t!'

"However, he will get over it, he will get over it.

"_September 15._

"I related the Pasotti episode to Uncle Piero and he was very
much annoyed. 'Much good this will do you!' he said. Poor
Uncle! One might almost suspect him of being a utilitarian,
whereas he is really a philosopher. After all the strongest
argument he ever opposes to all my burning indignation against
the many ugly things in this world is: 'Worrying won't mend
it!'

"To-day the parish Mass was said at Albogasio Superiore. In
coming out of church with Maria I caught a despairing glance
from poor Barborin, who evidently had orders to avoid me.
However, Ester walked down with us and coming into the house
told me privately something I have been expecting to hear. She
began by begging me not to laugh, while all the time she was
laughing herself. I succeeded in gathering that the Professor,
by dint of great perseverance, has overcome her resistance,
although Ester still declares she does not know her own mind.

"'It is his nose!' she said this morning, laughing and hiding
her gay little face. Indeed that scandalous nose seems to me to
be prospering; it is redder than ever, and grows ever larger!

"_September 18._

"I have not written for three days, fearing I should not be
mistress of my pen, nor be able to confine my thoughts within
words which must not exceed certain bounds. Now I feel equal to
the task, and so I will set about it. But I must warn you,
Franco, that I am not sure of being able to control my feelings
all the way through.

"Well, then, your grandmother's agent came to me on the evening
of the fifteenth. As the half-yearly payment of your income is
due on the sixteenth, I concluded he had come to bring the five
hundred _svanziche_, and so I told him at once that I would go
and prepare the receipt for him. Then the most gracious Signor
Bellini informed me that my receipt would not be sufficient.
'How can that be?' I said. 'It was sufficient on the sixteenth
of March.' 'I don't know,' he replied. 'I have my orders.' 'But
Franco is not here.' 'I know that.' 'Then what did you come
here for?' 'I came to tell you that if Don Franco wishes to
draw his money