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Instantly the wooden bar across the door was withdrawn, and Colomba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. "Thank your uncle for me. Is he well?"
"Very well, signorina, at your service. I couldn't come sooner because
he was late. I waited for him in the _maquis_ for three hours."
"And you've had no supper?"
"Why no, signorina! I've not had time."
"You shall have some supper here.
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