Hermione watched her for two
or three minutes. She looked very lonely; and moved by an impulse to
try to erase the impression made on her by the abrupt exclamation at
the breakfast-table, the mother leaned out and hailed the child.
"Good-bye, Vere! I am just starting!" she cried out, trying to make
her voice sound cheerful and ordinary.
Vere looked up for a second.
"Good-bye!"
She bent her head and returned to her book.
Hermione felt chilled.
She went down and met Giulia in the passage.
"Giulia, is Gaspare anywhere about? I want to cross to the mainland. I
am going to take the tram."
"Signora, are you going to Naples? Maria says--"
"I can't do any commissions, because I shall probably not go beyond
Mergellina. Find Gaspare, will you?"
Giulia went away and Hermione descended to the Saint's Pool. She
waited there two or three minutes. Then Gaspare appeared above.
"You want the boat, Signora?"
"Yes, Gaspare."
He leaped down the steps and stood beside her.
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