of her.

"The least we could do, of course, was to bring him here. My
husband would not have allowed him to be taken to the hospital."

Flavia again fixed her eyes on Giovanni with a look of sympathy,
which, however, did not convey any very profound belief in her
father's charitable intentions.

"I quite understand," said Giovanni. "And how has he been since
you brought him here? Is he in any danger?"

"You shall see him at once," answered the princess, who rose and
rang the bell, and then, as the servant's footsteps were heard
outside, crossed the room to meet him at the door.

"Mamma likes to run about," said Flavia, sweetly, in explanation.
Giovanni had risen and made as though he would have been of some
assistance.

The action was characteristic of the Princess Montevarchi. An
Italian woman would neither have rung the bell herself, nor have
committed such an imprudence as to turn her back upon her two
daughters when there was a man in the room. But she was English,
and a whole lifetime spent among Italians could not extinguish her
activity; so she went to the door herself. Faustina's deep eyes
followed her mother as though she were interested to know the news
of Gouache.

"I hope he is better," she said, quietly.