"Why, Lucrezia, are you afraid of me? I've certainly been away too long!"
"No, no, signora, but—" Tears hung in her eyes. "Will you let me go away if I promise to be back by nine?"
"But you can't go to Marechiaro in—"
"No, signora. I only want to go to the mountain over there under Castel Vecchio. I want to go to the Madonna."
Hermione took one of the girl's hands.
"To the Madonna della Rocca?"
"Si, signora."
"I understand."
"I have a candle to burn to the Madonna. If I go now I can be back before nine."
She stood gazing pathetically, like a big child, at her padrona.