If you want to
know how the thing happened, since you know so much already, walk
with me to the Strada di Porta Sisi, and I will tell you how it
happened. At the ball we spoke of the Pineta,--she had never seen
it,--asked me to show it to her. In short, we agreed to start on
leaving the ball, instead of going to bed. I got a bagarino, and
drove her to the farmhouse by the edge of the wood, just behind St.
Apollinare; left the bagarino there, and strolled into the wood. It
was there that she told me of my uncle's purpose. And I was not a
little taken aback, as you may suppose. However, that is matter for
talk by-and-by. We strolled about a good while, then sat down. She
told me a good deal of the history of her life. We must have been
talking--I don't know how long; but a long time. Then she said she
was so sleepy, she must have a little sleep; she could keep her eyes
open no longer. Natural enough! She had been dancing all night--had
never closed her eyes for a minute since. The bank we were sitting
on was the most delicious place for a siesta that can be conceived.
In two minutes she was fast asleep. She slept on and on till I was
tired of waiting. No doubt I should have slept too, had not the
intelligence she had given me been of a sort to keep me waking, for
one while at least. Having my mind full of this, and not being able
to sleep, I strayed away from her, and returned in a few minutes, as
I think, to the place where I had left her, but could not find her.
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