for that, after the monotony of the day, and Roderigo as she came
nearer straightened up self-consciously and tilted his black patent
leather hat with its rakish cluster of cock feathers a little more to
one side.

"Good day, Señorina," he said smiling, as Lucia paused in the grateful
shadow of the wall to catch her breath.

"Good day to you," she replied good-naturedly.

"You're new, aren't you? I never saw you before. Where is Paolo?"

"Paolo and his regiment go up to the front this afternoon," Roderigo
replied. "We have just come to relieve them for a short time, then we
too will follow."

Lucia nodded. "You come from the south, don't you?" she inquired,
looking at him with frank admiration; "from near Napoli I should guess
by your speech."

Roderigo laughed. "You guess right, I do, and now it is my turn to ask
questions. Where do you come from?"

"Down there about a mile," Lucia pointed, "in the white cottage by the
road."

Roderigo looked at the dark hair and eyes and the gaudily colored dress
before him, and shook his head.

"Now perhaps," he admitted, "but you were born in the south where the