At Broadway, chance came to her aid with an object lesson. There was a cable-car blockade, and while the cab waited, a haggard woman, young but aged by vice and want, put her open hand into the window. Carolina drove her away with an angry word and a contemptuous stare. “You see how one treats beggars in New York,” she said to Marianna, whose colour had all gone. “You would be like that if I shut the door on you. Who do you think would feed you if I turned you out?” Marianna looked upon the strange faces that passed by, and something she saw there--or the lack of something--in the eyes of her fellow-beings struck fresh terror to her soul, and the tears came. “Oh, where is Armando?” she asked herself, sobbing. Why had he left the ship without her? It was all his fault. He should have taken her with him. He did not love her, and would not care if she did marry Signor Di Bello. If they had only stayed in Italy--in the mountains, where she had been so happy! She would have remained if Armando had. She knew she would, in _spite_ of Carolina. But he, too, was a fool. All was lost now--their love, their happiness. But for the bust he would have stayed at home, perhaps--yes, it was the bust! Maledictions upon it and the First Lady of the Land! The cab dashed under the roar of an Elevated train. Carolina lay back in the seat and regarded her charge complacently, with drooping eyelids. As they turned into Mulberry her face was a symbol of smug content. She felt certain now of a manageable wife for Casa Di Bello. But the imperious tug she gave the brass bell handle of Casa Di Bello sounded the knell of her vivid hopes. The door opened, and she looked into the awe-struck face of Angelica. With difficulty the cook found speech for the terrible news: Signor Di Bello gone to church to be married--and to Juno the Superb! Yes, yes; the Neapolitan pig! At that very moment they must be standing at the altar of San Patrizio! Oh, the grand feast that awaited them! See, there was the table all laid! Ah, such wine, such fruit! All there under the fine white cloth! Soon they would be back from the church, and the house would be full of guests eating and drinking, for he had invited the first families of the Torinesi, Milanesi, and Genovesi, besides many swine from the south. And all for a Neapolitan pig! _Santissima Vergine!_