He did not hold out his hand, but his eyes, now devoted entirely to the cigarettes, began to shine with pleasure. Vere did not give him the presents at once. She had something to explain first.
“We mustn’t wake them,” she said, pointing towards the boat in which the men were sleeping. “Come a little way with me.”
She retreated a few steps from the sea, followed closely by the eager boy.
“We sha’n’t disturb them now,” she said, stopping. “Do you know why I’ve brought you these?”
She stretched out her hands, with the dolce and the cigarettes.
The boy threw his chin up again and half shut his eyes.
“No, Signorina.”
“Because you did what I told you.”
She spoke rather with the air of a little queen.
“I don’t understand.”