"He did not go to bed last night," Kalmon explained, going on.
"Oh!" Again the Professor was struck by the young girl's tone.
They reached the third landing, and Kalmon pushed the door, which he had left ajar; he shut it when they had all entered, and he ushered the mother and daughter into the small sitting-room. There they waited a moment while he went to tell Regina that Aurora had come.
The young girl dropped her cloak upon a chair and stood waiting, her eyes fixed on the door. She was a little pale, not knowing what was to come, yet feeling somehow that it was to make a great difference to her ever afterwards. She glanced at her mother, and the Contessa smiled gently, as much as to say that she was doing right, but neither spoke.
Presently Kalmon came out with the Sister of Charity, who bent her head gravely to the two ladies.
"She wishes to see you alone," Kalmon said, in explanation, while he held the door open for Aurora to pass in.
He closed it after her, and the two were together.
When Aurora entered, Regina's eyes were fixed upon her face as if they had already found her and seen her while she had been in the other room. She came straight to the bedside and took the hand that was stretched out to meet hers. It was thin and hot now, and the arm was already wasted. Aurora remembered how strongly it had lifted her to the edge of the rock, far away by Pontresina.
"You are very kind, Signorina," said the faint voice. "You see how I am."
Aurora saw indeed, and kept the hand in hers as she sat down in the chair that stood where Marcello had left it.