She must have been a bewitching figure.

Nino advanced toward her, bowing low, so that his dark curling hair shaded his face.
"Good-day, signora," said he softly, as though fearing to hurt the quiet air.

"I trust I do not interrupt you ?" "You never interrupt me, Nino," she said, "except--except when you go away." "You are very good, signora." "For heaven's sake, no pretty speeches," said she, with a little laugh.
"It seems to me," said Nino, seating himself, "that it was you who made the pretty speech, and I who thanked you for it." There was a pause.
"How do you feel!" asked the baroness at last, turning her head to him.
"Grazie--I am well," he answered, smiling.
"Oh, I do not mean that,--you are always well.

But how do you enjoy your first triumph ?" "I think," said Nino, "that a real artist ought to have the capacity to enjoy a success at the moment, and the good sense to blame his vanity for enjoying it after it is passed." "How old are you, Nino ?" "Did I never tell you ?" he asked innocently.

"I shall be twenty-one soon." "You talk as though you were forty, at least." "Heaven save us!" quoth Nino.
"But really, are you not immensely flattered at the reception you had ?" "Yes." "You did not look at all interested in the public at the time," said she, "and that Roman nose of yours very nearly turned up in disdain of the applause, I thought.