Part 4 (1/2)

'_Si_, signore.'

Gustavo rolled his eyes toward the signorina; she continued to sip her lemonade.

'I have told him yesterday an American family live at Villa Rosa; he say, ”All right, I go call,” but--but I sink maybe you were not at home.'

'Oh!' The signorina raised her head in apparent enlightenment. 'So that was the young man? Yes, to be sure, he came, but he said he was looking for Prince Sartorio's villa. I am sorry you were away, father, you would have enjoyed him; his English was excellent.--Did he tell you he saw me, Gustavo?'

'_Si_, signorina, he tell me.'

'What did he say? Did he think I was nice?'

Gustavo looked embarra.s.sed.

'I--I no remember, signorina.'

She laughed and to his relief changed the subject.

'Those English ladies who are staying here--what do they look like? Are they young?'

Gustavo delivered himself of an inimitable gesture which suggested that the English ladies had entered the bounds of that indefinite period when the subject of age must be politely waived.

'They are tall, signorina, and of a thinness--you would not believe it possible.'

'I see! And so the poor young man was bored?'

Gustavo bowed vaguely. He saw no connexion.

'He was awfully good-looking,' she added with a sigh. 'I'm afraid I made a mistake. It would be rather fun, don't you think, Dad, to have an entertaining young American gentleman about?'

'Ump!' he grunted. 'I thought you were so immensely satisfied with the officers.'

'Oh, I am,' she agreed with a shrug which dismissed for ever the young American gentleman.

'Well, Gustavo,' she added in a business-like tone, 'I will tell you why we called. The doctor says the Signor Papa is getting too fat. I don't think he's too fat, do you? He seems to me just comfortably chubby; but anyway, the doctor says he needs exercise, so we're going to begin climbing mountains with nails in our shoes like the Germans. And we're going to begin to-morrow because we've got two English people at the villa who adore mountains. Do you think you can find us a guide and some donkeys? We want a nice, gentle, lady-like donkey for my aunt, and another for the English lady, and a third to carry the things--and maybe me, if I get tired. Then we want a man who will twist their tails and make them go; and I am very particular about the man. I want him to be picturesque--there's no use being in Italy if you can't have things picturesque, is there, Gustavo?'

'_Si_, signorina,' he bowed and resumed his att.i.tude of strained attention.

'He must have curly hair and black eyes and white teeth and a nice smile; I should like him to wear a red sash and earrings. He must be obliging and cheerful and deferential and speak good Italian--I won't have a man who speaks only dialect. He must play the mandolin and sing Santa Lucia--I believe that's all.'

'And I suppose since he is to act as guide he must know the region?' her father mildly suggested.

'Oh, no, that's immaterial; we can always ask our way.'

Mr. Wilder grunted, but offered no further suggestion.

'We pay four lire a day and furnish his meals,' she added munificently.

'And we shall begin with the castle on Monte Baldo; then when we get very proficient we'll climb Monte Maggiore. Do you understand?'

'Ze signorina desires tree donkeys and a driver at seven o'clock to-morrow morning to climb Monte Baldo?'