'Nothing, nothing,' the woman uttered hastily.
'Tell me what it is,' the other persisted, looking at the old woman.
'It is that Giovanni, even, cannot pull up the bucket.'
'Well, but why are you alarmed?'
'Giovanni says there is something in the way.'
'Something in the way? What do you mean?'
'He has called Francesco, the porter. They will pull together. Perhaps they will get over the difficulty.'
'What can it be?' the girl stammered, growing deadly pale.
'I don't know, my lady—I don't know,' said the old woman, trying to begin her combing again.
'No,' said the other firmly, waving off the hand with the comb, and gathering up her hair with a pin—'no; we had better go and see.'