wearied with weeping, she, at length, lay down on her mattress, and sunk to sleep, but was soon awakened by a knocking at her chamber door, and, starting up in terror, she heard a voice calling her.the image of bertrand, with a stilletto in his hand, appeared to her alarmed fancy, and she neither opened the door, or answered, but listened in profound silence, till, the voice repeating her name in the same low tone, she demanded who called.'it is i, signora,'
replied the voice, which she now distinguished to be maddelina's, 'pray open the door.don't be frightened, it is i.'
'and what brings you here so late, maddelina?' said emily, as she let her in.
'hush! signora, for heaven's sake hush!--if we are overheard i shall never be forgiven.my father and mother and bertrand are all gone to bed,' continued maddelina, as she gently shut the door, and crept forward, 'and i have brought you some supper, for you had none, you know, signora, below stairs.here are some grapes and figs and half a cup of wine.' emily thanked her, but expressed apprehension lest this kindness should draw upon her the resentment of dorina, when she perceived the fruit was gone.'take it back, therefore, maddelina,'
added emily, 'i shall suffer much less from the want of it, than ishould do, if this act of good-nature was to subject you to your mother's displeasure.'