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Carolina； and I； went all through the palazzo。 I went first； though I have
named myself last； opening the windows and the lattice…blinds； and
shaking down on myself splashes of rain； and scraps of mortar； and now
and then a dozing mosquito； or a monstrous； fat； blotchy； Genoese spider。
When I had let the evening light into a room； master； mistress； and la
bella Carolina； entered。 Then； we looked round at all the pictures； and I
went forward again into another room。 Mistress secretly had great fear
of meeting with the likeness of that face … we all had； but there was no
such thing。 The Madonna and Bambino； San Francisco； San Sebastiano；
Venus； Santa Caterina； Angels； Brigands； Friars； Temples at Sunset；
Battles； White Horses； Forests； Apostles； Doges； all my old acquaintances
many times repeated？ … yes。 Dark； handsome man in black； reserved and
secret； with black hair and grey moustache； looking fixedly at mistress out
of darkness？ … no。
At last we got through all the rooms and all the pictures； and came out
into the gardens。 They were pretty well kept； being rented by a gardener；
and were large and shady。 In one place there was a rustic theatre； open to
the sky； the stage a green slope； the coulisses； three entrances upon a side；
sweet…smelling leafy screens。 Mistress moved her bright eyes； even there；
as if she looked to see the face come in upon the scene； but all was well。
'Now； Clara；' master said； in a low voice； 'you see that it is nothing？
You are happy。'
Mistress was much encouraged。 She soon accustomed herself to that
grim palazzo； and would sing； and play the harp； and copy the old pictures；
and stroll with master under the green trees and vines all day。 She was
beautiful。 He was happy。 He would laugh and say to me； mounting his
horse for his morning ride before the heat：
'All goes well； Baptista！'
'Yes； signore； thank God； very well。'
We kept no company。 I took la bella to the Duomo and Annunciata；
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to the Cafe； to the Opera； to the village Festa； to the Public Garden； to the
Day Theatre； to the Marionetti。 The pretty little one was charmed with
all she saw。 She learnt Italian … heavens！ miraculously！ Was mistress
quite forgetful of that dream？ I asked Carolina sometimes。 Nearly； said
la bella … almost。 It was wearing out。
One day master received a letter； and called me。
'Baptista！'
'Signore！'
'A gentleman who is presented to me will dine here to…day。 He is
called the Signor Dellombra。 Let me dine like a prince。'
It was an odd name。 I did not know that name。 But； there had been
many noblemen and gentlemen pursued by Austria on political suspicions；
lately； and some names had changed。 Perhaps this was one。 Altro！
Dellombra was as good a name to me as another。
When the Signor Dellombra came to dinner （said the Genoese courier
in the low voice； into which he had subsided once before）； I showed him
into the reception…room； the great sala of the old palazzo。 Master received
him with cordiality； and presented him to mistress。 As she rose； her face
changed； she gave a cry； and fell upon the marble floor。
Then； I turned my head to the Signor Dellombra； and saw that he was
dressed in black； and had a reserved and secret air； and was a dark；
remarkable…looking man； with black hair and a grey moustache。
Master raised mistress in his arms； and carried her to her own room；
where I sent la bella Carolina straight。 La bella told me afterwards that
mistress was nearly terrified to death； and that she wandered in her mind
about her dream； all night。
Master was vexed and anxious … almost angry； and yet full of
solicitude。 The Signor Dellombra was a courtly gentleman； and spoke
with great respect and sympathy of mistress's being so ill。 The African
wind had been blowing for some days （they had told him at his hotel of
the Maltese Cross）； and he knew that it was often hurtful。 He hoped the
beautiful lady would recover soon。 He begged permission to retire； and
to renew his visit when he should have the happiness of hearing that she
was better。 Master would not allow of this； and they dined alone。
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He withdrew early。 Next day he called at the gate； on horse…back； to
inquire for mistress。 He did so two or three times in that week。
What I observed myself； and what la bella Carolina told me； united to
explain to me that master had now set his mind on curing mistress of her
fanciful terror。 He was all kindness； but he was sensible and firm。 He
reasoned with her； that to encourage such fancies was to invite melancholy；
if not madness。 That it rested with herself to be herself。 That if she
once resisted her strange weakness； so successfully as to receive the
Signor Dellombra as an English lady would receive any other guest； it was
for ever conquered。 To make an end； the signore came again； and
mistress received him without marked distress （though with constraint and
apprehension still）； and the evening passed serenely。 Master was so
delighted with this change； and so anxious to confirm it； that the Signor
Dellombra became a constant guest。 He was accomplished in pictures；
books； and music； and his society； in any grim palazzo； would have been
welcome。
I used to notice； many times； that mistress was not quite recovered。
She would cast down her eyes and droop her head； before the Signor
Dellombra； or would look at him with a terrified and fascinated glance； as
if his presence had some evil influence or power upon her。 Turning from
her to him； I used to see him in the shaded gardens； or the large half…
lighted sala； looking； as I might say； 'fixedly upon her out of darkness。'
But； truly； I had not forgotten la bella Carolina's words describing the face
in the dream。
After his second visit I heard master say：
'Now； see； my dear Clara； it's over！ Dellombra has come and gone；
and your apprehension is broken like glass。'
'Will he …