"Signora," he answered, "I am sorry."
He looked at her fixedly while he spoke.
"I am sorry," he said again.
"Never mind," Hermione said, unable to blame him on this first day of her return. "I dare say you have got out of regular habits while I've been away. What have you been doing all the time?"
He shrugged his shoulders.
"Niente."
Again she wondered what was the matter with the boy to-day. Where were his life and gayety? Where was his sense of fun? He used to be always joking, singing. But now he was serious, almost heavy in demeanor.
"Gaspare," she said, jokingly, "I think you've all become very solemn without me. I am the old person of the party, but I begin to believe that it is I who keep you lively. I mustn't go away again."
"No, signora," he answered, earnestly; "you must never go away from us again. You should never have gone away from us."
The deep solemnity of his great eyes startled her. He put on his hat and went away round the angle of the cottage.