"Before you know where you are, you'll be opening a bureau—'First Aid for Neglected Wives.' 'Perfect jealousy-arouser of the careless or the cooling husband. Diploma. References. Moderate tariff. Success guaranteed.'"
"Good idea!" said Aldo, laughing. And in a way he meant it.
She stopped laughing suddenly. "You won't turn out to be a blackmailer, will you?"
"No," said Aldo, looking at her straight from out of his beautiful eyes.
"I believe you," she said, putting out her hand. "Besides, Mum, who knows a thing or two about human nature, said that you were a good, soft old thing. And now," she added, with solemnity, "for what you have done for me, and the way you've scared Bertie into good behaviour, you may give me a kiss."
She put up her narrow mouth, and Aldo, laughing a little, kissed it.
" ... I'm glad I have kissed a Count," said Mrs. Van Osten, as she went down the stairs.
VIII
It was a bright autumn day when Valeria in Milan received Nancy's letter from New York, telling her about those first weeks of misery.