“Following the direction of her quick gaze when she again turned to the right, I saw a young man, apparently not twenty-five years of age, and dressed in sober black.  He was also kneeling, but his eyes were steadfastly fixed upon the lady in front of me, and I knew, of course, that it was this continuous gaze which was disturbing her.  I felt very much disposed to call the attention of a priest to this young man who was making one of the congregation unpleasantly conspicuous by staring at her; but the situation was brought to an end by the lady herself, who suddenly rose and went out of the church.  She had no sooner passed the heavy leathern curtain of the door than the young man got up and went out after her.  Interested in this affair, I also left the church, and in the street I saw the lady walking rapidly away, with the young man at a respectful distance behind her.

[Illustration:  Petrarch and Laura.]

“I followed on the other side of the street, determined to interfere if the youth, so evidently a stranger to the lady, should accost her or annoy her.  She walked steadily on, not looking behind her, and doubtless hoping that she was not followed.  As soon as she reached another church she turned and entered it.  Without hesitation the young man went in after her, and then I followed.

“As before, the lady knelt on the pavement of the church, and the young man, placing himself not very far from her, immediately began to stare at her.  I looked around, but there was no priest near, and then I advanced and knelt not very far from the lady, and between her and her persistent admirer.  It was plain enough that he did not like this, and he moved forward so that he might still get a view of her.  Then I also moved so as to obstruct his view.  He now fixed his eyes upon me, and I returned his gaze in such a way as to make him understand that while I was present he would not be allowed to annoy a lady who evidently wished to have nothing to do with him.  Presently he rose and went out.  It was evident that he saw that it was no use for him to continue his reprehensible conduct while I was present.

“I do not know how the lady discovered that her unauthorized admirer had gone away, but she did discover it, and she turned toward me for an instant and gave me what I supposed was a look of gratitude.

“I soon left the church, and I had scarcely reached the street when I found that the lady had followed me.  She looked at me as if she would like to speak, and I politely saluted her.  ‘I thank you, kind sir,’ she said, ’for relieving me of the importunities of that young man.  For more than a week he has followed me whenever I go to church, and although he has never spoken to me, his steady gaze throws me into such an agitation that I cannot think of my prayers.  Do you know who he is, sir?’