“I lay that night in one of the barrack-like rooms of the château, excellency; but on the following afternoon, the Count being gone to Livno, I found myself alone with Christine for the first time. I thought the opportunity good to question her; and she was ready in reply, though it was not to be hidden from me that I was necessary to her no longer, and that some little reticence in her manner was the outcome of her new estate.
“‘I am happy, yes,’ she said, as we talked together in the great hall and looked out upon the dazzling white hills above Jajce; ‘so happy that I wake often in my sleep and ask if I ever lived in Zlarin, or married Ugo, or ran away to the hills. It is good to have a home, Andrea.’
“‘Well spoken, truly,’ cried I; ‘and it would be strange if you should remember that there was one old man in Sebenico who was glad to see Christine of Zlarin again.’
“‘As I am glad to see him—though four years have passed. Forgive me, Andrea; you were very kind to me.’
“‘It is something that you should think of it,’ I exclaimed; ‘did I cross the mountains to be treated like a boy at his catechism? Per Baccho, it is “four years, four years” on all your tongues!’
“At this she took my arm very prettily, and speaking as she used to speak, she said:—
“‘Do not regret your journey yet. There are few who come to the house of Count Paul who do not learn to love him. Be wise and speak well of him.’
“I was somewhat appeased at this, and it seemed to me, when I thought upon it, that I had been to much expense one way and the other in helping Christine to her present happiness, and that the day might be near when the Count would care to remember the debt. Yet this I kept from the girl, going on to talk of riper matters.
“‘You speak, child,’ said I, ‘of the Count’s generosity. You have found him a kind master, I do not doubt.’
“‘He is not my master; he is my friend,’ she replied; ‘yet I could well live and die in his service. There could not be love enough in the world for Count Paul, Andrea.’