manco a gardar!

There was nothing for the mind to hold to except that it was the last
song the runaway Thecla had sung to him. He did not remember this, and
had only a half consciousness of the words themselves. But in this mad
whirl of the spiritual elements the mind was glad to cling to anything,
and turned the refrain over, and over, and over,

Nenni, nenni, vattienne, non me sta chiu' a seccar
Sta rosa che pretienne non la sto manco a gardar!

Rain, and wind, and thunder, and Lightning, had their time without and
within. Peace came to the summer heavens, and the pale stars took the
brief night with beauty. But to the firmament of his