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than either poverty or the palsy befell the old musician。 His
grandchild； his little Beatrice； fell ill； suddenly and
dangerously ill； of one of those rapid fevers common to the
South； and Viola was summoned from her strange and fearful
reveries of love or fancy； to the sick…bed of the young sufferer。
The child was exceedingly fond of Viola； and the old people
thought that her mere presence would bring healing； but when
Viola arrived； Beatrice was insensible。 Fortunately there was no
performance that evening at San Carlo； and she resolved to stay
the night and partake its fearful cares and dangerous vigil。
But during the night the child grew worse； the physician （the
leechcraft has never been very skilful at Naples） shook his
powdered head； kept his aromatics at his nostrils； administered
his palliatives； and departed。 Old Bernardi seated himself by
the bedside in stern silence； here was the last tie that bound
him to life。 Well； let the anchor break and the battered ship go
down！ It was an iron resolve； more fearful than sorrow。 An old
man； with one foot in the grave； watching by the couch of a dying
child； is one of the most awful spectacles in human calamities。
The wife was more active； more bustling； more hopeful； and more
tearful。 Viola took heed of all three。 But towards dawn；
Beatrice's state became so obviously alarming； that Viola herself
began to despair。 At this time she saw the old woman suddenly
rise from before the image of the saint at which she had been
kneeling； wrap herself in her cloak and hood； and quietly quit
the chamber。 Viola stole after her。
〃It is cold for thee； good mother； to brave the air； let me go
for the physician？〃
〃Child； I am not going to him。 I have heard of one in the city
who has been tender to the poor； and who； they say； has cured the
sick when physicians failed。 I will go and say to him； 'Signor；
we are beggars in all else； but yesterday we were rich in love。
We are at the close of life； but we lived in our grandchild's
childhood。 Give us back our wealth；give us back our youth。
Let us die blessing God that the thing we love survives us。'〃
She was gone。 Why did thy heart beat； Viola？ The infant's sharp
cry of pain called her back to the couch； and there still sat the
old man； unconscious of his wife's movements； not stirring； his
eyes glazing fast as they watched the agonies of that slight
frame。 By degrees the wail of pain died into a low moan；the
convulsions grew feebler； but more frequent； the glow of fever
faded into the blue； pale tinge that settles into the last
bloodless marble。
The daylight came broader and clearer through the casement； steps
were heard on the stairs；the old woman entered hastily； she
rushed to the bed； cast a glance on the patient； 〃She lives yet；
signor； she lives！〃
Viola raised her eyes；the child's head was pillowed on her
bosom；and she beheld Zanoni。 He smiled on her with a tender
and soft approval； and took the infant from her arms。 Yet even
then； as she saw him bending silently over that pale face； a
superstitious fear mingled with her hopes。 〃Was it by lawfulby
holy art that〃 her self…questioning ceased abruptly； for his
dark eye turned to her as if he read her soul； and his aspect
accused her conscience for its suspicion； for it spoke reproach
not unmingled with disdain。
〃Be comforted；〃 he said； gently turning to the old man； 〃the
danger is not beyond the reach of human skill；〃 and； taking from
his bosom a small crystal vase； he mingled a few drops with
water。 No sooner did this medicine moisten the infant's lips；
than it seemed to produce an astonishing effect。 The colour
revived rapidly on the lips and cheeks； in a few moments the
sufferer slept calmly； and with the regular breathing of painless
sleep。 And then the old man rose； rigidly； as a corpse might
rise；looked down； listened； and creeping gently away； stole to
the corner of the room； and wept； and thanked Heaven！
Now； old Bernardi had been； hitherto； but a cold believer； sorrow
had never before led him aloft from earth。 Old as he was； he had
never before thought as the old should think of death；that
endangered life of the young had wakened up the careless soul of
age。 Zanoni whispered to the wife； and she drew the old man
quietly from the room。
〃Dost thou fear to leave me an hour with thy charge； Viola？
Thinkest thou still that this knowledge is of the Fiend？〃
〃Ah；〃 said Viola； humbled and yet rejoiced； 〃forgive me； forgive
me； signor。 Thou biddest the young live and the old pray。 My
thoughts never shall wrong thee more！〃
Before the sun rose； Beatrice was out of danger； at noon Zanoni
escaped from the blessings of the aged pair； and as he closed the
door of the house； he found Viola awaiting him without。
She stood before him timidly； her hands crossed meekly on her
bosom； her downcast eyes swimming with tears。
〃Do not let me be the only one you leave unhappy！〃
〃And what cure can the herbs and anodynes effect for thee？ If
thou canst so readily believe ill of those who have aided and yet
would serve thee； thy disease is of the heart； andnay； weep
not！ nurse of the sick； and comforter of the sad； I should rather
approve than chide thee。 Forgive thee！ Life； that ever needs
forgiveness； has； for its first duty； to forgive。〃
〃No； do not forgive me yet。 I do not deserve a pardon； for even
now； while I feel how ungrateful I was to believe； suspect； aught
injurious and false to my preserver； my tears flow from
happiness； not remorse。 Oh！〃 she continued； with a simple
fervour； unconscious； in her innocence and her generous emotions；
of all the secrets she betrayed；〃thou knowest not how bitter it
was to believe thee not more good； more pure； more sacred than
all the world。 And when I saw thee；the wealthy； the noble；
coming from thy palace to minister to the sufferings of the
hovel；when I heard those blessings of the poor breathed upon
thy parting footsteps； I felt my very self exalted；good in thy
goodness； noble at least in those thoughts that did NOT wrong
thee。〃
〃And thinkest thou； Viola； that in a mere act of science there is
so much virtue？ The commonest leech will tend the sick for his
fee。 Are prayers and blessings a less reward than gold？〃
〃And mine； then； are not worthless？ Thou wilt accept of mine？〃
〃Ah； Viola！〃 exclaimed Zanoni； with a sudden passion； that
covered her face with blushes； 〃thou only； methinks； on all the
earth； hast the power to wound or delight me！〃 He checked
himself； and his face became grave and sad。 〃And this；〃 he
added； in an altered tone； 〃because； if thou wouldst heed my
counsels； methinks I could guide a guileless heart to a happy
fate。〃
〃Thy counsels！ I will obey them all。 Mould me to what thou
wilt。 In thine absence； I am as a child that fears every shadow
in the dark； in thy presence； my soul expands； and the whole