"
"You frighten me, you naughty child!" exclaimed Isabelle, much troubled
and agitated by these sinister, extravagant words, which perhaps, she
thought, might be intended as a friendly warning.
"Sharpen the edge on the marble of the chimney-piece, like this,"
continued Chiquita, "and polish the blade on the sole of your shoe."
"Why do you tell me all this?" cried Isabelle, turning very pale.
"For nothing in particular, only he who would defend himself gets his
weapons ready--that's all."
These odd, fierce phrases greatly alarmed Isabelle, yet Chiquita's
presence in her room was a wonderful relief and comfort to her. The
child apparently cherished a warm and sincere affection for her, which
was none the less genuine because of its having arisen from such a
trivial incident--for the pearl beads were more precious than diamonds
to Chiquita. She had given a voluntary promise to Isabelle never to kill
or harm her, and with her strange, wild, yet exalted notions of honour
she looked upon it as a solemn obligation and vow, by which she must
always abide--for there was a certain savage nobility in Chiquita's
character, and she could be faithful unto death. Isabelle was the only
human being, excepting Agostino, who had been kind to her.
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