She spread her hands on the door in a wild groping gesture.
'Gone! gone!' she said under her breath. Then her hands dropped, and she stood motionless, with bent head, till the moment was over, and her blood tamed.
CHAPTER XXI
'Maso! look here!' said Lucy, addressing a small boy, who with his brother was driving some goats along the road.
She took from a basket on her arm, first some pasticceria, then a square of chocolate, lastly a handful of soldi.
'You know the casetta by the river where Mamma Brigitta lives?'
'Yes.' The boy looked at her with his sharp stealthy eyes.
'Take down this letter to Mamma Brigitta. If you wait a little, she'll give you another letter in exchange, and if you bring it up to me, you shall have all those!'
And she spread out her bribes.
The boys' faces were sulky. The house by the river was unpopular, owing to its tenant. But the temptation was of a devilish force. They took the letter and scampered down the hill driving their goats before them.