Miss Chandos merely helped herself to a salted almond. She had lovely hands.
"Why were you called Verona?" he pursued.
"I have not the faintest idea. I suppose they thought it more uncommon than Florence!"
"Did you never ask them the reason?" he continued in his soft voice.
"If by 'them' you allude to my father and mother, I am sorry to say I have not even a dim recollection of either."
"Ah! So you are an orphan?"
She bowed her head.
"How sad! How I pity you!" he ejaculated. "Now I have the good fortune to have a charming father and mother—my mother is a beautiful woman. How much I should like to make you known to her. I assure you she would love you as a—daughter."
"It is very kind of you to say so, Prince."
"She lives in a noble old castle. It still retains many splendid pictures and works of art. Perhaps you would visit her there one day? It has such a wonderful view, being high on the top of a mountain—almost in the clouds."