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were inscribed some notes of music； under the title Giulia Petrucci。 In
short； the private parlour of an elderly and respectable diva of the year '40。
〃Brigida！〃 cried Madame Petrucci； going to the door。 〃Brigida！ our
charming English friend is arrived！〃
〃All right！〃 answered a strong； hearty voice from upstairs。 〃I'm
coming。〃
〃You must excuse me； dear Miss Hamelyn；〃 went on Madame Petrucci。
〃You must excuse me for shouting in your presence； but we have only one
little servant； and during this suffocating weather I find that any movement
reminds me of approaching age。〃 The old lady smiled as if that time were
still far ahead。
〃I am sure you ought to take care of yourself；〃 said Miss Hamelyn。 〃I
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hope you will not allow Goneril to fatigue you。〃
〃Gonerilla！ What a pretty name！ Charming！ I suppose it is in your
family？〃 asked the old lady。
Miss Hamelyn blushed a little； for her niece's name was a sore point
with her。
〃It's an awful name for any Christian woman；〃 said a deep voice at the
door。 〃And pray； who's called Goneril？〃
Miss Prunty came forward： a short； thick…set woman of fifty； with fine
dark eyes； and； even in a Florentine summer； with something stiff and
masculine in the fashion of her dress。
〃And have you brought your niece？〃 she said； as she turned to Miss
Hamelyn。
〃Yes； she is in the garden。〃
〃Well； I hope she understands that she'll have to rough it here。〃
〃Goneril is a very simple girl；〃 said Miss Hamelyn。
〃So it's she that's called Goneril？〃
〃Yes；〃 said the aunt； making an effort。 〃Of course I am aware of the
strangeness of the name； butbut； in fact； my brother was devotedly
attached to his wife； who died at Goneril's birth。〃
〃Whew！〃 whistled Miss Prunty。 〃The parson must have been a fool
who christened her！〃
〃He did； in fact； refuse； but my brother would have no baptism saving
with that name； which； unfortunately； it is impossible to shorten。〃
〃I think it is a charming name！〃 said Madame Petrucci； coming to the
rescue。 〃Gonerillait dies on one's lips like music！ And if you do not like
it； Brigida； what's in a name？ as your charming Byron said。〃
〃I hope we shall make her happy；〃 said Miss Prunty。
〃Of course we shall！〃 cried the elder lady。
〃Goneril is easily made happy；〃 asserted Miss Hamelyn。
〃That's a good thing； snapped Miss Prunty； 〃for there's not much here
to make her so！〃
〃O Brigida！ I am sure there are many attractions。 The air； the view； the
historic association！ and； more than all； you know there is always a chance
of the signorino！〃
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STORIES
〃Of whom？〃 said Miss Hamelyn； rather anxiously。
〃Of him！〃 cried Madame Petrucci； pointing to the engraving opposite。
〃He lives； of course； in the capital； but he rents the villa behind our house；…
…the Medici Villa；and when he is tired of Rome he runs down here for a
week or so； and so your Gonerilla may have the benefit of /his/ society！〃
〃Very nice； I'm sure；〃 said Miss Hamelyn； greatly relieved； for she
knew that Signor Graziano must be fifty。
〃We have known him；〃 went on the old lady； 〃very nearly thirty years。
He used to largely frequent the salon of our dear； our cherished Madame
Lilli。〃
The tears came into the old lady's eyes。 No doubt those days seemed
near and dear to her； she did not see the dust on those faded triumphs。
〃That's all stale news！〃 cried Miss Prunty； jumping up。 〃And Gon'ril
（since I'll have to call her so） must be tired of waiting in the garden。〃
They walked out on to the terrace。 The girl was not there； but by the
gate into the olive…yard； where there was a lean…to shed for tools； they
found her sitting on a cask； whittling a piece of wood and talking to a
curly…headed little contadino。
Hearing steps； Goneril turned round。 〃He was asleep；〃 she said。
〃Fancy； in such beautiful weather！〃
Then； remembering that two of the ladies were still strangers； she
made an old…fashioned little courtesy。
〃I hope you won't find me a trouble； ladies；〃 she said。
〃She is charming！〃 said Madame Petrucci； throwing up her hands。
Goneril blushed； her hat had slipped back and showed her short brown
curls of hair； strong regular features； and flexile scarlet mouth laughing
upward like a faun's。 She had sweet dark eyes； a little too small and
narrow。
〃I mean to be very happy；〃 she exclaimed。
〃Always mean that； my dear；〃 said Miss Prunty。
〃And now； since Gonerilla is no longer a stranger；〃 added Madame
Petrucci； 〃we will leave her to the rustic society of Angiolino while we
show Miss Hamelyn our orangery。〃
〃And conclude our business！〃 said Bridget Prunty。
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CHAPTER II
THE SIGNORINO
One day； when Goneril； much browner and rosier for a week among
the mountains； came in to lunch at noon； she found no signs of that usually
regular repast。 The little maid was on her knees polishing the floor； Miss
Prunty was scolding； dusting； ordering dinner； arranging vases； all at once；
strangest of all； Madame Petrucci had taken the oil…cloth cover from her
grand piano； and； seated before it； was practising her sweet and faded
notes； unheedful of the surrounding din and business。
〃What's the matter？〃 cried Goneril。
〃We expect the signorino；〃 said Miss Prunty。
〃And is he going to stay here？〃
〃Don't be a fool！〃 snapped that lady； and then she added； 〃Go into the
kitchen and get some of the pasty and some bread and cheesethere's a
good girl。〃
〃All right！〃 said Goneril。
Madame Petrucci stopped her vocalising。 〃You shall have all the better
a dinner to compensate you； my Gonerilla！〃 She smiled sweetly； and then
again became Zerlina。
Goneril cut her lunch； and took it out of doors to share with her
companion； Angiolino。 He was harvesting the first corn under the olives；
but at noon it was too hot to work。 Sitting still there was； however； a cool
breeze that gently stirred the sharp…edged olive… leaves。