Page:Nostalgia (Deledda 1905).djvu/57

41 NOSTALGIA 41

" She is not beautiful. She has a muzzle like a cat ; but she is very attractive, cultured, particularly intelligent. The Master must have talked to her of me, for she got red and looked at me in a shy sort of way. She asked if I was really private secretary to a princess. Evidently she would think that much more interesting than to be merely a junior clerk in the Treasury office !

" Yesterday I went to the Tagliamaris' villa. The mother is the most charming of women, a genuine great lady. She told me the whole story of her life, perhaps with intention, but in the most delicate way. She belongs herself to a distinguished family. Her husband was wealthy, but what she calls unlucky speculations, the floods of 80, and other misfortunes, completely ruined him "

" What are you about, Regina ? " asked Antonio, appearing at the door.

" Oh ! " she cried, looking up, " I've discovered some most curious human documents ! "

And she held up the letters. He flushed, and sprang to put them back in their pigeon-holes, then changed his mind and began to read them himself.

" Aren't you ashamed ? " she said ; " a ' signorina fine, fine, fine ! ' ' 30,000 lire not to be despised,' ' Private secretary to a princess more interesting in her eyes, etc., etc., etc.' You were horrid ! "

" Read here ! Read here ! " said Antonio. " See what I say afterwards ! "

But she got up and looked at herself in the glass.

" I declare it's true ! I am like a cat ! "

" Read here ! " repeated Antonio, pursuing her, a letter in his hand.