"Exactly, to Italy, Miss Clarke."
There was an instant of silence. He leant his head towards her and said to her in a voice she had never heard before:
"Miss Clarke, shall we gallop to Italy? Together, alone, to Italy, Miss Clarke?"
She looked him frankly in the eyes, wishing to penetrate his heart and soul. And he withstood well the woman's glance, directed sharply at him in its desire to know the truth. A light laugh issued from her young mouth.
"Why do you laugh, Miss Clarke? It is not right to laugh so," he exclaimed rather harshly.
The laugh changed into such an affectionate and sincere smile that without her speaking he understood. He added anxiously, but with happy anxiety:
"Would you come, Miss Clarke? Would you come?"
"Perhaps I would come, Lante," she replied, again become serious.
"Will you come?"