"When?" asked Anna.
"Yesterday. He says he can't come to bid us good-bye, he's too busy."
"Of course—too busy. Will you give me the letter?"
"It's a very kind letter," said Stella. She saw that Anna's hand was trembling as it held the white paper. Anna did not return it.
"Dias is very kind," said Anna.
They left Naples on the last day of May.
When they reached the villa, the two girls went directly to their mother's room. Laura opened the two windows that looked out upon the sea and let in the sunlight, and she moved from corner to corner, taking note of the dust on the furniture. Anna knelt at the praying-desk, above which hung a cross, an image of the Virgin, and a miniature of her mother.
Laura asked:
"Are you going to stay here?"
Anna did not answer.