The Texas ranch was a romantic invention of Clarissa's, the only foundation for which was a three weeks' holiday which Aldo had once spent in the city of New York.
Clarissa bit her red, narrow lips. "Yes," she said.
During the long pause that followed Aldo picked another piece of grass and chewed it.
"I suppose," said Clarissa, looking at him sideways through her long lids, "you will marry some affectionate old thing with money."
"No. I know them," said Aldo. "They demand the affection, and keep the money."
After a pause, in which he felt Clarissa's angry eyes on his face, he said: "I am going to marry the little Sappho."
Clarissa laughed suddenly and loud. "You do that for your pleasure! Farceur, va!" Aldo lifted his perfect eyebrows and did not reply. "She has nothing, not a little black sou!" And Clarissa stuck her long pointed thumbnail behind her long pointed teeth and jerked it forward.
"Oh! I dare say she has something," said Aldo, pretending to yawn carelessly. "Besides, she is a genius, and can earn what she will."
"You are the perfect Neapolitan pig," said Clarissa, and closed her eyes.
The perfect Neapolitan pig rose with an offended air and left her. He strolled into the house and took his hat and stick, then he strolled out again and through the garden into the hot street and down to the landing-place. A boat was leaving for Intra, so he went on board, and at Intra took the train for Milan. He dined at Biffi's, feeling happy.