t breakfast. But there's the old
saying that he who sleeps dines. _Avanti!_"

"Sometimes," said Kitty, drying the final tear, "sometimes I am afraid
of you."

"And wisely. I am often afraid of myself. I always do the first thing
that enters my head, and generally it is the wrong thing. Never mind.
The old woman here will trust us for some weeks yet." She leaned from
the window and called. "Pomp-_e_-o!"

From the canal the gondolier answered.

"Now then!" said the woman to the girl.

Kitty threw a heavy shawl over her head and shoulders, while the other
wound about her face the now familiar dark grey veil; and the two went
down into the Campo to the landing. Kitty longed to ask La Signorina why
she invariably wore that veil, but she did not utter the question,
knowing full well that La Signorina would have evaded it frankly.

Pompeo threw away his cigarette and doffed his hat. He offered his elbow
to steady the women as they boarded; and once they were seated, a good
stroke sent the gondola up the canal. The women sat speechless for some
time. At each intersection Pompeo called right or left musically.
Sometimes the moon would find its way through the brick and marble
canon, or the bright ferrule of another gondola flashed and disappeared
into the gloom. Under bridges they passed, they glided by little
restaurants where the Venetians, in olden days, talked liberty for
themselves and death to the Austrians, and at length they came out upon
the Grand Canal where the Rialto curves its ancient blocks of marble and
stalactites gleam ghostly overhead.

"There, this is better."

"It is always better when you are with me," said Kitty.

For years Kitty had fought her battles alone, independent and
resourceful; and yet here she was, leaning upon the strong will of this
remarkable woman, and gratefully, too. It is a pleasant thing to shift
responsibility to the shoulders of one we know to be capable of bearing
it.

"Now, my dear Kitty, we'll just enjoy ourselves to-night, and on our
return I shall lay a plan before you, and to-morrow you may submit it to
the men. It is as usual a foolish plan, but it will be something of an
adventure."

"I accept it at once, without knowing what it is."

"Kitty Killigrew," mused La Signorina. "The name is as pretty as you
are. Pretty Kitty Killigrew; it actually sings." Then she added
solemnly: "Never change it. There is no man worth the exchange."

Kitty was not wholly sure of thi