Just at that moment, after a dead silence, an air from _Trovatore_ rang out from the pavement below, and Dolly, who had picked up the brush, dropped it again, and stood gazing toward the window with so comical an expression of grief and despair upon her face that her mistress rose, and taking her arm gave her a sharp shake. "You silly girl!" she cried. "But--but he's so handsome, my lady, I--I can't help it. Do--do please send him away." "Why, the girl's fascinated," thought Maude, whose cheeks were flushed, and whose heart was increasing its speed as she eagerly twisted up her hair and confined it behind by a spring band. "If--if you could send him away, my lady." "Send him away! Yes: it is disgraceful," cried Maude, and as if moved by some strange influence she rapidly made herself presentable and looked angrily from the window. There was an indignant look in her eyes, and her lips parted to speak, but at that moment the mechanical music ceased, and the bearer of the green baize draped "kist of whustles" looked up, removed his soft hat, smiled and displayed his teeth as he exclaimed in a rich, mellow voice-- "Ah, signora--ah, bella signora." Maude Diphoos' head was withdrawn rapidly and her cheeks paled, flushed, and turned pale again, as she stood gazing at her maid, and wondering what had possessed her to attempt to do such a thing as dismiss this man. "Ah, signora! Ah, bella signora!" came again from below; and this seemed to arouse Maude to action, for now she hastily closed the window and seated herself before the glass. "Undo my hair and finish brushing it," she said austerely; "and, Dolly, there is to be no more of this wicked folly." "No, my lady." "It is disgraceful. Mind, I desire that you never look out at this man, nor speak to him again." "No, my lady." "I shall ask her ladyship to look over your error, and mind that henceforth you are to be a very good girl." "Yes, my lady." "There: I need say no more; you are very sorry, are you not?" "Ye-yes, my lady." "Then mind, I shall expect you to do credit to my interference, for her ladyship will be exceedingly angry if anything of this kind occurs again. Now, you will try?" "Ye-yes, my lady," sobbed poor Dolly, "I'll try; but you don't know, miss, how hard it is. Some day you may feel as I do, and then you'll be sorry you scolded me so much." "Silence, Dolly; I have not scolded you so much. I have only interfered to save you from ruin and disgrace." "Ruin and disgrace, my lady?" "Yes, you foolish girl. You could not marry such a man as that. There, now go downstairs--no, go to your own room and bathe your eyes before you go down. I feel quite ashamed of you." "Yes, my lady, so do I," sobbed Dolly. "I'm afraid I'm a very wicked girl, and father will never forgive me; but I can't help it, and--Ow-- ow--ow!"