‘I wanted to know,’ he said after a while.
Maria’s maid came to the door and said the tutor was waiting to take his Excellency for his afternoon walk. The nurse had sent her, thinking that Maria would be tired.
‘Why do they call me “Excellency” every minute?’ Leone asked. ‘They hardly ever used to. Of course, I’m growing up—but still——’
‘Though you are only a boy, they look upon you as the master now, because there is no one else.’
‘Am I really the master of Montalto, as papa said I should be?’
‘I suppose so, dear.’ Maria spoke a little wearily. ‘You must go out for your walk now, and to-morrow you shall come again and stay longer.’
‘Yes, much longer! Do you think it would cheer you up to see my dog to-morrow? You must be dreadfully lonely all day. I’ll lend him to you, if you like.’
Maria smiled.
‘Bring him with you to-morrow, if he is a cheerful little dog,’ she answered, and she nearly laughed for the first time in many weeks.
Leone looked at her with satisfaction.