detain the callers until her father's
return.

Presently she saw, across the lake, a yellow sailboat float out from the
shadow of Monte Maggiore and head in a long tack toward Villa Rosa. With
this she gave up the task of keeping the conversation general; and
abandoning Captain Coroloni to her aunt, she strolled over to the terrace
parapet with Lieutenant di Ferara at her side. The picture they made was
a charming color scheme. Constance wore white, the lieutenant pale blue;
an oleander tree beside them showed a cloud of pink blossoms, while
behind them for a background, appeared the rose of the villa wall and the
deep green of cypresses against a sunset sky. The picture was
particularly effective as seen from the point of view of an approaching
boat.

Constance broke off a spray of oleander, and while she listened to the
lieutenant's recountal of a practice march, she picked up his hat from
the balustrade and idly arranged the flowers in the vizor. He bent toward
her and said something; she responded with a laugh. They were both too
occupied to notice that the boat had floated close in shore, until the
flap of the falling sail announced its presence. Constance glanced up
with a start. She caught her father's eye fixed anxiously upon her;
whatever Gustavo and the officer's mess of the tenth cavalry might think,
he had not the slightest wish in the world to see his daughter the
Contessa di Ferara. Tony's face also wore an expression; he was sober,
disgusted, disdainful; there was a glint of anger and determination in
his eye. Constance hurried to the water steps to greet her father. Of
Tony she took no manner of notice; if a man elects to be a donkey-driver,
he must swallow the insults that go with the part.

The officers, observing that Luigi was hovering about the doorway waiting
to announce dinner, waived the question of precedence and made their
adieus. While Mr. Wilder and Miss Hazel were intent on the captain's
labored farewell speech, the lieutenant crossed to Constance who still
stood at the head of the water steps. He murmured something in Italian
as he bowed over her hand and raised it to his lips. Constance blushed
very becomingly as she drew her hand away; she was aware, if the officer
was not, that Tony was standing beside them looking on. But as he raised
his eyes, he too became aware of it; the man's expression was more than
impertinent. The lieutenant stepped to his side and said something low
and rapi