He said briefly to his wife that the nurse was obliged to return at once to Italy, and that she would stay in the village to catch the mail; that indeed she would be of no use in their establishment, as she could not speak a word of English; that he was sadly afraid Violante would pine for her.

And Violante did pine at first.

But still, to a child it is so great a thing to find a parent, to be at home, that, tender and grateful as Violante was, she could not be inconsolable while her father was there to comfort.
For the first few days, Riccabocca scarcely permitted any one to be with his daughter but himself.

He would not even leave her alone with his Jemima.

They walked out together,--sat together for hours in the belvidere.