The Campagna rolled away as far as the eye could reach, an inland sea of grass, dotted here and there with trees; far away the broken acqueduct straggled across it. The fleeting shadows chased each other over the rolling surface as the clouds gathered, and the air was damp and sultry, charged with the sweet scent of spring, stealing over the senses like mellow wine. Mirko came up behind Ragna as she stood and kissed her neck behind the ear where the short hairs made golden tendrils. She thrilled at the touch of his lips but did not turn her head. During these days of their pseudo betrothal, she had gradually grown accustomed to various loverlike familiarities, which from day to day had become more daring, and she had come to accept as natural, liberties on the part of her lover, from which she would have recoiled, shocked and horrified, ten days earlier. In love as in everything else, it is the first step that costs. "Why do you not take off your hat, dear?" said Mirko. "It will be so much cosier if you take off your hat. We will pretend we are on our honeymoon.--Come! let us be quite mad and gay--remember it is Carnival!" The words suited her mood; suddenly she felt reckless, she smiled her answer. "Wait here a minute," said Mirko and he bounded down the stair. Ragna quickly unpinned her hat, and laid it on the dressing table, she fluffed up her hair where it had been crushed, and went back to the window, watching with amused sympathy the merry party below. Her spirits had recovered from the depression of a few moments since, she felt daring, buoyed up by a strange sensation of irresponsibility--the spring was having its effect on her also. Presently Mirko returned, followed by the bouncing Maria who set the table still humming her song. Ragna caught the words. "_E se vuoi la robba mia, è certo che caro la devi pagar!_" "That is a very jolly song," said Ragna. "Si, signora," said Maria showing her even white teeth in a broad smile.--"It is sung all through Ciociaria and everywhere!" She ran down to the kitchen and reappeared bearing a large bowl of steaming _gnocchi_ and two cobwebby bottles of gold-coloured wine. "Come," said Mirko, "your Ladyship is served." Ragna laughingly took her place at the table and they both fell to with healthy appetites. Mirko saw that Ragna's glass was kept replenished with the wine. "_Proprio di dietro i fagotti_," the hostess had declared it. After the gnocchi came stewed chicken and potatoes, then the famous _frittata_ with artichokes and a salad, then cheese, and finally, Maria having asked if the Signori wished anything more, retired, closing the door after her.