to kiss my hand.  My mother was very pleased to notice that the young man liked me, and often scolded me because I was not polite enough to him.  In time he had to go to Genoa in a small ship which belonged to him, and which was laden with goods.  He assured us that he would return again the next spring and declare his intentions.  He said he hoped he should find me as good as ever, and still without any lover.  This was enough; my mother looked upon him as my betrothed, and let us talk together at the door till midnight.  When he went I would shut the door and lie down beside my mother, who was always asleep.

“Four or five days before his departure, he took my arm and got me to go with him to a place about fifty paces from the house to drink a glass of Muscat at a Greek’s, who kept his tavern open all night.  We were only away for half an hour, and then it was that he first kissed me.  When I got home I found my mother awake, and told her all; it seemed so harmless to me.

“Next day, excited by the recollection of what had happened the night before, I went with him again, and love began to gain ground.  We indulged in caresses which were no longer innocent, as we well knew.  However, we forgave each other, as we had abstained from the chief liberty.

“The day after, my lover—­as he had to journey in the night—­took leave of my mother, and as soon as she was in bed I was not longer in granting what I desired as much as he.  We went to the Greek’s, ate and drank, and our heated senses gained love’s cause; we forgot our duty, and fancied our misdemeanour a triumph.

“Afterwards we fell asleep, and when we awoke we saw our fault in the clear, cold light of day.  We parted sorrowful rather than rejoicing, and the reception my mother gave me was like that you witnessed this morning.  I assured her that marriage would take away the shame of my sin, and with this she took up a stick and would have done for me, if I had not taken to my heels, more from instinct than from any idea of what I was doing.

“Once in the street I knew not where to turn, and taking refuge in a church I stayed there like one in a dream till noon.  Think of my position.  I was hungry, I had no refuge, nothing but the clothes I wore, nothing that would get me a morsel of bread.  A woman accosted me in the street.  I knew her and I also knew that she kept a servants’ agency.  I asked her forthwith if she could get me a place.

“‘I had enquiries about a maid this morning,’ said she, ’but it is for a gay woman, and you are pretty.  You would have a good deal of difficulty in remaining virtuous.’

“‘I can keep off the infection,’ I answered, ’and in the position I am in I cannot pick and choose.’