[2] falla, make it. Consonant of pronoun is doubled.

[3] Dimmi, Tell me of.

VIII. LA DOTE D'ORSOLINA.

[1] stato civile. The stato civile, or "social state" of persons is their condition as regards the principal facts of existence: birth, marriage, death, etc., and involves the recording of these events in the public registers.

[2] Como, town north of Milan, near the Swiss frontier.

[3] un ambrosiano all'antica, a Milanese of the old school.

[4] va ronzando... figliuola, is hovering about your daughter; ronzare, to buzz, hum, then to rove, ramble.

[5] Brera, well-known picture gallery at Milan, open to the public gratis on certain days.

IX. RIVELAZIONI D'UN'OSTRICA.

[1] se la svignarono, disappeared, escaped.