She probably overestimated the strength she had now acquired; for more than once, on the way to the station, she felt a momentary reaction of timidity and a longing to go back and stay a few days more with Bianca.

She laughed bravely at herself for her weakness, and told herself that she was going to her own place, to be surrounded by her own people, that she was two-and-twenty years of age and had been through troubles during the past months which had proved her strength.

Nevertheless, the fact remained that she was a very young, unmarried woman, that she was going to live alone, and that she was breaking through the whole hard shell of fossilized social tradition.

Even Elettra, born a peasant of the mountains, thought her mistress's decision amazingly bold, though she approved of it in her heart, and had been ready to go to Muro with Veronica long ago.
"What would your father, blessed soul, have said, Excellency ?" she asked, when they were seated together in the train which was to take them to Eboli, beyond Salerno.
"Shall I send for the Countess Macomer ?" asked Veronica, with a smile.
"Heaven preserve us from her!" exclaimed Elettra, and she crossed herself hastily, and then made the sign of the horns with her fingers, against the evil eye, and with her other hand touched a coral charm which she had in her pocket.
Veronica had long been in correspondence with Don Teodoro about the arrangements for her coming.

He had expected that she would bring a staff of servants from Naples with all the paraphernalia of a great establishment.