Atter to get Colomba to slacken her grasp. Small and well-shaped though
her hand was, it possessed a strength of which we have already noticed
certain proofs. "Despise you!" cried Colomba. "After what you've done?
No, indeed! She praises you! Oh, Orso, I could tell you so many things
about her!" Lydia's hand was still struggling for its freedom, but
Colomba kept drawing it closer to Orso. "But after all," said the
wounded man, "why didn't she answer me? If she had sent me a single
line, I should have been happy." By dint of pulling at Miss Nevil's
hand, Colomba contrived at last to put it into her brother's. Then,
moving suddenly aside, she burst out laughing. "Orso," she cried, "mind
you don't speak evil of Miss Lydia--she understands Corsican quite
well." Miss Lydia took back her hand at once and stammered some
unintelligible words. Orso thought he must be dreaming. "You here, Miss
Nevil? Good heavens! how did you dare? Oh, how happy you have made me!"
And raising himself painfully, he strove to get closer to her. "I came
with your sister," said Miss Lyd
