"Let him go into the garden, and take half a dozen of the prettiest views—things we should like to carry away with us," the Princess said, hastily, as if she were anxious now to be rid of her protégé. "When they are ready, he can send them to us—and the bill."
The Stereo-Mondaine was disposed of, while Angelo took the glass plate from Vanno, and looked at the picture.
"Do you know the lady, by any chance," he asked lightly, "or did you buy merely as an admirer of beauty?"
"I—am going to marry her, I hope," said Vanno. "We have been engaged since last night. I came over early to tell you."
There was a pause. Each one seemed waiting for another to break the silence. Then the curé stepped into the breach.
"I speak from knowledge when I say that the Principino's fiancée is as good as beautiful—a most rare lady. He is to be congratulated."
"Of course we congratulate him!" Angelo said cordially. He got up and shook hands warmly with his brother, like an Englishman: then he patted him affectionately on the shoulder. "Dear boy," he added, "you have given us a great surprise. But I am sure it is a happy one. And we can feel for you because of our own happiness, which is so new: though I think it always will be new. Can we not sympathize, Marie mia?"
"Yes," said the Princess. "Yes, of course. I congratulate you." There was a different quality in her voice. It did not ring quite true; and Vanno was disappointed. He thought that to please Angelo and him she was affecting more interest than she was able to feel.
Angelo still had the coloured photograph on the glass plate, but now he handed it to his wife. "What a lovely girl!" he exclaimed. "I don't believe that in your artist days, dearest, you ever had a prettier model."