“I was not altogether unprepared,” said James. “Signor Mattei is not with you?”
“No. My father is in Florence.”
“And your sister?—I hope she is well.”
“She is very well, thank you.”
Both Jem and Rosa felt antagonistic. “Why,” thought she, “had he come like a ghost to disturb Violante’s peace?”
“What had brought these girls to England?” thought he. “Did they want to seek Hugh out?”
There was an awkward little pause, which, was broken by a lady, a friend of James’s mother, who came up to him and asked after his brother.
“Very well, thank you. He is at home—not here,” returned James, conscious that Rosa looked relieved at the intelligence.
“And your cousin Arthur?”
“Well, we have pretty good accounts from him, I think. Miss Mattei,” he added, “I believe you met my cousin at Caletto.”