XXII

atnearlycarriedmeaway. ShetookupanecklaceofbeadsandofferedittoMatteoforhisladylove.Webegantobargain,offeringherjustalittlelowerthansheasked,andthen,assheshowedsignsofcomingdown,madeherafinalofferalittlelowerstill.Atlastsheseizedabroomandattackedus,sothatwehadtoflyprecipitately. Ihadneverfeltinsuchhighspirits.IofferedtoraceMatteoineverywayheliked—riding,runningandwalking—butherefused,brutallytellingmethatIwasfrivolous.Thenwewenthome.IfoundthatCheccohadjustbeenhearingmass,andhewasassolemnandsilentasahangman.IwentaboutlamentingthatIcouldgetnoonetotalktome,andatlasttookrefugewiththechildren,whopermittedmetojoinintheirgames,sothat,at'hide-and-seek'and'blindman'sbuff,'Ithoroughlyamusedmyselftilldinner-time.Weatetogether,andItriednottobesilenced,talkingthegreatestnonsenseIcouldthinkofbuttheotherssatlikeowlsanddidnotlisten,sothatItoobegantofeeldepressed.... Thefrownsoftheothersinfectedme,andthedarkpicturesthatwerebeforetheireyesappearedtominemywordsfailedmeandweallthreesatgloomily.Ihadstartedwithanexcellentappetite,butagaintheothersinfluencedme,andIcouldnoteat.Wetoyedwithourfood,wishingthedinnerover.Imovedaboutrestlessly,butCheccowasquitestill,leaninghisfaceonhishand,occasionallyraisinghiseyesandfixingthemonMatteoorme.Oneoftheservantsdroppedsomeplatesweallstartedatthesound,andCheccoutteredanoathIhadneverheardhimswearbefore.HewassopaleIwonderedifhewerenervous.Iaskedthetime:stilltwohoursbeforewecouldstart.Howlongwouldtheytaketopass!Ihadbeenlongingtofinishdinner,sothatImightgetupandgoaway.Ifeltanurgentneed