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〃I had the pleasure of meeting her last year； and I should like to see
her again。〃
The old woman looked at me suspiciously。
〃Where did you meet her？〃 she asked。
〃Why； here in Genoa itself。〃
〃What is your name？〃
I hesitated a moment； and then I told her。 I had hardly done so when the
Italian put out her arms as if to embrace me。 〃Oh！ you are the
Frenchman how glad I am to see you！ But what grief you caused the poor
child！ She waited for you a month； yes； a whole month。 At first she
thought you would come to fetch her。 She wanted to see whether you loved
her。 If you only knew how she cried when she saw that you were not
coming！ She cried till she seemed to have no tears left。 Then she went
to the hotel； but you had gone。 She thought that most likely you were
travelling in Italy； and that you would return by Genoa to fetch her； as
she would not go with you。 And she waited more than a month； monsieur；
and she was so unhappy； so unhappy。 I am her mother。〃
I really felt a little disconcerted； but I regained my self…possession；
and asked：
〃Where is she now？〃
〃She has gone to Paris with a painter； a delightful man； who loves her
very much； and who gives her everything that she wants。 Just look at
what she sent me； they are very pretty； are they not？〃
And she showed me； with quite southern animation； her heavy bracelets and
necklace。 〃I have also；〃 she continued； 〃earrings with stones in them； a
silk dress； and some rings； but I only wear them on grand occasions。
Oh！ she is very happy； monsieur； very happy。 She will be so pleased
when I tell her you have been here。 But pray come in and sit down。 You
will take something or other； surely？〃
But I refused； as I now wished to get away by the first train； but she
took me by the arm and pulled me in； saying：
〃Please； come in； I must tell her that you have been in here。〃
I found myself in a small； rather dark room； furnished with only a table
and a few chairs。
She continued： 〃Oh； she is very happy now； very happy。 When you met her
in the train she was very miserable； she had had an unfortunate love
affair in Marseilles； and she was coming home； poor child。 But she liked
you at once； though she was still rather sad； you understand。 Now she
has all she wants； and she writes and tells me everything that she does。
His name is Bellemin； and they say he is a great painter in your country。
He fell in love with her at first sight。 But you will take a glass of
sirup？…it is very good。 Are you quite alone； this year？〃
〃Yes；〃 I said； 〃quite alone。〃
I felt an increasing inclination to laugh； as my first disappointment was
dispelled by what Mother Rondoli said。 I was obliged； however； to drink
a glass of her sirup。
〃So you are quite alone？〃 she continued。 〃How sorry I am that Francesca
is not here now； she would have been company for you all the time you
stayed。 It is not very amusing to go about all by oneself； and she will
be very sorry also。〃
Then； as I was getting up to go； she exclaimed：
〃But would you not like Carlotta to go with you？ She knows all the walks
very well。 She is my second daughter； monsieur。〃
No doubt she took my look of surprise for consent； for she opened the
inner door and called out up the dark stairs which I could not see：
〃Carlotta！ Carlotta！ make haste down； my dear child。〃
I tried to protest； but she would not listen。
〃No； she will be very glad to go with you； she is very nice； and much
more cheerful than her sister； and she is a good girl； a very good girl；
whom I love very much。〃
In a few moments a tall； slender； dark girl appeared； her hair hanging
down； and her youthful figure showing unmistakably beneath an old dress
of her mother's。
The latter at once told her how matters stood。
〃This is Francesca's Frenchman； you know； the one whom she knew last
year。 He is quite alone； and has come to look for her； poor fellow； so
I told him that you would go with him to keep him company。〃
The girl looked at me with her handsome dark eyes； and said； smiling：
〃I have no objection； if he wishes it〃
I could not possibly refuse； and merely said：
〃Of course； I shall be very glad of your company。〃
Her mother pushed her out。 〃Go and get dressed directly； put on your
blue dress and your hat with the flowers； and make haste。〃
As soon as she had left the room the old woman explained herself： 〃I have
two others； but they are much younger。 It costs a lot of money to bring
up four children。 Luckily the eldest is off my hands at present。〃
Then she told all about herself； about her husband； who had been an
employee on the railway； but who was dead； and she expatiated on the good
qualities of Carlotta； her second girl； who soon returned； dressed； as
her sister had been； in a striking； peculiar manner。
Her mother examined her from head to foot； and； after finding everything
right； she said：
〃Now； my children； you can go。〃 Then turning to the girl； she said： 〃Be
sure you are back by ten o'clock to…night； you know the door is locked
then。〃 The answer was：
〃All right； mamma； don't alarm yourself。〃
She took my arm and we went wandering about the streets； just as I had
wandered the previous year with her sister。
We returned to the hotel for lunch； and then I took my new friend to
Santa Margarita； just as I had taken her sister the year previously。
During the whole fortnight which I had at my disposal； I took Carlotta to
all the places of interest in and about Genoa。 She gave me no cause to
regret her sister。
She cried when I left her； and the morning of my departure I gave her
four bracelets for her mother； besides a substantial token of my
affection for herself。
One of these days I intend to return to Italy； and I cannot help
remembering with a certain amount of uneasiness； mingled with hope； that
Madame Rondoli has two more daughters。
End