and indeed was not put in seriousness, nor did
the Contessa wait for a reply. "What then," the Contessa went on, "is
the position of Sir Tom? Has he no control? Does he permit this? To have
it taken away from himself and his family, thrown into the sea, parted
with--Oh, it is too much! But how can it be done? I was aware that
settlements were very troublesome, but I had not thought it
possible--Bice! Bice! this is very exciting, it makes one's heart beat!
And you are her friend."

"I am her--friend?" Bice turned one ear to her patroness with a startled
look of interrogation.

"Oh!" cried the Contessa once more; by which exclamation, naturally
occurring when she was excited, she proved that she was of English
race. "What difficulty is there in my meaning? You have English enough
for that. What! do you feel no impatience when you hear of money running
away?--going into a different channel--to strangers--to people that have
nothing to do with it--that have no right to it--anybody--a clergyman,
a----"

Her feelings were too much for her. She threw herself into a chair, out
of breath.

"He looked a very good man," said Bice, with that absolute calm which is
so exasperating to an excited woman, "and what does it matter, if it has
to be given away, who gets it? I should give it to the beggars. I should
fling it for them, as you do the _bajocchi_ when you are out driving."

"You are a fool! you are a fool!" cried the Contessa, "or rather you are
a child, and don't understand anything. Fling it to the beggars? Yes, if
it was in shillings or even sovereigns. You don't understand what money
is."

"That is true, Madama, for I never had any," cried the girl, with a
laugh. She was perfectly unmoved--the desire of money was not in her as
yet, though she was far more enlightened as to its uses than most
persons of her age. It amused her to see the excitement of her
companion; and she knew very well what the Contessa meant, though she
would not betray any consciousness of it. "If I marry," she said, "then
perhaps I shall know."

"Bice! you are not a fool--you are very sharp, though you choose not to
see. Why should not you have this as well as another?--oh, much better
than another! I can't stand by and see it all float into alien channels,
while you--it would not be doing my duty while you---- Oh, don't look at
me with that blank face, as if it did not move you in the least! Would
it be nothing to have it in your power to dre