at length. "But if she does
not answer, don't try the door. Don't knock. Just speak. You will find
the best words."

"Yes. I'll try--I'll try."

Gaspare opened the door. Giulia was sobbing outside. Her pride and
dignity were lacerated by Gaspare's action.

"Giulia, never mind! Don't cry! Gaspare didn't mean--"

Before she had finished speaking the servant passionately seized her
hand and kissed it. Vere released her hand very gently and went slowly
up the stairs.

The instinct of Artois was to follow her. He longed to follow her, but
he denied himself, and sat down by the dinner-table, on which the zuppa
di pesce was smoking under the lamp. Giulia, trying to stifle her sobs,
went away down the kitchen stairs, and Gaspare stood near the door. He
touched his face with his hands, opened and shut his lips, then thrust
his hands into his pockets, and stared first at Artois then at the
floor. His cheeks and his forehead looked hot, as if he had just
finished some difficult physical act. Artois did not glance at him. In
that moment both men, in their different ways, felt dreadfully, almost
unbearably, self-conscious.

Presently Vere's step was heard again on the stairs, descending softly
and slowly. She came in and went at once to Artois.

"Madre doesn't answer."

Artois got up.

"What ought we to do?"

Vere was whispering.

"Did you hear anything?"

"No."

Gaspare moved, took his hands violently out of his pockets, then thrust
them in again.

Artois stood in silence. His face, generally so strong, so
authoritative, showed his irresolution, and Vere, looking to him like a
frightened child for guidance, felt her terror increase.

"Shall I go up again. I didn't knock. You told me not to. Shall I go and
knock? Or shall Gaspare go again?"

She did not suggest that Artois should go himself. He noticed that, even
in this moment of the confusion of his will.

"I think we had better leave her for a time," he said, at last.

As he spoke he made an effort, and recovered himself.

"We had better do nothing more. What can we do?"

He was looking at Gaspare.

Gaspare went out into the passage and called down the stairs.

"Giulia! Come up! The Signorina is going to dinner."

His defiant voice sounded startling in the silent house.

"We are to eat!"

"Yes, Vere. I shall stay. Presently our mother may come down. She feels
that she must be alone. We have no right to try to force ourselves upon
her."

"Do yo