The girl's attitude was not one of discovered shame, but that of a person felled by a sudden blow. She looked dazed, stricken. People in bright summer dress were laughing, and joking all about; some were drinking Vermouth. From the sands below came the voices of happy children, and bathers in gay costumes made merry in the sparkling blue water.
"You are sure, quite sure?" Ragna asked suddenly, in a low, terrible voice.
"I told you that there can be no absolute certainty without an examination. Do not distress yourself so, my child," he added, touched to the heart by her misery, "after all, it may be a false alarm!"
The words seemed to give Ragna strength; though still deadly pale, she rose from her chair, saying:
"Come with me now, then; let us have it over at once. Come!"
"But, Signorina," he remonstrated, "your people, what will they think?"
"I can leave a message for Fru Bjork; I shall say I felt ill, and that you took me home. See! there comes your wife—tell her and she will see the others!"
She was already moving towards the Signora, who was crossing the terrace with her little girls, all three greeting Ferrati with smiles of welcome. The children ran to him, and throwing their arms about him, shrieked with joy.
"Babbo has come! Babbo has come!"
Ferrati embraced them, and put them down; he kissed his wife who was holding Ragna's hand, and said to her,