gnorina. It is I--Tony. I am waiting for orders.'

'For orders!' There was astonishment as well as indignation in her tone.
'I thought I made it clear----'

'That I was discharged? Yes, signorina. But I have been so fortunate as
to find another place. The Signor Papa has engage me. I go wif him; we
climb all ze mountain around.' He waved his hand largely to comprise the
whole landscape. 'I sink perhaps it is better so--for the Signor Papa and
me to go alone. Mountain-climbing is too hard; zere is too much fatigue,
signorina, for you.'

He bowed humbly and deferentially, and retired to the steps and his
cigarette.

CHAPTER XII

Half-past six on the following morning found Constance and her father
rising from the breakfast table, and Tony turning in at the gate.
Constance's nod of greeting was barely perceptible, and her father's eye
contained a twinkle as he watched her. Tony studied her mountain-climbing
costume with an air of concern.

'You go wif us, signorina?' His expression was blended of surprise and
disapproval, but in spite of himself his tone was triumphant. 'You say to
me yesterday you no want to climb any more mountain.'

'I have changed my mind.'

'But zis mountain to-day too long, too high. You get tired, signorina.
Perhaps anozzer day we take li'l' baby mountain, zen you can go.'

'I am going to-day.'

'It is not possible, signorina. I have not brought ze donk'.'

'Oh, I'm going to walk.'

'As you please, signorina.'

He sighed patiently. Then he looked up and caught her eye. They both
laughed.

'Signorina,' he whispered, 'I ver' happy to-day. Zat Costantina she more
kind. Yesterday ver' unkind; I go home ver' sad. But to-day I sink----'

'Yes?'

'I sink after all maybe she like me li'l' bit.'

Giuseppe rowed the three climbers a mile or so down the lake and set them
ashore at the base of their mountain. They started up gaily and had
accomplished half their journey before they thought of being tired. Tony
surpassed himself; if he had been entertaining the day before he was
doubly so now. His spirits were bubbling over and contagious. He and
Constance acted like two children out of school. They ran races and
talked to the peasants in the wayside cottages. They drove a herd of
goats for half a mile while the goatherd strolled behind and smoked
Tony's cigarettes. Constance took a water-jar from a little girl they
met coming from the fountain and endeavoured to balance it on her o