XXXVI
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kedatmedubiously,thenathisbarelegsandhisshirt,thenagainatme.Ipretendednottounderstand.
'Youseemtroubled,mydearAndrea.Whatisthematter?'
Hepointedtohisshirt.
'Well?'Isaid.
'Itisusualtogoaboutinclothes.'
'Abroad-mindedyouthlikeyoushouldbefreefromsuchprejudice,'Iansweredgravely.'Onsuchamorningyouwillfindlifemuchpleasanterwithouthoseanddoublet.'
'Commondecency—'
'Mydearboy,areyounotawarethatourfirstparentswerecontentwithfig-leaves,andareyounotsatisfiedwithawholeshirt?Besides,haveyounotafinepairoflegsandahandsomebodywhatareyouashamedof?'
'Everyonewillfollowme.'
'Allthemorereasontohavesomethingtoshowthem.'
'Theguardwilllockmeup.'
'Howwillthejailor'sdaughterbeabletoresistyouinthatcostume!'
Thenanotherideastruckme,andIsaid,—
'Well,Andrea,IamgrievedtofindyouofsounpoeticalaturnofmindbutIwilldenyyounothing.'IwenttoGiulia,andtakingtheclothesshehadjustcastoffbroughtthemtoAndrea.
'There!'
Hegaveacryofdelight,butonseizingthem,anddiscoveringpetticoatsandflounces,hisfacefell.Ileantagainstthewallandlaughedtillmysidesached.
ThenGiuliaappeared,amostfascinatingserving-boy....
'Good-bye,'Icried,andhurrieddownthestairs.Wemarchedboldlytothecitygate,andwithbeatingheartsandinnocentcountenances,passedthroughandfoundourselvesintheopencountry.
