"Of course you didn't know. And of course you were
attracted by the Italian name--you thought you would feel at home--"
"They are very nice people, yes, yes!" she said--and still she was
inclined to hold her head erect, and her mouth was a little proud and
offended.
"Very likely indeed," he said, with great consideration, "but, you see,
Nina, a single young lady can't stay at a restaurant by herself, without
knowing some one, some one to go about with her--"
"Why," she said, vehemently, almost scornfully, "you think I not know
that! An Italian girl--and not know that! Last night, hour after hour, I
sit and think, 'Oh, there is Leo singing now--if I may go to the
theatre!--to sit and hear him--and think of the old days--and perhaps to
write home to the _maestro_, and tell him of the grand fame of his
scholar.' But no. I cannot go out. There is no time yet to see about
chaperon. When it comes eleven hour, I say, 'The theatre is ceased;' and
I go to bed. Then this morning I know no person; I say, 'Very well, I go
and see Leo; he will understand;' it is how I meet him in the Chiaja, and
he says, 'Good-morning, Nina; shall we go for a little walk out to
Pozzuoli'--it is just the same.
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