ne of which held an umbrella: "I am so shocked--I
am so shocked to hear of your poor father. Am I to believe it?--am I
really? No, I can't."

She lifted her veil, kissed Alvina, and dabbed her eyes. Ciccio came
up the steps. He took off his hat to Alvina, smiled slightly as he
passed her. He looked rather pale, constrained. She closed the door
and ushered them into the drawing-room.

Madame looked round like a bird, examining the room and the
furniture. She was evidently a little impressed. But all the time
she was uttering her condolences.

"Tell me, poor girl, how it happened?"

"There isn't much to tell," said Alvina, and she gave the brief
account of James's illness and death.

"Worn out! Worn out!" Madame said, nodding slowly up and down. Her
black veil, pushed up, sagged over her brows like a mourning band.
"You cannot afford to waste the stamina. And will you keep on the
theatre--with Mr. May--?"

Ciccio was sitting looking towards the fire. His presence made
Alvina tremble. She noticed how the fine black hair of his head
showed no parting at all--it just grew like a close cap, and was
pushed aside at the forehead. Sometimes he looked at her, as Madame
talked, and again looked at her, and looked away.

At last Madame came to a halt. There was a long pause.

"You will stay to the funeral?" said Alvina.

"Oh my dear, we shall be too much--"

"No," said Alvina. "I have arranged for you--"

"There! You think of everything. But I will come, not Ciccio. He
will not trouble you."

Ciccio looked up at Alvina.

"I should like him to come," said Alvina simply. But a deep flush
began to mount her face. She did not know where it came from, she
felt so cold. And she wanted to cry.

Madame watched her closely.

"Siamo di accordo," came the voice of Ciccio.

Alvina and Madame both looked at him. He sat constrained, with his
face averted, his eyes dropped, but smiling.

Madame looked closely at Alvina.

"Is it true what he says?" she asked.

"I don't understand him," said Alvina. "I don't understand what he
said."

"That you have agreed with him--"

Madame and Ciccio both watched Alvina as she sat in her new black
dress. Her eyes involuntarily turned to his.

"I don't know," she said vaguely. "Have I--?" and she looked at him.

Madame kept silence for some moments. Then she said gravely:

"Well!--yes!--well!" She looked from one to another. "Well, there is
a lot to consider. But if you have decid