Minnie paused.

Mrs. Willoughby looked troubled.

“Kitty, I wish you wouldn’t look at me with that dreadful expression.  You really make me feel quite frightened.”

“Minnie,” said the other, in a serious voice, “do you really love this man?”

“Love this man! why no, not particularly; but I like him; that is, I think I do, or rather I thought I did; but really I’m so worried about all my troubles that I wish he had never come down after me.  I don’t see why he did, either.  I didn’t ask him to.  I remember, now, I really felt quite embarrassed when I saw him.  I knew there would be trouble about it.  And I wish you would take me back home.  I hate Italy.  Do, Kitty darling.  But then—­”

Minnie paused again.

“Well, Minnie dear, we certainly must contrive some plan to shake him off without hurting his feelings.  It can’t be thought of.  There are a hundred objections.  If the worst comes to the worst we can go back, as you say, to England.”

“I know; but then,” said Minnie, “that’s the very thing that I can’t do—­”

“Can’t do what?”

“Go back to England.”

“Back to England!  Why not?  I don’t know what you mean.”

“Well, you see, Kitty, that’s the very thing I came to see you about.  This dreadful man—­the Count, you know—­has some wonderful way of finding out where I go; and he keeps all the time appearing and disappearing in the very strangest manner; and when I saw him on the roof of the Cathedral it really made me feel quite giddy.  He is so determined to win me that I’m afraid to look round.  He takes the commonest civility as encouragement.  And then, you know—­there it is—­I really can’t go back to England.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Why there’s—­a—­a dreadful person there,” said Minnie, with an awful look in her eyes.

“A what?”

“A—­person,” said Minnie.

“A man?”

Minnie nodded.  “Oh yes—­of course.  Really when one thinks of one’s troubles it’s enough to drive one distracted.  This person is a man.  I don’t know why it is that I should be so worried and so distracted by men.  I do not like them, and I wish there were no such persons.”

“Another man!” said Mrs. Willoughby, in some surprise.  “Well, Minnie, you certainly—­”

“Now don’t, don’t—­not a word; I know all you’re going to say, and I won’t stand it;” and Minnie ran over to her sister and held her hand over her mouth.

“I won’t say a word,” said Mrs. Willoughby, as soon as she had removed Minnie’s hand; “so begin.”

Minnie resumed her place on the sofa, and gave a long sigh.