Inafewmoments, atall, slender, darkgirlappeared, withherhairhangingdown, andwhoseyouthfulfigureshowedunmistakablybeneathanolddressofhermother's.
Thelatteratoncetoldherhowmattersstood.
"ThisisFrancesca'sFrenchman, youknow, , andhascometolookforher, poorfellow; soItoldhimthatyouwouldgowithhimtokeephimcompany."
Thegirllookedatmewithherhandsomedarkeyes, andsaid, smiling:
"Ihavenoobjection, ifhewishesit."
Icouldnotpossiblyrefuse, andmerelysaid:
"OfcourseIshallbeverygladofyourcompany."
Hermotherpushedherout."Goandgetdresseddirectly; putonyourbluedressandyourhatwiththeflowers, andmakehaste."
Assoonasshehadlefttheroomtheoldwomanexplainedherself: "Ihavetwoothers, ."
Thenshetoldallaboutherself, aboutherhusband, whohadbeenanemployé ontherailway, butwhowasdead, andsheexpatiatedonthegoodqualitiesofCarlotta, hersecondgirl, whosoonreturned, dressed, ashersisterhadbeen, inastriking, peculiarmanner.
Hermotherexaminedherfromheadtofoot, and, afterfindingeverythingright, shesaid:
"Now, mychildren, youcango." Thenturningtothegirl, shesaid: "Besureyouarebackbyteno'clocktonight; youknowthedoorislockedthen." Theanswerwas:
"Allright, mamma; don'talarmyourself."
Shetookmyarm, andwewentwanderingaboutthestreets, justasIhaddonethepreviousyearwithhersister.
Wereturnedtothehotelforlunch, andthenItookmynewfriendtoSantaMargarita, justasIhaddonewithhersistertheyearpreviously.
Andshedidnotgohomethatnight, althoughthedoorwastobeclosedatteno'clock!
.
ShecriedwhenIlefther, andthemorningofmydepartureIgaveherfourbraceletsforhermother, besidesasubstantialtokenofmyaffectionforherself.
OneofthesedaysIintendtoreturntoItaly, andIcannothelpremembering, withacertainamountofuneasiness, mingledwithhope, .
[1]Munichbeer—oftenbrewedinFrance!—whichismuchaffectedbytheParisiansinsummer.
[2]Idonotunderstand.
[3]Whatdoesitmattertome?
[4]Notatall.
