Tales from Many Sources

le maid was on her knees, polishing the floor; Miss Prunty was scolding, dusting, ordering dinner, arranging vases, all at once; strangest of all, Madame Petrucci

matter!" c

signorino," s

going to

added-"Go into the kitchen and get some of the past

ht!" sai

e all the better a dinner to compensate you, my Goneri

was harvesting the first corn under the olives, but at noon it was too hot to work. Sitti

ese in perfect happiness. Goneril kept shifting about to get he

plenty of shade-and here, where the sun is like a mustard-plaster on one's back

answer to this i

g her lunch in despair. "He is going to sleep, and t

a," murmur

bout Signo

adrone; he i

Wake up, Angiolino. I te

ny combinations," drawled the boy, with

th a little shiver of im

hè

old,

ppu

ike? He must

ino, in whose imagination Signor Gr

e!" exclaimed the

aid Angioli

padrone? do

ed himself on one elbow; his eyes

better wine than qu

ng!" cried Goner

kno

get much beyond the hair. He would, of course, be much older now than his portrait. Then she watched Angiolino cutting the corn, and learned h

padrone!" cr

neril; "he is old and br

an youth with malice," suggested

so," acquie

nt in to dinner a l

er of excitement and interest which filled the whole of the little cottage. Goneril, too, was excited and anxious, although Signor Graziano had seemed so old and like a coffee-bean. She made no progress in the piece of embroidery she was working as a present for the two old ladies; jumping up and down to look out of the window. When, about eight o'clock, the door-bell rang, Goneril blushed, Madame Petrucci gave a pretty little shriek, Miss Prunty jumped up and rang for t

tions, when she felt herself addre

evening, is Mad

er this evening,

padrone," she sa

on amazed, for of course t

neril Hamelyn," said Miss

noticed that the ladies treated Signor Graziano with the utmost reverence; even the positive Miss Prunty furling her opinions in deference to his gayest hint. They talked, too, of Madame Lilli; and

g!" said the signorino, suddenly t

Goneril, a

annoyed; the gay serene little

e cried, in answer to an unsp

eventeen!"

ed, and seemed

s very young," s

their memories; they seemed to have grown shapeless, dusty, as the fresh and comely

ntly, "if you will accompany me, we will

stiffly, and led the pretty wit

h, sweet bird, the thin, penetrating notes of the singer rose, swelled, and died away, admirably true and just, even in this latter weakness. At the end, Signor Graziano stopped his pl

this evening I am

This doubt made her voice loudest of all in the chorus of mu

t the current of her friend's ideas, suggested that the girl should

ttle bird!" cri

, how can on

d Goneril was too well-bred to make a fuss. She stood by the piano wondering which to choose, the Handel

d, "may I sing one o

you like,

s use working under the olives. Her voice was small and deep, with a peculiar thick swee

ir di mort

era e viva

re, e non v

chi mi piang

, e star sul

r chi mi cu

r, e stare

r chi mi po

, e vorre' a

r chi mi pa

ar," said Miss Prunty, w

g, my Gonerilla!"

t up to the piano and

he said, "you have th

s performance had been very simple. You see they