And after dinner, privately, Dicky learned that Mrs. Portheris had for some time been seriously considering the effect of his, to her, painfully flippant views, upon the opening mind of her daughter--the child had only been out six months--and that his distressing announcement of this morning left her in no further doubt as to her path of duty. She would always endeavour to have as kindly a recollection of him as possible, he had really been very obliging, but for the present she must ask him to make some other travelling arrangements. Cook, she believed, would always change one's tickets less ten per cent., but she would leave that to Dicky. And she hoped, she _sincerely_ hoped, that time would improve his views. When that was accomplished she trusted he would write and tell her, but not before. "And while I'm getting good and ready to pass an examination in Noah, Jonah, and Methuselah," remarked Dicky bitterly, as we discussed the situation on the Lungarno for the seventh time that day, "Mafferton sails in." "Why didn't you tell her plainly that you wanted to marry Isabel, and would brook no opposition?" I demanded, for my stock of sympathy was getting low. "Now that's a valuable suggestion, isn't it?" returned Mr. Dod with sarcasm. "Good old psychological moment that was, wasn't it? Talk about girls having tact! Besides, I've never told Isabel herself yet, and I'm not the American to give in to the effete and decaying custom of asking a girl's poppa, or momma if it's a case of widow, first. Not Richard Dod." "What on earth," I exclaimed, "have you been doing all this time?" "Now go slow, Mamie, and don't look at me like that. I've been trying to make her acquainted with me--explaining the kind of fellow I am--getting solid with her. See?" "Showing her the beauties of your character!" I exclaimed derisively. "I said something about the defects, too," said Dicky modestly, "though not so much. And I was getting on beautifully, though it isn't so easy with an English girl. They don't seem to think it's proper to analyse your character. They're so maidenly." "And so unenterprising," I said, but I said it to myself. "Isabel was actually beginning to _lead up to the subject_," Dicky went on. "She asked me the other day if it was true that all American men were flirts. In another week I should have felt that she would know what was proposing to her." "And you were going to wait another week?" "Well, a man wants every advantage," said Dicky blandly. "Did you explain to Isabel that you were only joining our party in the hope of meeting her accidentally soon again?" "What else," asked he in pained surprise, "should I have joined it for? No, I didn't; I hadn't the chance, for one thing. You took the first train back to Rome next morning, you know. She wasn't up."