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After dinner they all sat in the little salotto until it was time to go to the theatre, and still Olive talked and laughed with Orazio, teaching him English words and making fun of his pronunciation of them. Gemma watched her sombrely and judged her by her own standards, and Carmela caught at her cousin's arm presently as they passed down the crowded Via Cavour together.
"I can't, Effie," said Imogene. "I oughtn't to interfere with any of your mother's rules." The child sighed submissively and took the coffee that Giovanni brought to her. She and Imogene went into the salotto together. Mrs. Bowen was at her writing-desk. "You can bring the coffee here, Effie," she said. "Must I go to bed at once, mamma?" asked the child, setting the cup carefully down.
He leaped up the stone steps by two at a time, and said hurriedly to Maso, who met him "Where is the damigella?" "In the library; she is quite ready, and Monna Brigida and Messer Bernardo are already there with Ser Braccio, but none of the rest of the company." "Ask her to give me a few minutes alone; I will await her in the salotto."
Then suddenly 'a heavy armchair, placed against the wall at the further end of the salotto, ran violently out into the middle of the room towards us. Other chairs rushed about 'with still greater velocity. The heavy table then tilted up, and the moderator lamp, with some pencils, slid to the lower edge of the table, but did not fall off. Mr.
Waters is going to stay, and he is such a very cool old gentleman that I don't think one need fear the wildest antics of the mercury where he is." When Colville had finished his ice, Mrs. Bowen led the way to the salotto; and they all sat down by the window there and watched the sunset die on San Miniato.
Bowen, and it had still everything in its favour except that it was impossible. Imogene returned to the salotto, where the little girl was standing with her face to the window, drearily looking out; her back expressed an inner desolation which revealed itself in her eyes when Imogene caught her head between her hands, and tilted up her face to kiss it.
Bowen ran from it by another door, and shut herself into her own room. When she returned to the salotto, Imogene and Effie were just coming in. The child went to lay aside her hat and sacque; the girl, after a glance at Mrs. Bowen's face, lingered inquiringly. "Mr. Colville came here with your letter, Imogene." "Yes," said Imogene faintly. "Do you think I oughtn't to have written it?"
He was shown into the salotto alone, but Effie Bowen came running in to meet him. She stopped suddenly, bridling. "You never expected to see me looking quite so pretty," said Colville, tracing the cause of her embarrassment to his summer splendour. "Where is your mamma?" "She is in the dining-room," replied the child, getting hold of his hand. "She wants you to come and have coffee with us."
She spoke from the portiere of the salotto. "Yes, mamma. I'll bring it to you myself." "Thank you, dear," Mrs. Bowen called from within. The little girl softly pressed her hands together. "I hope she'll let me stay up! I feel so excited, and I hate to lie and think so long before I get to sleep. Couldn't you just hint a little to her that I might stay up? It's Sunday night."
"Al suo comodo è pronto," she said, referring to the dinner, and hurried away again to dish up the veal cutlets. The young man contrived to remain behind in the salotto for a moment and to keep Gemma with him. Olive looked at them as they took their places at table, and she understood that the girl had had to submit to some caress.
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