“Ah, Vannina,” I said; “but she is dead, your excellency.”
“Dead!” She turned white and the purse dropped from her hand. I picked it up and held it out to her, but she put back my hand. “That is for masses, then,” she said; and with that she moved away toward the house.
I walked on to the gate; but before I had reached it I heard her step behind me.
“Don Egidio!” she called; and I turned back.
“You are coming to say mass in the chapel to-morrow morning?”
“That is the Count’s wish.”
She wavered a moment. “I am not well enough to walk up to the village this afternoon,” she said at length. “Will you come back later and hear my confession here?”
“Willingly, your excellency.”
“Come at sunset then.” She looked at me gravely. “It is a long time since I have been to confession,” she added.
“My child, the door of heaven is always unlatched.”