Like many
weak but devout men, he had been severe to his children, even to
cruelty, while perfectly incapable of controlling his wife's caprices.
"I remember, though I was only a little girl when he died," Sabina
said.
"Is Malipieri very religious?" the Princess asked "I mean, does he
make a fuss about having fish on Fridays?" She spoke quite gravely.
"I fancy not," Sabina answered, seeing nothing odd in her mother's
implied definition of righteousness. "He never talked to me about
religion, I am sure."
"Thank God!" exclaimed the Princess devoutly.
"He always says he is a republican," Sabina remarked, glad to talk
about him.
"Really?" The Princess was interested. "I adore revolutionaries," she
said thoughtfully. "They always have something to say. I have always
longed to meet a real anarchist."
"Signor Malipieri is not an anarchist," said Sabina.
"Of course not, child! I never said he was. All anarchists are
shoemakers or miners, or something like that. I only said that I
always longed to meet one. People who do not value their lives are
generally amusing. When I was a girl, I was desperately in love with a
cousin of mine who drove a four-in-hand down a flight of steps, and
won a bet by jumping on a wild bear's back. He was always doing those
things. I loved him dearly.
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