"Hist!" she said, archly putting her finger to her lip; "do not speak loud,--my mother is asleep within; and I knew you would come to see me.It is kind!"Glyndon, with a little embarrassment, accepted the compliment to his kindness, which he did not exactly deserve."You have thought, then, of me, fair Fillide?""Yes," answered the girl, colouring, but with that frank, bold ingenuousness, which characterises the females of Italy, especially of the lower class, and in the southern provinces,--"oh, yes! I have thought of little else.Paolo said he knew you would visit me.""And what relation is Paolo to you?"
"None; but a good friend to us all.My brother is one of his band.""One of his band!--a robber?"
"We of the mountains do not call a mountaineer 'a robber,'
signor."
"I ask pardon.Do you not tremble sometimes for your brother's life? The law--""Law never ventures into these defiles.Tremble for him! No.
My father and grandsire were of the same calling.I often wish Iwere a man!"
"By these lips, I am enchanted that your wish cannot be realised.""Fie, signor! And do you really love me?""With my whole heart!"
"And I thee!" said the girl, with a candour that seemed innocent, as she suffered him to clasp her hand.
"But," she added, "thou wilt soon leave us; and I--" She stopped short, and the tears stood in her eyes.
There was something dangerous in this, it must be confessed.
Certainly Fillide had not the seraphic loveliness of Viola; but hers was a beauty that equally at least touched the senses.