"Oh, no, Signor, no, it was all a mistake."
"This is a very easy neck of the woods to get lost in," Barry told her reassuringly. "Old residents here often miss their way—especially in a storm. Mrs. Blair will worry, of course, but she is very sensible and she knows you will come to light with the daylight. Just as soon as it is clear enough for me to find my way I'll strike over to Peter's place and phone her that you are safe and sound, and I'll get a horse for you to ride out on—you won't care for any more walking and the motor can only come as far as the road."
"But you must not tell them you have found me," said Maria Angelina, overwhelmed with tragedy again. She seemed fated, she thought in dreadful humor, to spend the night with young men! And to have been lost by one and found by another!
"It will be so much worse," she said pleadingly. "Could you not just show me the way and let me go——?"
"So much worse?" His face was very grave and gentle. "So much worse? I don't think I understand."
"So very much worse. To have been found like this—Oh, promise me to say nothing about it. I know that I can trust you."
"I think you had better tell me all about it, Signorina."
He saw that dark misery, like a film, swim blindingly over her wide eyes.
He considered a moment before he spoke again.