Pappina, scarcely awake, was dazed when left alone. She heard the door close, heard the key turn. For a moment she could not think where she was, or what had happened. She only knew that it was very dark, that she was alone and afraid. She pounded on the church door.
A street in Amalfi
"Let me in, let me in," she begged. "I'm afraid."
No one came to her call; she peered up and down the street. There was no one in sight.
"I shall lose my way if I try to go back alone in the dark," she thought. Then she crouched down on the church steps and cried herself to sleep.
Early next morning, Guiseppe and Marta started to search for Pappina. As they neared St. Andrew's Cathedral Marta spied something red at the top of the steps.
"Wait, Guiseppe! I think—" she left the sentence unfinished as she dashed up the steps and snatched Pappina in her arms, uttering tender, loving words. Guiseppe followed, with scowls and mutterings.
Pappina, being thus awakened, threw her arms about Marta's neck, and cried from sheer joy at finding herself safe.
"Oh, oh, I was lost, and so frightened I dared not move! I meant to come back in an hour, Guiseppe, truly I did, but it was dark, and I could not find my way."