Part 13 (1/2)

'Good afternoon,' she nodded politely to the young man.

He bowed with his hand on his heart.

'_Addio_, Gustavo.'

He bowed until his napkin swept the ground.

'_Addio_, Costantina,' she waved her hand toward her namesake.

The washer-woman laughed again, and her earrings flashed in the sunlight.

Giuseppe raised the yellow sail; they caught the breeze, and the _Farfalla_ floated away.

CHAPTER X

Half-past six on Friday morning, and Constance appeared on the terrace; Constance in fluffy, billowy, lacy white with a spray of oleander in her belt--the last costume in the world in which one would start on a mountain climb. She cast a glance in pa.s.sing toward the gateway and the stretch of road visible beyond, but both were empty, and seating herself on the parapet, she turned her attention to the lake. The breeze that blew from the farther sh.o.r.e brought fresh Alpine odours of flowers and pine trees. Constance sniffed it eagerly as she gazed across toward the purple outline of Monte Maggiore. The serenity of her smile gradually gave place to doubt; she turned and glanced back toward the house, visibly changing her mind.

But before the change was finished, the quiet of the morning was broken by a clatter of tiny scrambling obstinate hoofs and a series of e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.ns, both Latin and English. She glanced toward the gate, where Fidilini was visible, plainly determined not to come in. Constance laughed expectantly and turned back to the water, her eyes intent on the fis.h.i.+ng-smacks that were putting out from the little _marino_. The sounds of coercion increased; a command floated down the driveway in the English tongue. It sounded like: 'You twist his tail, Beppo, while I pull.'

Apparently it was understood in spite of Beppo's slight knowledge of the language. An eloquent silence followed; then an outraged grunt on the part of Fidilini, and the cavalcade advanced with a rush to the kitchen door. Tony left Beppo and the donkeys, and crossed the terrace alone. His bow swept the ground in the deferential manner of Gustavo, but his glance was far bolder than a donkey-driver's should have been. She noted the fact and tossed him a nod of marked condescension. A silence followed, during which Constance studied the lake; when she turned back, she found Tony arranging a spray of oleander that had dropped from her belt in the band of his hat. She viewed this performance in silent disfavour. Having finished to his satisfaction, he tossed the hat aside and seated himself on the bal.u.s.trade. Her frown became visible. Tony sprang to his feet with an air of anxiety.

'_Scusi_, signorina. I have not meant to be presumptious. Perhaps it is not fitting that any one below the rank of lieutenant should sit in your presence?'

'It will not be very long, Tony, before you are discharged for impertinence.'

'Ah, signorina, do not say that! If it is your wish I will kneel when I address you. My family, signorina, are poor; they need the four francs which you so munificently pay.'

'You told me that you were an orphan; that you had no family.'

'I mean the family which I hope to have. Costantina has extravagant tastes, and coral earrings cost two-fifty a pair.'

Constance laughed and a.s.sumed a more lenient air. She made a slight gesture which might be interpreted as an invitation to sit down; and Tony accepted it.

'By the way, Tony, how do you talk to Costantina, since she speaks no English and you no Italian?'

'We have no need of either Italian or English; the language of love, signorina, is universal.'

'Oh!' she laughed again. 'I was at the Hotel du Lac yesterday; I saw Costantina.'

'You saw Costantina!--Ah, signorina, is she not beautiful? Ze mos'

beautiful in all ze world? But ver' unkind, signorina. Yes, she laugh at me; she smile at ozzer men, at soldiers wif uniforms.' He sighed profoundly. 'But I love her just ze same, always from ze first moment I see her. It was wash-day, signorina, by ze lac. I climb over ze wall and talk wif her, but she make fun of me--ver' unkind. I go away ver' sad. No use, I say, she like dose soldiers best. But I see her again; I hear her laugh--it sound like angels singing--I say, no, I can not go away; I stay here and make her love me. Yes, I do everysing she ask--but everysing! I wear earrings; I make myself into a fool just to please zat Costantina.'

He leaned forward and looked into her eyes. A slow red flush crept over Constance's face, and she turned her head away and looked across the water.

Mr. Wilder, in full Alpine regalia, stepped out upon the terrace and viewed the beauty of the morning with a prophetic eye. Miss Hazel followed in his wake; she wore a lavender dimity. And suddenly it occurred to Tony's slow moving masculine perception that neither lavender dimity nor white muslin were fabrics fit for mountain climbing.

Constance slipped down from her parapet and hurried to meet them.

'Good morning, Aunt Hazel. Morning, Dad! You look beautiful! There's nothing so becoming to a man as knickerbockers--especially if he's a little stout.--You're late,' she added with a touch of severity.