He seemed to be considering.
“Si, Signorina, my mamma is rather old. But then she has had a lot of trouble, my poor mamma!”
“I am sorry. Is she like you?”
“I don’t know, Signorina; I have never thought about it. What does it matter?”
“It may not matter, but such things are interesting sometimes.”
“Are they, Signorina?”
Then, evidently with a polite desire to please her and carry on the conversation in the direction indicated by her, he added:
“And are you like your Signora Madre, Signorina?”
Vere felt inclined to smile, but she answered, quite seriously.
“I don’t believe I am. My mother is very tall, much taller than I am, and not so dark. My eyes are much darker than hers and quite different.”