‘Oh, it’s very nice savagery, all the same,’ said the other, smiling pleasantly. ‘There now!’ cried Kate, as she threw her hat to one side, and stood arranging her hair before the glass. ‘I make this toilet under protest, for we are going in to luncheon, not dinner, and all the world knows, and all the illustrated newspapers show, that people do not dress for lunch. And, by the way, that is something you have not got in Italy. All the women gathering together in their garden-bonnets and their morning-muslins, and the men in their knickerbockers and their coarse tweed coats.’ ‘I declare I think you are in better spirits since you see these people are not coming.’ ‘It is true. You have guessed it, dearest. The thought of anything grand--as a visitor; anything that would for a moment suggest the unpleasant question, Is this right? or, Is that usual? makes me downright irritable. Come, are you ready? May I offer you my arm?’ And now they were at table, Kate rattling away in unwonted gaiety, and trying to rally Nina out of her disappointment. ‘I declare Nina, everything is so pretty I am ashamed to eat. Those chickens near you are the least ornamental things I see. Cut me off a wing. Oh, I forgot, you never acquired the barbarous art of carving.’ ‘I can cut this,’ said Nina, drawing a dish of tongue towards her. ‘What! that marvellous production like a parterre of flowers? It would be downright profanation to destroy it.’ ‘Then shall I give you some of this, Kate?’ ‘Why, child, that is strawberry-cream. But I cannot eat all alone; do help yourself.’ ‘I shall take something by-and-by.’ ‘What do young ladies in Italy eat when they are--no, I don’t mean in love--I shall call it--in despair?’ ‘Give me some of that white wine beside you. There! don’t you hear a noise? I’m certain I heard the sound of wheels.’ ‘Most sincerely I trust not. I wouldn’t for anything these people should break in upon us now. If my brother Dick should drop in I’d welcome him, and he would make our little party perfect. Do you know, Nina, Dick can be so jolly. What’s that? there are voices there without.’ As she spoke the door was opened, and Walpole entered. The young girls had but time to rise from their seats, when--they never could exactly say how--they found themselves shaking hands with him in great cordiality. ‘And your friend--where is he?’ ‘Nursing a sore throat, or a sprained ankle, or a something or other. Shall I confess it--as only a suspicion on my part, however--that I do believe he was too much shocked at the outrageous liberty I took in asking to be admitted here to accept any partnership in the impertinence?’ ‘We expected you at two or three o’clock,’ said Nina. ‘And shall I tell you why I was not here before? Perhaps you’ll scarcely credit me when I say I have been five hours on the road.’ ‘Five hours! How did you manage that?’