“Oh, Patty,” said Flo, blushing with mortification, “he thinks we asked him for flowers!”
“Si, si, flowers!” said Balotti, beaming with pleasure at having gratified the wishes of the young ladies.
To Patty’s surprise Carlo took the flower episode calmly, and she concluded that a gift of flowers in Italy must mean even less than in America.
“Yes,” said Carlo, when she asked him this; “yes, the Signori mean to present the compliments they cannot speak, by means of the so beautiful bouquets.”
“Thank them very much,” said Patty, “they are most kind.”
But her own smiling bows of appreciation were quite as welcome to the gallant Balotti as Carlo’s expressed thanks.
And now gloom settled on the handsome face of Signor Grimaldi.
“He wants that he too,” said Balotti.
This seemed obscure, at first, but the discontented expression helped Patty’s quick wit, and she exclaimed, “Oh, Mr. Grimaldi wants to give us flowers also?”
“Yes,” said Balotti, “or—or another.”