'That is a long story, my lady. But why do you also dislike the place already? You have only looked out of the window once.'
'I saw the castle, and I thought it was of bad augury, for it looks like a great prison.'
'There are prisons in it without any light, very deep down,' said Pina quietly. 'The Pope's Legate lives in the upper part. The Legate is the Papal Governor, you know, my lady.'
'I did not know. But the ugly castle is not the real reason why I do not like Ferrara. I could not tell any one else, but I think I can tell you, Pina.'
She turned her head half round under the nurse's hands, looked up sideways, and then hesitated. It was not easy to explain.
'What is it, my lady?' asked the serving-woman. 'You can tell old Pina anything.'
'It is all so different from what I thought it would be,' Ortensia said in a rather low voice, and again a blush rose in her cheek.
'I think I understand,' Pina said, steadily combing out the heavy auburn hair.
'You see,' Ortensia explained, 'we all four got into the gondola together, and there was that long row to the land, and that dreadful night in the cart on the road to Padua—and then the half-hour at daybreak, while he was getting the carriage, and then the journey here—and last night—and now——'
She did not finish the sentence, hoping that Pina would really understand.