"The signorina was so unkind as to say, lately, that we Italians have no sense of the beautiful, the mysterious--" "I take it back," said Hedwig, gravely, still standing in the moonlight.

"Your cousin has a very great power over the beautiful." "And the mysterious," added the baroness, who had not spoken, "for his departure without showing himself has left me the impression of a sweet dream.

Give me your arm, Professore Cardegna.

I will not stay here any longer, now that the dream is over." Nino sprang to her side politely, though, to tell the truth, she did not attract him at first sight.

He freed one arm from the old cloak, and reflected that she could not tell in the dark how very shabby it was.
"You give lessons to the Signora von Lira ?" she asked, leading him quickly away from the party.
"Yes--in Italian literature, signora." "Ah--she tells me great things of you.