arry him. It was all decided beforehand in
her small head.

She was glad that it was, and she felt much happier at the prospect of
what was coming than she had expected. That must be a sign that she
really loved Guido in the right way, and the pleasant little thrill of
excitement she felt now and again could only be due to that; it would be
outrageous to suppose that it was caused merely by the certainty that
for the first time in her life she was going to receive an offer of
marriage. Why should any young girl care for such a thing, unless she
meant to marry the man, and why in the world should it give her any
pleasure to hear a man stammer something that would be unintelligible if
it were not expected, and then see him wait with painful anxiety for the
answer which every woman likes to hesitate a little in giving, in order
that it may have its full value? Such doings are manifestly wicked,
unless they are sheer nonsense!

Cecilia rose and rang for her maid; for it was twelve o'clock, and
Romans lunch at half-past twelve, because they do not begin the day
between eight and nine in the morning with ham and eggs, omelets and
bacon, beefsteak and onions, fried liver, cold joints, tongue, cold ham
and pickles, hot cakes, cold cakes, hot bread, cold bread, butter, jam,
honey, fruit of all kinds in season, tea, coffee, chocolate, and a
tendency to complain that they have not had enough, which is the
unchangeable custom of the conquering races, as everybody knows. It is
true that the conquerors do not lunch to any great extent; they go on
conquering from breakfast till dinner time without much intermission,
because that is their business; but it is believed that their women, who
stay at home, have a little something at twelve, luncheon at half-past
two, tea between five and six, dinner at eight, and supper about
midnight, when they can get it.

Cecilia rang for the excellent Petersen, and said that she would wear
the new costume which had arrived from Doucet's two days ago.

There was certainly no reason why she should not wish to look well on
this day of all others, and as she turned and saw herself in the glass,
she had not the least thought of making a better impression than usual
on Guido. She was far too sure of herself for that. If she chose, he
would ask her to marry him though she might be dressed in an old
waterproof and overshoes. It was merely because she was happy and was
sure that she was going to do the righ