The more she tried to defend herself the greater the malice with which Ferrari tormented her.

Her mother did not interfere--she only laughed.

I held the little thing closely sheltered in my embrace, and steadying down the quiver of indignation in my voice, I said with quiet firmness: "Fair play, signor! Fair play! Strength becomes mere bullying when it is employed against absolute weakness." Ferrari laughed again, but this time uneasily, and ceasing his monkeyish pranks, walked to the window.

Smoothing Stella's tumbled hair, I added with a sarcastic smile: "This little donzella, will have her revenge when she grows up.
Recollecting how one man teased her in childhood, she, in return, will consider herself justified in teasing all men.

Do you not agree with me, madame ?" I said, turning to my wife, who gave me a sweetly coquettish look as she answered: "Well, really, conte, I do not know! For with the remembrance of one man who teased her, must come also the thought of another who was kind to her--yourself--she will find it difficult to decide the juste milieu." A subtle compliment was meant to be conveyed in these words.