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           Itwasshewhohadencouragedhimtoleavehisship,inthehopeofsecuringafriendanddefenderforthegirls.ThewifeofoldGiorgiowasawareofherprecarioushealth,andwashauntedbythefearofheragedhusband’slonelinessandtheunprotectedstateofthechildren.Shehadwantedtoannexthatapparentlyquietandsteadyyoungman,affectionateandpliable,anorphanfromhistenderestage,ashehadtoldher,withnotiesinItalyexceptanuncle,ownerandmasterofafelucca,fromwhoseill-usagehehadrunawaybeforehewasfourteen.Hehadseemedtohercourageous,ahardworker,determinedtomakehiswayintheworld.FromgratitudeandthetiesofhabithewouldbecomelikeasontoherselfandGiorgio;andthen,whoknows,whenLindahadgrownup....Tenyears’differencebetweenhusbandandwifewasnotsomuch.Herowngreatmanwasnearlytwentyyearsolderthanherself.Gian’Battistawasanattractiveyoungfellow,besides;attractivetomen,women,andchildren,justbythatprofoundquietnessofpersonalitywhich,likeaserenetwilight,renderedmoreseductivethepromiseofhisvigorousformandtheresolutionofhisconduct.

           OldGiorgio,inprofoundignoranceofhiswife’sviewsandhopes,hadagreatregardforhisyoungcountryman.“Amanoughtnottobetame,”heusedtotellher,quotingtheSpanishproverbindefenceofthesplendidCapataz.Shewasgrowingjealousofhissuccess.Hewasescapingfromher,shefeared.