‘No, no, my dear madam; indeed I cannot permit you to leave so suddenly. Your kind visit has quite cheered me up. You really must remain and partake of our simple mid-day meal. I want to introduce to you my young friend Signor Pagliadini, who is at present our guest. He is a most intelligent young man, quite an acquisition to the neighbourhood; only, unluckily, he does not speak English.’
‘Who is he?’ asked Mrs. Belassis, with interest.
‘A young Italian, of good birth and considerable wealth, I believe. A relative of my wife’s, Signor Mattei of Florence, knows him, and sent him to me with an introduction. He has known him for many years, and speaks highly of his talent and love of art.’
‘Is he going to make any stay here?’
‘I do not think his plans are made; but I hope to induce him to be my guest for some days to come. Philip, I think, will join with me in persuading him to remain in our part of the world; for he knows him well, I find. They were quite intimate friends, I believe, at one time.’
‘Indeed!’
‘Yes; he speaks very highly of our dear Philip, as everyone does. I think my dear Roma is to be congratulated, as well as Philip, upon the way in which matters have turned out.’
‘What!’
‘Ah, did you not know? Well, young people do like a little bit of mystery and secrecy, so I must not betray them. However, my dear madam, we have not grown so old, you and I, that we have lost our sympathy for the first romance of a young love. And now, let me give you my arm to the dining-room, and I shall then have the pleasure of making known to you my young Italian friend.’
When Mr. Meredith and his companion made their quiet entrance into the next room, Mrs. Belassis caught one glimpse of two dark heads bent very closely together over a lovely bunch of roses and heliotrope, which was being transferred from his hands to hers. The blind man was no hindrance to any such small passages as these; but Roma’s cheeks flamed crimson when she saw that her father was not alone, and the ardent look in the young Italian’s eyes was not lost upon Mrs. Belassis.