topic changed. They discussed a certain Madame Makuline, a Russian princess long resident in Rome, to whom Antonio had been introduced by Arduina, and who occasionally employed him in the administration of her affairs.
"She should give a wedding present to Regina," said the authoress; "I expect her to dinner to-morrow; will you two come?"
This intelligence somewhat restored Arduina's prestige, and Regina breathed more freely. The conversation ran on countesses and duchesses; Claretta cried, turning to Massimo—
"Oh, now I remember! You were seen yesterday——"
"Wasn't I seen to-day?"
"——running after Donna Maria del Carro's carriage. It was raining, and you had no umbrella."
"That's why I ran," he said, flattered and pleased.
"No, my dear boy; you ran after the carriage."
"Why?" asked the innocent Regina.
"How sweet you are!" said the cousin. "He ran to be seen, of course! The Marchesa del Carro likes handsome young men, even when she doesn't know them."
"Thank you very much," said Massimo, making a bow.
Then they all got excited and talked of innumerable titled persons of their acquaintance, telling their "lives and miracles." Signora Clara, not to be left out, was insistent in describing the reception costume of a countess.
Regina listened. She did not confess it to herself, but she was certainly pleased that her new relations had friends among the aristocracy.
At last they arrived at the coffee, and Signora Anna turned to Regina intending to say something pleasant.
"I expect you miss your Mamma," she began; "you can't get accustomed to the idea of a second mother."
But she was interrupted by Gaspare, who came from a second inspection of the kitchen.
"My dear mother, just come and look. Come!" he insisted, flicking the corner of his napkin, "there's a flood in the kitchen. She has left the tap running."
The old lady had to get up; panting and puffing she followed her son to the kitchen. Presently Marina was heard sobbing.
"The man's unbearable!" said Arduina; "is that poor girl a slave? From the point of view of——"
"From the social point of view—" suggested Massimo.
"Pardon me," observed Aunt Clara, "she left the tap running."
"If ever I marry a man who meddles in the kitchen," said Claretta, tightening her sash at the looking-glass, "I'll give him—from the social point of view—such a hiding——"
"I too!" agreed the authoress.
Sor Mario, who was picking his teeth ferociously, uttered a grunt.
Signora Anna came back followed by Marina, her eyes red, her lips quivering.
"Pooh! don't cry!" said Massimo, "it makes a fright of you. If the pastrycook saw you now——"
"What, is it a pastrycook this time?" joked Antonio.
"Yes; his name's Stanislao."
"But when I went away it was a penny-a-liner!"
"I got rid of him. For more than three months I had no one," declared Marina, all smiles again.
"Brava!" said Claretta, "that's the best plan. Have you had a great many?"
"Four. No—five, counting the first. He was Peppino. He was an official."
"Good gracious! Where?"
"At Campo Verano."
"Oh! Did he perhaps dig there?"
"Yes," said the girl, simply.
They all burst out laughing, and again Regina felt choked.
Were they always like this in this house? Even Antonio, her Antonio, who was always gay, but with her never had shown himself vulgar—even he appeared in a new light.
Suddenly, however, while Signora Clara was repeating her description of the countess's dress, Regina saw her husband looking at her with distressed eyes, and she knew that her brows must have been contracted in a frown. He got up, came over, and stroked her hair.
"It's time for bed now. You're tired, aren't you?" he whispered, his voice almost supplicating.
Regina rose. Arduina and Claretta thought it necessary to run after her, embracing and kissing her. When they had conducted her to the bedroom, they kissed her again.
Now she was alone with Antonio, and great was her relief. But alas! the door opened immediately, and in came the mother-in-law.
"What is it?" asked Regina, dismayed; and she threw herself on one of the immense, encumbering arm-chairs, and closed her eyes.
Signora Anna, sighing as usual, advanced to the bed.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, in accents of tragedy, "these maids, now-a-days, know nothing of their business! They have no heads. Forgive me, my dearest child——"
"What on earth has happened?" asked Antonio, half undressed.
"She hasn't turned down the bed!" cried the poor lady, attacking the pillows with her fat and trembling arms.
She fussed about, altered all the blankets, tidied the dressing-table, examined the jugs. Regina was waiting to undress; but as the old lady would not go away, she leaned back in the arm-chair, her eyes still closed, her hands folded in her lap. She listened to her mother-in-law's uncertain step and panting breath; and she thought with anguish of to-morrow.
"And the morrow of that, and the next day, and for ever and ever, I shall have to put up with these people! It's awful!"
"Where are your things?" asked Antonio, in his pyjamas.
Regina opened her eyes, got up hastily, and searched her portmanteau. Lo! behind her the heavy panting of the old lady!
"Let me, dear child! You go and undress. I'll find everything for you."
"No, no!" said Regina, vexed, "I'll do it myself."
"Leave it all to me. Go and undress."
"No!"
"There's nothing for me but to dance!" said Antonio, cutting capers; he was well made, and agile as a clown.
"My dear daughter! what are you thinking of? That's a petticoat, not a night-dress! This? Surely that's one of Antonio's flannel shirts? Ah! a flannel night-dress! Dear me! doesn't it tickle you? But I believe it's very cold in your part of the country. It's cold here, too, when the tramontana blows. The tramontana blows for three days at
