It was a very unusual hour for any visitor to appear.

Colomba instantly made her appearance, followed by the woman who acted as their servant.
"It's nothing!" she said, hurrying to the door.
Yet before she opened it she inquired who knocked.

A gentle voice answered, "It is I." Instantly the wooden bar across the door was withdrawn, and Colomba reappeared in the dining-room, followed by a little ragged, bare-footed girl of about ten years old, her head bound with a shabby kerchief, from which escaped long locks of hair, as black as the raven's wing.

The child was thin and pale, her skin was sunburnt, but her eyes shone with intelligence.

When she saw Orso she stopped shyly, and courtesied to him, peasant fashion--then she said something in an undertone to Colomba, and gave her a freshly killed pheasant.
"Thanks, Chili," said Colomba.