"And that hope is enough to enliven them, I suppose," said Giulia. "My dear Duke said to me, very soon after our marriage: 'Pargoletta!'—you know he loved to call me 'pargoletta,' or 'animetta,' or 'dolce alma mia,'—he said, 'Pargoletta, don't have much to say to your maids; they are light and frivolous, and will do you no good.' And I loved to obey him; and I love to obey him still, for he was a wise man."
"They might do you no good, but you might do them great good now," said Vittoria.
"O, my dear, that set have long married off, and had their portions—so many ducats, a bed, bedding, and ewer and basin."
"The new set, then—"
"Here's a strawberry, I declare," said Giulia, diving into the leaves on the bank upon which they were sitting. "Do have it!"
"No, thank you. The—"
"I could no more preach and pray with my maids as you do, Vittoria, than I could fly!"
"Why not?"
"I should die of shame."