hen you do," she said, "I would rather it should not be before
people."

"I shall try to remember that," answered Marcello, considerably
emboldened.

"Yes, do! It would be so humiliating if I boxed your ears in the
presence of witnesses."

"You would not dare," laughed Marcello.

From a distance, as Aurora had guessed, Folco was watching them while he
quietly talked to the Contessa; and as he watched, he understood what a
change had taken place since last year, when he had seen Marcello and
Aurora riding over the same stretch of sand on the same little horses.
He ventured a reflection, to see what his companion would answer.

"I daresay many people would say that those two young people were made
for each other."

Maddalena looked at him inquiringly and then glanced at her daughter.

"And what do you say?" she asked, with some curiosity.

"I say 'no.' And you?"

"I agree with you. Aurora is like me--like what I was. Marcello would
bore her to death in six months, and Aurora would drive him quite mad."

Corbario smiled.

"I had hoped," he said, "that women with marriageable daughters would
think Marcello a model husband. But of course I am prejudiced. I have
had a good deal to do with his bringing up during the last four years."

"No one can say that you have not done your duty by him," Maddalena
answered. "I wish I could feel that I had done as well by Aurora--indeed
I do!"

"You have, but you had quite a different nature to deal with."

"I should think so! It is my own."

Corbario heard the little sigh as she turned her head away, and being a
wise man he said nothing in answer. He was not a Roman, if indeed he
were really an Italian at all, but he had vaguely heard the Contessa's
story. She had been married very young to a parliamentary high-light,
who had made much noise in his day, had spent more than half of her
fortune after getting rid of his own, and had been forgotten on the
morrow of his premature death. It was said that she had loved another
man with all her heart, but Corbario had never known who it was.

The sun was almost setting when they turned homeward, and it was dark
when they reached the cottage. They found an unexpected arrival
installed beside the Signora in the doorway of the sitting-room.

"Professor Kalmon is here," said the Signora's voice out of the gloom.
"I have asked him to stay till to-morrow."

The Professor rose up in the shadow and came forward, just as a servant
br