By PG volunteer: Stephanie L. Johnson, sljhnsn@ma.ultranet.com





DAPHNE, AN AUTUMN PASTORAL

by Margaret Sherwood




CHAPTER I

"Her Excellency,--will she have the politeness," said Daphne
slowly, reading from a tiny Italian-English phrase-book, "the
politeness to"--She stopped helpless. Old Giacomo gazed at her
with questioning eyes. The girl turned the pages swiftly and
chose another phrase.

"I go," she announced, "I go to make a walk."

Light flashed into Giacomo's face.

"Si, si, Signorina; yes, yes," he assented with voice and
shoulders and a flourish of the spoon he was polishing.
"Capisco; I understand."

Daphne consulted her dictionary.