The San Francisco call., 1908-04-12


smoothly: but there will be several
guests"
Zoe turned toward him impatiently.
You will have orders to keep me out
of the way when they are in the house.
she said. II shall receive through you
the masters commands not to show my
self at my window.
How can you think of such thing?
cried Omobono. protesting. Rather
than put you to such Inconvenience,
am sure the master will beg his guests
to enter by the other side OF the house.
If it was his object to exasperate her,
he had succeeded. but if he expected her
to break out in anger ne was mistaken
She was too proud, and she already re-
gretted the few hasty words she had
spoken Moreover, her anger told her
something that surprised her ana
wounded her self-respect- She under
stood for the first time how jealous she
was, and that she could not feel such
jealousy IL she were not in love. She
was not a child, and but for misfor-
tune she would have been married at
least two years by this time. This was
not the dreamy and slowly stealing
dawn of girlhood's day; her sun had
risen in flash amid angry clouds, as
he does in India in mid-June when the
southwest monsoon is just going 10
break and the rain is very near.
leaned back in her seat and drew the
folds of her mantle more closely round
her, as If to separate herself from him
more completely, and she did not speak
again for long time. On his side, the
secretary understood. and instead OF
feeling rebuked by her silence he was
pleased with himself. because his curl
osity had made another step forward IN
the land of discovery.
occurred him that it would be
very interesting to bring Zoe and Gius-
tina within sight of each other, If no
nearer. Zeno had not said that his
guests were to come by land instead OF
by water; the secretary had only ar
gued that he would request them to do
So to avoid their seeing Zoe If she hap
pened to be at her window. Omobono
had power to do whatever he thought
necessary for keeping the house and
the approach to it in repair without
consulting any one. That was part OF
his duty
1t was usual to repair the road in the
spring Omobono chose TO have the
work done now, sent for a gang of Ia
borers and gave a few simple orders.
Before Zeno knew what was going on
the way to the main entrance was
quite impossible, though narrow
passage had been left to the door Of
the kitchen for the servants and slaves
What in the world possessed you to
do this now?" asked Zeno, with annoy
ance. 81 told you that Messer Sebas-
= tfon and his daughter were coming to
dine with me tomorrow, as Well as
other friends
They will see nothing. sir" answered
the secretary imperturbably- The
guests always come by water, they dine
on that side of the house. and they go
away by water How could they see
the road, sir? 1t is beyond the court.
Zeno did not choose to explain that
he had especially begged Polo and the
others to come by land. and he now
concealed his displeasure. or believed
that he did. But when Omobono had
gone to his own room Zeno sent for the
running footmen and bade them go to
each of the invited guests early the
next morning to say that the road was
torn up and that they must be good
enough to come in their boats.
Then he went upstairs, for he had not
seen Zoe all day and it pleased him TO
sup with her. As soon as he entered
the room and saw her he felt that
something was wrong. but he made as
if he noticed nothing. and sat down in
his usual place.
I'VE will have supper together. he
said in a cheerful tone. settling himself
in his big chair. and rubbing his hands,
like man who has finished his days
work and looks forward to something g
pleasant.
AS a matter OF fact he had done
nothing in particular and had set him
self a rather dfsagreeable task; for he
did not wish Messer Sebastian to know
that Zoe or any other woman was in
the house, and he was reduced to the
necessity of telling the girl not to
show herself. She was legally his
chattel and If he chose he might lock
her up in a room on the other side of
the house for a few hours, or in the
cellar. He told himself this; and for
the hundredth time he recalled her
own story of her birth and OF her
bringing up. which was logical and
clear and explained both her gentle
breeding and the careful education she
had evidently received. But logic is
often least convincing when ii is most
unanswerable. and Zeno remained in
the belief that the most important part
of Zoe's story was still secret.
She said nothing now in answer TO
his announcement, but she beckoned
to Yulla to bring supper. and the maid
disappeared. Being out of temper with
him at that moment. she was asking
herself how she could possibly be jeal-
Gus of Giustina Polo; she mentally
added that she would no more think OF
sitting at the window to see her go by,
than of looking at her through a key
hole Also. she wished Zeno would sit
where he was for an hour or two and
not utter word so that she might
show him how utterly Indifferent she
was to his presence and that she could
be Just as silent as he; and women
much older than Zoe have felt just
as she did then.
But zeno, who was uncomfortable
was also resolved to be cheerful and at
his ease.
'It has been a beautiful day. he
observed. II hope you had pleasant
morning on the water.
s'Thanks," Zoe answered, and said no
more.
This was not encouraging. but zeno
was not easily put off.
After a few moments he tried again
.sI fear you do not find my secretary
very amusing he said
Zoe was on the point of asking him
whether he himself considered ONO
bono diverting person. but she
checked herself with a little snort of
Indignation which might have passed
for laugh without smile. Zeno
glanced at her profile. raised his eye
brows and said nothing more till the