"What puzzles me is, how he could have got the chance. It's more than a week since he saved you, and we all felt deeply grateful to him. But saving a girl's life doesn't give a man any claim over her; and we don't altogether like him; and so we all have tried, in a quiet way, without hurting his feelings, you know, to prevent him from having any acquaintance with you." "Oh, I know, I know," said Minnie, briskly. "He told me all that. He understands that; but he doesn't care, he says, if _I_ only consent. He will forgive _you_, he says." Minnie's volubility was suddenly checked by catching her sister's eye fixed on her in new amazement. "Now you're beginning to be horrid," she cried. "Don't, don't--" "Will you have the kindness to tell me," said Mrs. Willoughby, very quietly, "how in the world the Count contrived to tell you all this?" "Why--why--several times." "Several times!" "Yes." "Tell me where?" "Why, once at the amphitheatre. You were walking ahead, and I sat down to rest, and he came and joined me. He left before you came back." "He must have been following us, then." "Yes. And another time in the picture-gallery; and yesterday in a shop; and this morning at the Cathedral." "The Cathedral!" "Yes, Kitty. You know we all went, and Lady Dalrymple would not go up. So Ethel and I went up. And when we got up to the top I walked about, and Ethel sat down to admire the view. And, you know, I found myself off at a little distance, when suddenly I saw Count Girasole. And then, you know, he--he--proposed." Mrs. Willoughby sat silent for some time. "And what did you say to him?" she asked at length. "Why, what else could I say?" "What else than _what_?" "I don't see why you should act _so_ like a grand inquisitor, Kitty. You really make me feel quite nervous," said Minnie, who put her little rosy-tipped fingers to one of her eyes, and attempted a sob, which turned out a failure. "Oh, I only asked you what you told him, you know." "Well," said Minnie, gravely, "I told him, you know, that I was awfully grateful to him, and that I'd give any thing if I could to express my gratitude. And then, you know--oh, he speaks such darling broken English--he called me his 'mees,' and tried to make a pretty speech, which was so mixed with Italian that I didn't understand one single word. By-the-way, Kitty, isn't it odd how every body here speaks Italian, even the children?" "Yes, very odd; but, Minnie dear, I want to know what you told him." "Why, I told him that I didn't know, you know." "And then?" "And then he took my hand. Now, Kitty, you're unkind. I really _can not_ tell you all this." "Yes, but I only ask so as to advise you. I want to know how the case stands." "Well, you know, he was so urgent--" "Yes?" "And so handsome--" "Well?" "And then, you know, he saved my life--didn't he, now? You must acknowledge that much, mustn't you?" "Oh yes." "Well--" "Well?" Minnie sighed. "So what could I say?" Minnie paused.