"Hu-s-s-s-sh! Dear, dear Minnie, you're talking too loud. They'll certainly hear us," said Ethel, in a low, frightened whisper. "But _do_--_do_ promise you won't take me in an old woman's clothes!" "Oh, there--there it is again!" said Ethel. "Dear, dear Minnie, there's some one listening." "Well, I don't see what harm there is in what I'm saying. I only wanted--" Here there was a movement on the stairs just outside. Ethel had heard a sound of that kind two or three times, and it had given her alarm; but now Minnie herself heard it, and stopped speaking. And now a voice sounded from the stairs. Some Italian words were spoken, and seemed to be addressed to them. Of course they could make no reply. The words were repeated, with others, and the speaker seemed to be impatient. Suddenly it flashed across Ethel's mind that the speaker was Girasole, and that the words were addressed to her. Her impression was correct, and the speaker was Girasole. He had heard the sibilant sounds of the whispering, and, knowing that Minnie could not speak Italian, it had struck him as being a very singular thing that she should be whispering. Had her sister joined her? He thought he would go up and see. So he went up softly, and the whispering still went on. He therefore concluded that the "Italian woman" was not doing her duty, and that Mrs. Willoughby had joined her sister. This he would not allow; but as he had already been sufficiently harsh he did not wish to be more so, and therefore he called to the "Italian woman." "Hallo, you woman there! didn't I tell you not to let the ladies speak to one another?" Of course no answer was given, so Girasole grew more angry still, and cried out again, more imperatively: "Why do you not answer me? Where are you? Is this the way you watch?" Still there was no answer. Ethel heard, and by this time knew what his suspicion was; but she could neither do nor say any thing. "Come down here at once, you hag!" But the "hag" did not come down, nor did she give any answer. The "hag" was trembling violently, and saw that all was lost. If the priest were only here! If she could only have gone and returned with him! What kept him? Girasole now came to the top of the stairs, and spoke to Minnie. "Charming mees, are you awake?" "Yes," said Minnie. "Ees your sistaire wit you?" "No. How can _she_ be with me, I should like to know, when you've gone and put her in some horrid old room?" "Ah! not wit you? Who are you whisperin' to, den?" Minnie hesitated. "To my maid," said she. [Illustration: "WHAT DIT YOU COME FOR?"--"FOR HER."] "Does de maid spik Inglis?" asked Girasole. "Yes," said Minnie. "Ah! I did not know eet. I mus have a look at de contadina who spiks Inglis. Come here, Italiana. You don't spik Italiano, I tink. Come here." Ethel rose to her feet.