"Heigh-ho!" Nanette sighed; through the window watched the shadows that like dark, trailing figures seemed creeping up the ancient wall to caress and linger on green leaves of vines, bright flowers and other living things. "But I suppose she had everything she wanted." The girl stirred restlessly. "What sort of a man is Monsieur Beppo, aunt?" "Beppo?" Recalled as from a long train of recollections, the woman did not seem to notice the abruptness of the inquiry. "Oh, he is an old and faithful servant. For almost as many years as I have been here," with an accent of pride, "has he served at the Mount!" "And his moral character, aunt?" demurely. "Monsieur Beppo has a reputation for piety, no doubt deserved!" returned the woman, with an accent of surprise. "At any rate, he seldom misses a mass. But why do you ask?" "Because I met him to-day and he invited me to walk with him this evening." "He did?" Marie's mouth grew firmer. "And you?" "I didn't exactly know how to refuse; he--looked so old and respectable! I thought, too, you wouldn't mind and--I'm glad you think so well of him, aunt." In the gathering gloom the listener's face seemed suddenly to grow graver; her eyes, which had returned to the girl's, expressed once more doubt and misgiving. With her glance lifted upward, however, Nanette did not seem to notice this quick change. A star--faint forerunner of a multitude of waiting orbs--peeping timorously down from above the gray, gaunt mass of stone, alone absorbed the girl's gaze and attention. "Where were you thinking of going?" after a silence of some length the older woman asked. "I don't recall that Monsieur Beppo mentioned," was the low-murmured response. "But, of course, aunt, if you object--" "I do not know that I do," said the other slowly. "Only," as if the thought had suddenly come to her, "what were you writing at her ladyship's desk when I went to call you?" "Writing?" Nanette regarded her blankly. "I don't understand you, aunt." "Weren't you writing something that you hid in your dress when I came?" "No!" The girl looked full at the other; denied point-blank the accusation. "Now that you speak of it, I believe I did step to the desk," she answered glibly, "to look at some ornament; but as for writing, or daring to, I should not have presumed." A low discreet rap at the door interrupted, and, with a whispered "There he is now!" Nanette cut short further argument by rising. "She is not telling the truth!" For some time the woman stood looking down in gloomy thought after the two had gone. "What does it mean?" Moving to a peg, she took down a shawl. "What can it mean?" she asked herself again, and, wrapping the garment about her head and shoulders, left the room.