She put out her hand. The boy's hand was cold.
XXI
They did not talk as they went down the steep mountain-side, but when they reached the entrance of the ravine Gaspare stopped abruptly and took his cold hand away from his padrona's hand.
"Signora," he said, almost in a whisper. "Let me go alone!"
They were under the shade of the trees here and it was much darker than upon the mountain-side. Hermione could not see the boy's face plainly. She came close up to him.
"Why do you want to go alone?" she asked.
Without knowing it, she, too, spoke in an under-voice.
"What is it you are afraid of?" she added.