"His opinion is generally looked upon as being a very good one," observed Giacinta, tranquilly.
Silvio laughed outright. Giacinta's satirical remarks always amused him, even when they were made at his expense. "It is certainly a misfortune that Mademoiselle Durand is no longer to go to Villa Acorari," he said. "I must say," he added, "she has proved herself to be a most loyal friend--and an entirely disinterested one, too."
Giacinta glanced at him. "I suppose," she said, "that Mademoiselle Durand likes a little romance. I believe most single women who are over thirty and under fifty do."
"I suppose so," observed Silvio, carelessly. "She seemed quite upset when she told me of the note she had received from Princess Montefiano. I thought, of course, that she felt she had lost an engagement."
"But did the princess give a reason for dispensing with her services?" asked Giacinta.
"No. The note merely said that as Donna Bianca's studies would not be continued, there was no necessity for Mademoiselle Durand to come any more to Villa Acorari. The princess enclosed money for the lessons given--and that was all. But, of course, Giacinta," continued Silvio, "I felt that Mademoiselle Durand had lost her engagement through befriending me. Though the princess for some reason did not allude to anything of the kind, I am sure she must know, or suspect, the part Mademoiselle Durand has played."
"I should think so, undoubtedly," remarked Giacinta.
"And naturally," Silvio proceeded, "I felt very uncomfortable about it. I did not quite know what to do, and I offered--"
"Yes?" said his sister, as he paused, hesitatingly.
"Well, Giacinta, you see, she had probably lost money through me, so I offered to--to make her loss good, so to say."
"Oh, and then she was very angry, and said that I insulted her. After that she cried. One does not like to see grown-up people cry; it is very unpleasant. She said that I did not understand; that what she had done was out of mere friendship and sympathy--for me and for Bianca. I knew she had grown attached to Bianca, Giacinta; she had told me so once before. After all, nobody who saw much of Bianca could help being fond of her."
Giacinta looked at him for a moment or two without speaking.