There
was no more to do in the house, and he spent whole days in
the loggia leaning over the parapet or sitting astride it
disconsolately.
"Oh, you idle boy!" she cried, pinching his muscles.
"Go and play pallone."
"I am a married man," he answered, without raising his
head. "I do not play games any more."
"Go and see your friends then."
"I have no friends now."
"Silly, silly, silly! You can't stop indoors all day!"
"I want to see no one but you." He spat on to an olive-tree.
"Now, Gino, don't be silly. Go and see your friends,
and bring them to see me. We both of us like society."
He looked puzzled, but allowed himself to be persuaded,
went out, found that he was not as friendless as he
supposed, and returned after several hours in altered
spirits. Lilia congratulated herself on her good management.
"I'm ready, too, for people now," she said. "I mean to
wake you all up, just as I woke up Sawston. Let's have
plenty of men--and make them bring their womenkind. I mean
to have real English tea-parties."
"There is my aunt and her husband; but I thought you did
not want to receive my relatives."
"I never said such a--"
"But you would be right," he said earnestly. "They are
not for you. Many of them are in trade, and even we are
little more; you should have gentlefolk and nobility for
your friends."
"Poor fellow," thought Lilia. "It is sad for him to
discover that his people are vulgar." She began to tell him
that she loved him just for his silly self, and he flushed
and began tugging at his moustache.
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