"Yes; his name's Stanislao." "But when I went away it was a penny-a-liner!" "I got rid of him. For more than three months I had no one," declared Marina, all smiles again. "_Brava!_" said Claretta, "that's the best plan. Have you had a great many?" "Four. No--five, counting the first. He was Peppino. He was an official." "Good gracious! Where?" "At Campo Verano." "Oh! Did he perhaps dig there?" "Yes," said the girl, simply. They all burst out laughing, and again Regina felt choked. Were they always like this in this house? Even Antonio, her Antonio, who was always gay, but with her never had shown himself vulgar--even he appeared in a new light. Suddenly, however, while Signora Clara was repeating her description of the countess's dress, Regina saw her husband looking at her with distressed eyes, and she knew that her brows must have been contracted in a frown. He got up, came over, and stroked her hair. "It's time for bed now. You're tired, aren't you?" he whispered, his voice almost supplicating. Regina rose. Arduina and Claretta thought it necessary to run after her, embracing and kissing her. When they had conducted her to the bedroom, they kissed her again. Now she was alone with Antonio, and great was her relief. But alas! the door opened immediately, and in came the mother-in-law. "What is it?" asked Regina, dismayed; and she threw herself on one of the immense, encumbering arm-chairs, and closed her eyes. Signora Anna, sighing as usual, advanced to the bed. "Oh!" she exclaimed, in accents of tragedy, "these maids, now-a-days, know nothing of their business! They have no heads. Forgive me, my dearest child----" "What on earth has happened?" asked Antonio, half undressed. "She hasn't turned down the bed!" cried the poor lady, attacking the pillows with her fat and trembling arms. She fussed about, altered all the blankets, tidied the dressing-table, examined the jugs. Regina was waiting to undress; but as the old lady would not go away, she leaned back in the arm-chair, her eyes still closed, her hands folded in her lap. She listened to her mother-in-law's uncertain step and panting breath; and she thought with anguish of to-morrow. "And the morrow of that, and the next day, and for ever and ever, I shall have to put up with these people! It's awful!" "Where are your things?" asked Antonio, in his pyjamas. Regina opened her eyes, got up hastily, and searched her portmanteau. Lo! behind her the heavy panting of the old lady! "Let me, dear child! You go and undress. I'll find everything for you." "No, no!" said Regina, vexed, "I'll do it myself." "Leave it all to me. Go and undress." "No!" "There's nothing for me but to dance!" said Antonio, cutting capers; he was well made, and agile as a clown.