“You know it hurts my eyes.”
“Are these your glasses? You are not so very short-sighted; I think you might work.”
“And why, what for?”
“For your own house, when you return to it....”
“You are perhaps unaware that my mother has three maids,” said the other, turning on her like a viper.
The teacher bent over the work of Avigliana, muttering something about “pride ... insolence,” and then presently withdrew. Minichini shrugged her shoulders. After a moment:
“I say, Minichini, what were the Signora Ferrari and your cousin doing behind the door?”
“Do you really want to know?”
“Yes, yes, yes.”
“Well ... they were kissing.”