"No. I don't know what you will say, mamma, but I should like to go back to Belmonte."
"I have a good deal of patience, my dear, but I must say that you wear it out."
"I know I do; but if you will take me back, I promise to stay there this time as long as you like."
"I like—" began Mrs. North; but Dorothy, with a frown, had rushed out of the room.
"What shall we do now?" said the aunt.
"Go back, I suppose; I have always thought Belmonte the best place up to really hot weather. One good thing: if we do go back we can take the opportunity to rid ourselves definitely of both of those villas. My idea is the Black Forest country for August and September. Then we could come here again for a few weeks. For the winter, what do you say to a long cruise towards the South somewhere, in a yacht of our own? We could select the right people to go with us."
They returned to Italy, reaching Bellosguardo again on the 11th of April.
On the 6th of May Charlotte Tracy said, "Laura, to me this is dreadful! Waddy is here morning, noon, and night."
"So many people have left Florence that it hardly matters; nobody knows what is going on up here. He amuses her, and that is something gained."
"I wish he wouldn't be forever singing!" said the aunt, irritably.