Nun (9781609459109) Read Online Free PDF

who hadn’t been able to find a place to stand on the balconies still had a full view of the upper circles and of the Virgin Mary. Therefore everyone, including the footmen and chambermaids, was looking outside. Agata had hung back. As soon as she heard the sound of footsteps on the wet pavement and the creaking of the machine sliding along, she ran downstairs at top speed to the stables, which were empty at that time of day. That was where Giacomo was waiting for her. Declarations of undying love, tears, and the good news: Senator Lepre, moved by the sincerity of the two young people’s love, had offered to request Agata’s hand in marriage to his grandson, in his son’s stead. There was no more time to talk; when the coachman gave the agreed-upon signal, the two lovers were forced to take their leave.
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    Agata raced upstairs four steps at a time and elbowed her way silently back among her sisters at the very moment that the Vara passed in front of the balcony. The third circle, the one with the constellations, was barely a yard away, and it was revolving like the stars and the constellations. The Sun, as large as a dinner table, had eyes, a nose, a large smiling mouth, and twelve rays. At the tip of each of those rays, a baby no more than six months old, with gilded wings fastened to its shoulders, was confined in a cage that enclosed its body while leaving arms, legs, and head free. Each baby’s head was covered by a bonnet with curls that were also gilded. The rays spun in alternating directions: at that very moment, they changed direction and stopped right in front of the balcony. Less than a yard away, Agata found herself face to face with an array of screaming little angels, their faces deformed by terror; then the wheel began turning again and the noise of the procession drowned out the wails of the babies.
    â€œBlessed angels of Our Lady of the Assumption!” “Little beauties!” “Holy souls!” commented the women.
    â€œMay the Lord bless them every one,” whispered Annuzza as she crossed herself. And then, speaking to Carmela: “See how pretty they are!” The heat of the afternoon sun had become an intolerable flame. Agata could feel herself going into a swoon; she shut her eyes and gripped the railing with all her might. Even the railing was hot; she clamped her fingers down hard, then harder, until she’d hurt herself. When she opened her eyes again, the Vara and the ravaged children were no longer there. Like a torrent in spring spate, the crowd thronging the street had closed ranks behind the sacred cart. The shouts of “Long live the Virgin Mary!” were deafening—to the faithful, that was the moment of utmost pride and religious exaltation.
    Meanwhile, the Padellanis’ guests already were buzzing around the sherbets.
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    After the procession with the Vara had passed by the house, it was customary for the field marshal, with the Marescialla on his arm, to lead all his guests to witness the end of the procession in the cathedral square. Followed by the officers from the garrison and the other guests, they created a smaller private procession within the larger one. Donna Gesuela slowed her pace to make it easier on her husband, who suffered from gout; she also took advantage of this opportunity to sashay and pivot voluptuously, scattering smiles in all directions. This gave the footservants a chance to straighten up back at the house, in preparation for the final refreshments. Moreover, it was the Marescialla’s opinion that their guests, with the flavor of the sweets still in their mouths, would be less spiteful in the comments they might offer on the party to the people they chanced to meet on the street than they were likely to be the following day. After a good night’s sleep, their guests were likely to make a special effort to come up with some detail to complain about. She knew her guests were always afraid that