Had they any suspicion?
No! why should they have any?
Had not Ferrari himself seen me BURIED?
Reassured by this thought I addressed myself to Stella, making my voice as gratingly harsh as I could, for I dreaded the child's quick instinct.
"You are a very charming little lady!" I said, playfully.

"And so your name is Stella?
That is because you are a little star, I suppose ?" She became meditative.

"Papa said I was," she answered, softly and shyly.
"Papa spoiled you!" interposed Nina, pressing a filmy black-bordered handkerchief to her eyes.

"Poor papa! You were not so naughty to him as you are to me." The child's lip quivered, but she was silent.
"Oh, fy!" I murmured, half chidingly.

"Are you ever naughty?
Surely not! All little stars are good--they never cry--they are always bright and calm." Still she remained mute--a sigh, deep enough for an older sufferer, heaved her tiny breast.