“I don’t know.”
“I will fetch the Signorina.”
On that night, years ago, she had battled with Gaspare. He had been forced to yield to her. Now she yielded to him.
“Very well,” she answered. “Go and tell the Signorina I am here.”
She turned and went into the house and up to the sitting-room. Vere did not come immediately. To her mother it seemed as if she was a very long time coming; but at last her light step fell on the stairs, and she entered quickly.
“Madre! How late you are! Where have you been?”
“Am I late? I dined at the little restaurant at the top of the hill where the tram passes.”
“There? But you haven’t been there all this time?”
“No. Afterwards I took the tram to Posilipo and came home by boat. And what have you been doing?”
“Oh, all sorts of things—what I always do. Just now I’ve been with Ruffo.”