'Delfina!'
There was a rustling in the leaves as if from the passage of a little kid, and the child came bounding through the laurel thicket, carrying in her hands her straw hat heaped to the brim with little red berries she had gathered. Her exertions and the running had brought a deep flush to her cheeks, broken twigs were sticking in her frock, and some leaves hung trembling in the meshes of her ruffled hair.
'Oh mamma, come quick—do come with me!'
She began dragging her mother away—'There is a perfect forest over there—heaps and heaps of berries! Come with me, mamma, do come—'
'No, darling, I would rather not—it is getting late.'
'Oh, do come!'
'But it is late.'
'Come! Come!'
Donna Maria was obliged to give in and let herself be dragged along by the hand.
'There is a way of reaching the arbutus wood without going through the thicket,' said Andrea.