“Ah! I see my advice comes too late.”
I did not see any need to enlighten her farther. So I passed on to Donna Antonia, who had sat somewhat sulkily since her outburst. I sat down by her and said:
“Surely I haven’t offended you?”
“You know you wouldn’t care if you had,” she said, with a reproachful but not unkind glance. “Now, if it were the signorina—”
I never object to bowing down in the temple of Rimmon, so I said:
“Hang the signorina!”
“If I thought you meant that,” said Donna Antonia, “I might be able to help you.”
“Do I want help?” I asked.
“Yes,” said she.
“Then suppose I do mean it?”