"Come then," said he, "we will sit down on this seat. Give me your hand."
She placed her hand in his without hesitation; and he patted it gently, and said how like it was to the hand of her mother.
"You are a little taller than she was," said he; "a little—not much. Ah, how beautiful she was! She had many sweethearts."
He was silent for a minute or two.
"Some of them richer, some of them of nobler birth than your father; and one of them her own cousin, whom all her family wanted her to marry. But you know, little daughter, your father is a very determined man—"
"But she loved him the best?" said the girl, quickly.
"Ah, no doubt, no doubt," said Calabressa. "He is very kind to you, is he not?"
"Oh yes. Who could be kinder? But about my mother, signore?"
Calabressa seemed somewhat embarrassed.