Now she had arrived, now she was in the place of her nostalgia, in the dreamed-of harbour of refuge, it was strange that her soul was still lost to her. Just as at one time she had seemed to herself to have taken only her outward person to Rome, leaving her soul like a wandering firefly on the banks of the Po, so now it was only her suffering and tired body which she had brought back to the river-side. Her soul had escaped--flown back to Rome. What was Antonio doing at this hour? Was he very miserable? Was he conscious of his wife's soul pressing him tighter than ever her arms had pressed him? Had he written to her? Antonio! Antonio! Burning tears filled her eyes, and she suddenly fell silent, her thoughts wandering and lost in a sorrowful far-away. She had already repented her letter, or at least of having written it so soon. She could have sent it quite well from here! He would have felt it less--so she told herself, trying to disguise her remorse. "And the Master? And Gabri and Gabrie?" she asked aloud, as they passed Fossa Caprara, whose little white church, flushed by the moon, stood up clearly against the blackness of the meadow-side plane-trees. At the other side of the road was a row of silver willows, and between them the river glistened like antique, lightly oxidised glass. The whole scene suggested a picture by Baratta. Toscana and Gigi both broke into stifled laughter. "What's the matter?" queried Regina. The boy controlled himself, but Toscana laughed louder. "Whatever is it? Is the Master going to be married?" "_Lu el vorres, se, ma li doni li nal veul mia, corpu dla madosca_ (He'd be willing enough, but the women won't have him)," said Petrin, turning a little and joining in the "children's" talk. "They want to go to--to Rome! Gabri and Gabrie!" said Toscana at last, and her brother again burst out laughing. "Why do they want to go to Rome?" "Gabri wants to get a place and to help Gabrie in her studies, as she intends to be a Professor----" "Ah! Ah! Ah!" Then they laughed, all four, and Regina forgot her troubles. The boy and girl thought of going to Rome, as they thought of going to Viadana, without help and without money! It was amusing. "And what does the Master say?" "He's mad!" interrupted Petrin, turning his face, which was round and red like the moon. "_El diss, chi vaga magari a pe: i dventarà na gran roba_ (He says let them go if it's even on foot! they'll turn out great!)." Then Gigi mimicked Gabri, who talked through his nose:-- "We could go to Milan, of course, but there's no university there which admits women, like the universities of Florence and Rome. Rome is the capital of Italy; we'll go there. I'll be a printer, and Gabrie shall study." And Toscana mimicked Gabrie:-- "My brother shall print all my books." "My dear children, I think you are jealous," said Regina.