"Well, you are right," he said. "This affair is
being managed by the ladies."
"Ah, the ladies--the ladies!" cried the other, and then
he roared like a millionaire for two cups of black coffee,
and insisted on treating his friend, as a sign that their
strife was over.
"Well, I have done my best," said Philip, dipping a long
slice of sugar into his cup, and watching the brown liquid
ascend into it. "I shall face my mother with a good
conscience. Will you bear me witness that I've done my best?"
"My poor fellow, I will!" He laid a sympathetic hand on
Philip's knee.
"And that I have--" The sugar was now impregnated with
coffee, and he bent forward to swallow it. As he did so his
eyes swept the opposite of the Piazza, and he saw there,
watching them, Harriet. "Mia sorella!" he exclaimed. Gino,
much amused, laid his hand upon the little table, and beat
the marble humorously with his fists. Harriet turned away
and began gloomily to inspect the Palazzo Pubblico.
"Poor Harriet!" said Philip, swallowing the sugar. "One
more wrench and it will all be over for her; we are leaving
this evening."
Gino was sorry for this. "Then you will not be here
this evening as you promised us. All three leaving?"
"All three," said Philip, who had not revealed the
secession of Miss Abbott; "by the night train; at least,
that is my sister's plan. So I'm afraid I shan't be here."
They watched the departing figure of Harriet, and then
entered upon the final civilities.
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