got my things together as quickly as I
could--magnanimously paid the whole of the hotel bill, and was off to
the coach. As I went along the High Street, I saw my ladies looking out
at the window, with the tenor, at the sound of the horn. But I kept well
out of sight in the background, and pictured to myself, with deep
delight, the crushing effect of the scathing letter which I had left
for them.

"'Here Theodore slowly savoured, with intense gusto, the last drops of
the glowing Eleatic which Edward had poured out for him.

"'"I shouldn't have expected Teresina to have behaved as she did," said
Edward, opening a fresh bottle, and shaking away the drop or two of oil
on the surface like one accustomed to that operation. "I can't forget
the pretty picture of her caracoling along on horseback, singing
Spanish songs."

"'That was her culminating point,' said Theodore. 'I remember as
distinctly as possible the impression that made upon me. I forgot the
pain of my foot. She looked like some creature of a higher sphere. A
moment of that sort makes a tremendous impression upon one sometimes.
Things sometimes put on a form, in an instant, which no lapse of time
can change. If ever, since then, I have been unusually happy in the
subject of some bold, spirited _romanza_, you may be sure I had that
scene, and Teresina, vividly before my mind.'

"'"We mustn't forget the clever Lauretta, either," said Edward. "I vote
that we let bygones be bygones, and drink to both the sisters." Which
they did.

"'Ah!' said Theodore, 'how the perfumes of exquisite Italy breathe upon
one out of this wine. One's blood seems to course through one's veins
with threefold vigour. Oh, why had I to leave that glorious country so
soon!'

"'"So far, though," said Edward, "I see no connection between what you
have been telling me and the picture; so I suppose there is more about
the sisters yet to come. Of course I see that the ladies in the picture
are no other than Lauretta and Teresina."

"'Yes,' said Theodore. 'And my longing sighs for Italy form a
good-enough introduction to what there remains for me to say. A short
time before I had to leave Rome, the year before last, I went for a
little excursion into the country, on horseback. I came to a _locanda_,
where I saw a nice-looking girl, and I thought it would be a good thing
to get her to bring me a flagon of good wine. I drew up at the door in
the shaded alley, the bright sunlight breaking athwart