In an instant his face became a blank mask; it was as though a shutter
had descended, blotting out all its vivacious interest.
"I have met him," he responded briefly. Then, turning the subject
adroitly, he went on: "So now you are on your way home for a well-earned
holiday? Your people must be looking forward to seeing you after so long
a time--you have been away a year, didn't you say?"
"Yes, I spent the other two vacations abroad, in Italy, for the sake of
acquiring the language. Signor Baroni"--laughingly--"was horror-stricken
at my Italian, so he insisted. But I have no people--not really, you
know," she continued. "I live with my guardian and his daughter. Both
my parents died when I was quite young."
"You are not very old now," he interjected.
"I'm eighteen," she answered seriously.
"It's a great age," he acknowledged, with equal gravity.
Just then a waiter sped forward and with praiseworthy agility deposited
their coffee on the table without spilling a drop, despite the swaying of
the train, and Diana's fellow-traveller produced his cigarette-case.
"Will you smoke?" he asked.
She looked at the cigarettes longingly.
"Baroni's forbidden me to smoke," she said, hesitating a little. "Do you
think--just one--would hurt my voice?"
The short black lashes flew up, and the light-grey eyes, like a couple of
stars between black clouds, met his in irresistible appeal.
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