"No, thanks. It doesn't agree with me."
"Just try. You'll like it, I'm sure."
"No, no!"
"Yes, yes! If you don't mean to vex me——"
She had to take the brandy in the coffee, and then café au lait; and cream, and bread and butter, and biscuits, and the whipped eggs. At last tears rose in her eyes, so overwhelmed was she by her mother-in-law's insistence. By way of comfort Signora Anna at once offered a basin of broth and the wing of a roast chicken.
"But you're trying to kill me!" cried the girl, jesting, though desperate. Antonio laughed, and ate heartily.
Fortunately an alarming noise was heard in the kitchen, and the Signora ran, much agitated and tripping over her red dressing-gown. Regina seized the opportunity and fled to her room.
She put on a beautiful white scarf and a black hat with a pink ribbon, which she thought very smart; powdered herself carefully, and imagined every one was going to admire her as they did at home.
"Behold how lovely my Regina is!" said Antonio, half serious, half amused; "and just you look at her hat!"
Gaspare, buttoned up in his new great-coat, fat, heavy, rosy and pompous, was waiting at the dining-room door. He looked at Regina out of the corner of his eye, then saluted her and said gravely—