CHAPTER IV GRANDMOTHER'S DINNER
Christian had, on the whole, a very interesting day. She had never been so captivated by Italian children before. She watched and watched the pretty movements, the quick gestures, the gleam of the white teeth, the shining dark eyes. The little monkeys, too, were all that was pathetic. She quite made up her mind that she and Rosy would earn their living in the future as Italian girls—that they would have a monkey and a tambourine each, and go about and dance and beg for money, and have a happy time.
"Only we must not do it near home," thought Christian, "for we might be discovered. It would be indeed too terrible a fate if, when father and mother are away in Persia, Miss Neil should catch sight of us. I should be punished then; and poor, poor Rosy—her mother would half kill her."
Christian's thoughts were so full of keen interest that morning that Miss Thompson began to consider her a very delightful girl. She was startled, however, in the midst of lunch, which they were both enjoying immensely, by the young girl bending forward and saying in an emphatic voice:
"If it was necessary for your career, would you greatly mind being dyed with walnut-juice?"
"My dear Christian, what a strange remark!"
"But I wish you'd answer it," said Christian emphatically.
"I can't understand. It could not be necessary for my career."
"But if it was. If it made all the difference between success and failure, between prison and liberty, which would you choose?"