Maria felt that these men were called before her, to continue Benedetto's work, after his death.

They walked in silence, and with bare heads, although it was raining; Selva as the others.

Mayda received them on the threshold.

On his return from the University he had heard the news of Benedetto's removal to the small house, with an outburst of wrath.

He would not admit it to the sister, to the gardener, or to the servants, but when he looked at the list of temperatures, taken every half-hour, he was bound to admit, in his heart that this act of folly had had no sensible effect upon the course of the fever.