"There's nothing going on among the Italians. But you might get us invited to the German Casino." "I dare say. But I will not do that." "Then we could go to the Luogotenenza, to the receptions. Mr. Hoskins could call with us, and they would send us cards." "That would make us simply odious to the Venetians, and our house would be thronged with officers. What I've seen of them doesn't make me particularly anxious for the honor of their further acquaintance." "Well, I don't ask you to do any of these things," said Mrs. Elmore, who had, in fact, mentioned them with the intention of insisting upon an abated claim. "But I think you _might_ go and dine at one of the hotels--at the Danieli--instead of that Italian restaurant; and then Lily could see somebody at the table d'hote, and not simply _perish_ of despair." "I--I didn't suppose it was so bad as that," said Elmore. "Why, of course, she hasn't said anything,--she's far too well-bred for that; but I can tell from my own feelings how she must suffer. I have you, Owen," she said tenderly, "but Lily has _nobody_. She has gone through this Ehrhardt business so well that I think we ought to do all we can to divert her mind." "Well, now, Celia, you see the difficulty of our position,--the nature of the responsibility we have assumed. How are we possibly, here in Venice, to divert the mind of a young lady fresh from the parties and picnics of Patmos?" "We can go and dine at the Danieli," replied Mrs. Elmore. "Very well, let us go, then. But she will learn no Italian there. She will hear nothing but English from the travellers and bad French from the waiters; while at our restaurant--" "Pshaw!" cried Mrs. Elmore, "what does Lily care for Italian? I'm sure _I_ never want to hear another word of it."