‘No, I think not,’ assented Roma; and forthwith they fell to discussing its many perfections with a one-sided enthusiasm peculiarly Italian.
Roma meantime studied with a certain artistic pleasure, the handsome head of the young foreigner. He had the thick, dark clustering locks so often seen in Italians, and his hair was rather longer than an Englishman’s would be, though not effeminately so. His eyes looked different colours in different lights, but they were good eyes, well formed and expressive, and their long black lashes and thick arched brows added greatly to their force and beauty. His features were good and delicately cut, and the expression of the mouth, so far as it could be seen through the moustache and silky black Vandyke beard, was both frank and sweet. Altogether it was a pleasant face to look upon, and Roma, who was without any ‘insular prejudice’ where foreigners were concerned, felt that she should like this man, and speculated a little as to who he was, and what could be the object of his visit.
‘Are these your works of art, may I ask, Signorina?’ inquired Signor Pagliadini by-and-by.
‘Some are mine, and some are my father’s,’ answered Roma. ‘I have been finishing, as best I can, those that were left incomplete when—when he lost his sight. You know that he has become blind?’
‘Signor Mattei told me so much. I was grieved to learn it. It must be a sad affliction to one who loved art so well. I can have a great sympathy for him, for my eyes have suffered from a too close attention to etching, for which work I have a great passion. Even now I cannot use them quite as I would, and a strong light tires them.’
And as he spoke he adjusted his pince-nez, the glasses of which were slightly tinged with blue.
‘I am sorry,’ said Roma.
‘But it is nothing—a mere trifle. I am better already, and a little travelling will set me quite to rights. With the Signor Meredith, unfortunately, it is not so.’ Then seeing a look of pain on Roma’s face, he added quickly, rising at the same time, ‘Is this bust the Signorina’s work? It is very charming. May I ask if it is the work of imagination, or a portrait?’
‘It is an attempt to model a friend of mine,’ Roma answered, smiling. ‘I’m afraid it is not very successful. It is not half pretty enough. If you stay any time in this part of the world, Signor, you will be sure to see Miss Debenham of Ladywell Manor. You will then see how much more charming is the original.’
‘What name did you say, Signorina?’