United States or Benin ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Constance waived the point. 'Was she glad to see you? 'She's always glad to see me. 'Oh, don't be so provoking! Give me the particulars. Was she surprised? How did you explain the telegrams and letters and Gustavo's stories? I should think the Hotel Sole d'Oro at Riva and the walking trip with the Englishman must have been difficult. 'Not in the least; I told the truth. 'The truth!
You got it too large the last time, you remember. She stirred in some sugar and tasted it tentatively, her head on one side. Gustavo hung upon her expression in an agony of apprehension; one would have thought it a matter for public mourning if the lemonade were not mixed exactly right. But apparently it was right she nodded and smiled and Gustavo's expression assumed relief.
The young man raised his head and eyed his companion gloomily. 'Gustavo, have you a sister? 'A sister? Gustavo's manner was uncomprehending but patient. 'Si, signore, I have eight sister. 'Eight! Merciful saints. How do you manage to be so cheerful? 'Tree is married, signore, one uvver is betrofed, one is in a convent, one is dead, and two is babies.
Gustavo hovered over them, awaiting their pleasure, the genius itself of respectful devotion. It was Constance who gave the order she, it might be noticed, gave most of the orders that were given in her vicinity. She framed it in English out of deference to Gustavo's pride in his knowledge of the language. 'A glass of vino santo for the signore and limonata for me.
'Are these donkeys used to mountain-climbing? 'But yes, signorina! Sicuramente. Zay are ver' strong, ver' good. Zat donk', signorina, he go all day and never one little stumble. His English, she noted with amused appreciation, was an exact copy of Gustavo's; he had learned his lesson well. But she allowed not the slightest recognition of the fact to appear in her face.
'Then she knows! There was regret, disillusionment, in his tone. It was Gustavo's turn to furnish enlightenment. 'But no, signore, she do not comprehend. She sink Meestair Jayreem Ailyar is ze brover who is not arrive. She leave it for him when he come. 'Ah! Tony ripped it open and read it through with a chuckle. He read it a second time and his face grew grave.
Sank you. Tony's tone was exactly like Gustavo's when he has failed to get the point, but feels that a comment is necessary. Constance laughed and allowed a silence to follow, while Tony redirected his attention to Fidilini's movements. His 'Yip! Yip! was an exact imitation, though in a deeper guttural, of Beppo's cries before them.
Gustavo's eyes roved wildly until they lighted on the tennis-court. 'He he stay, signorina, to play lawn-tennis wif me, but he go to-morrow. 'Oh, he is going to-morrow? What's his name, Gustavo? She put the question indifferently while she stooped to pet a tortoise-shell cat that was curled asleep on the bench. 'His name? Gustavo's face cleared. 'I get ze raygeester; you read heem yourself.
As a matter of fact, however, the pretty señora was quite accustomed to discomfort in varying degrees, and gave less thought to the weather than did the more tenderly sheltered women of the valley, so that no harm came of the forgetfulness; especially since the storm fell far short of Gustavo's expectations and caused that particular prophet the inconvenience of searching his soul and the heavens for an explanation of the sunshine that reprehensibly bathed the valley next day in its soft glow.
He picked up the letter, glanced at the address to make sure the name was Jerymn Hilliard, Jr. and ripped it open with an exaggerated sigh of relief. Then he glanced up and caught Gustavo's expression. Gustavo came of a romantic race; there was a gleam of sympathetic interest in his eye. 'Oh, you needn't look so knowing! I suppose you think this is a love-letter? Well it's not.
Word Of The Day