Hermione found in this new attitude of Ruffo's a curious solace for
the sudden loneliness of soul that had come upon her. Originally
Ruffo's chief friendship had obviously been for Vere, but now Vere,
seeing her mother's new and deep interest in the boy, gave way a
little to it, yet without doing anything ostentatious, or showing any
pique. Simply she would stay in the garden, or on the terrace, later
than usual, till after Ruffo was sure to be at the island, and let her
mother stroll to the cliff top. Or, if she were there with him first,
she would soon make an excuse to go away, and casually tell her mother
that he was there alone or with Gaspare. And all this was done so
naturally that Hermione did not know it was deliberate, but merely
fancied that perhaps Vere's first enthusiasm for the fisher-boy was
wearing off, that it had been a child's sudden fancy, and that it was
lightly passing away.
Vere rather wondered at her mother's liking for Ruffo, although she
herself had found him so attractive, and had drawn her mother's
attention to his handsome face and bold, yet simple bearing.
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