"Four-in-hands are very amusing," said Caracciolo, shaking hands with the two women.
"Shall we have a late dinner?" asked Anna.
"Don't wait dinner for me. I am going to dine at the Contessa d'Alemagna's, with Giulio Carafa and Marco Paliano."
"Very well," said Anna.
She watched Cesare and Luigi as they moved away, puffing their cigarettes. Then she said to the coachman, "Drive home."
During the long drive the sisters scarcely spoke. They were accustomed to respect each other's hours of silence. A soft breeze was blowing from the north. They were both a little pale. Perhaps it was the spectacle of the return from the Campo di Marte, which made them thoughtful; the many carriages, full of people who bore on their faces the signs of happiness due to a fine day of sunshine, passed in the open air, amid the thousand flattering coquetries of love and fancy; the beautiful women, wrapped in their cloaks; the sort of spiritual intoxication that glowed in the eyes of everybody.
The streets were lined by an immense crowd of shop-keepers and working-people, who made a holiday pleasure of watching the stream of carriages; and another crowd looked down from the balconies of the houses.
Presently Anna leaned forward and took her shawl and wrapped it round her shoulders.
"Are you cold?" asked Laura, helping her.
"Yes."