And the old woman felt,
that, for aught she knew, this Pineta, and the old church in the
wilderness on the borders of it, might be a place full of dangers
for a young girl all by herself.
And as the hours crept on, and no Paolina came, her uneasiness
increased till she felt it impossible to sit quietly at home waiting
for her any longer. She must go out, and--do what? The poor old
woman did not in the least know what to do; or of whom to make any
inquiry. The only person with whom the two Venetian strangers had
become at all intimate in Ravenna was the Marchese Ludovico. And the
only step in her difficulty which old Orsola could think of taking,
after much doubt and hesitation, was to go to the Palazzo
Castelmare, and endeavour to speak with the Marchesino. The letter
of introduction, which they had brought from the English patron, was
addressed to the Marchese Lamberto. But the acquaintance of the
Venetians with him had remained very slight; and Orsola felt so much
awe of so grand and reverend a Signor, that it was to the nephew
only that she thought of applying.
So, not without much doubt and misgiving, the old woman put on her
bonnet and cloak and made the best of her way to the Castelmare
palace. There she found a porter lounging before the door, to whom
she made her petition to be allowed to speak to the Signor Marchese
Ludovico.
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