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Updated: June 6, 2025
Well, when I met you there at the Hermitage, I took you for one of these local señoritos who have such an easy time of it in town, and so, look upon every woman they meet as their property for the asking. Afterwards, when I saw you lurking about the house, my scorn increased. 'Who does that little dandy think he is? I said to myself. And how Beppa and I laughed over it!
A chair scraped as it was pushed back. The lady was rising to her feet. At the balcony a flowing gown of blue appeared; but all that Rafael saw was a pair of eyes green eyes, that seemed to fill the entire window with a flood of light. "Beppa! Beppina!" cried a firm, a warm, a sonorous, soprano voice. "Apri la porta. Open the door."
And suddenly, one night, after an "Isolde" in Florence, she ordered Beppa, the loyal and silent companion of her wandering life, to pack her things! Home! Home! Off for her native land! And might she find there something to keep her ever from returning to the troubled stirring world she was leaving! She was the princess of the fairy tales longing to become a shepherdess.
Leonora, quite unconscious of the interest she was arousing, chattered on about her shopping. Beppa, you see, had decided to stay at home with her aunt that morning; so she had come with her gardener's wife and another woman there they were over there with the large baskets. She had no end of things to get and she laughed as she read off the list. A regular housewife she had become, yes, sir!
The peasant family laughed like mad, forgetting the disaster that had overtaken their home; Beppa opened her eyes wide, surprised at the elegant figure of the man, and the grace with which he pronounced the Italian verses. Even poor doña Pepa hitched around in her armchair and applauded. The barber, according to her, was the most charming devil in the world.
Besides, I don't want Beppa to see you. She has a vivid recollection of that afternoon in the Hôtel de Roma when I got your note. I'd lose prestige with her if she saw me in your company." With a commanding gesture she motioned him to the sidewalk. When the carriage had gone they stood there together for a moment looking at each other for the last time. "Farewell, Rafael.
Why did he insist on rousing me when I was there alone, quite peaceful, forgetting everything, sunk in a placid indulgent calm!... The cool fraud that he was!... But what do I care, after all?... It's all over. Come Beppa, cheer up! Hah-hah! Come, Beppa! We're off! We're off! We're going to sing again! Off over the whole globe. Good-bye to this rat-hole forever! I'm through educating children!
"Come right in, caballero," she said to him. "You surely need something after this escapade of yours. You are sopping wet, both of you.... Poor boys! Just look at them!... Beppa!... Auntie! But do come in, sir!"
She was shaking the prima donna's skirts to straighten out the wrinkles and the folds caused by the packing in the trunks. It was the Italian maid that Beppa of the reddish hair whom he had seen the previous afternoon with her mistress. He thought the girl was looking at him, and that she even recognized him through the foliage, despite the distance.
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