am."

"Not _married_?"

The Irish girl, or rather the Italian lady, nodded.

"Why, Molly, however did you do it? you said he was too poor."

"He was too poor."

"And how--"

Molly was pulling off her gloves and laughing.

"My dear, this is another."

Rosina sank abruptly on the sofa.

"'Tis a fact. I never told you a thing about him, but he's as
handsome--wait!" She put her hand to her collar. "No getting them
tangled any more," she said, smiling, as she felt for her chain. "I wear
only one now, but I wear that one night and day."

Rosina could do little else than gasp and stare.

"But who is he?" she asked.

"He's the lieutenant's colonel. He called on me to--Well, I do believe
I've left that locket on the washstand after all!"

"Haven't you got it on?"

"No, I haven't. And I meant to wear it forever."

"Never mind, go on about the colonel."

"I do hope he won't find the locket, that's all. He put it on me the day
we were married, and I promised to never unclasp it. Of course I never
thought of baths when I spoke."

"But do go on about how you came to--"

"I didn't come to any one; he came to me, to beg me to give up the
lieutenant, who was taking to absinthe. My dear, you should just see the
man! (Oh, if I _only_ had my locket!) All Italy can't show such another!
I gave up the lieutenant that day and married the colonel just as fast
as was possible. That's why I haven't written you this last month."

"Is he rich?"

"Well, not in pounds; but he's a millionaire in these Italian _lire_. We
shall live like princes,--Italian princes, _bien entendu_."

"But when were you married?"

"Day before yesterday; to-day's the first time I've taken off the
locket."

"And where?"

"In Venice. Oh, 'twas like heaven, being paddled to church."

"And now you're--"

"Signora La Francesca."

"Well, I declare!"

Rosina leaned back, staring helplessly. Finally she said:

"And how did you happen to come here?"

"To your wedding. I hurried my own a little on that account."

"_Molly_, then you knew about me!"

Molly swept down upon the sofa and folded her friend in her arms.

"Knew about you! Why, my dear, I knew about you in Zurich. How could I
help it? How could any one help it?"

"Why, Molly, was it as bad as that?"

"Worse," said the signora briefly.

"But you never could have known that I would marry him in Genoa then?"

"Oh, no; of course I didn't know about Genoa, I only knew you were boun