Banker. (Advancing cordially.) Ah, Mrs Worryemwell, how do you do? (Pats the boy on the head.) And how are you, my fine fellow? (Gives the baby an amicable poke in the ribs, whereat it laughs and crows uproariously.) Take a seat on the sofa, will you, Mrs Worryemwell; and now, tell me, when did you leave Florence?

Mrs Worryemwell. The day before yesterday.  We should have been here sooner, but we missed the train for Lucca, because one of the trunks was left behind at the Pisa station, and I would not move till it was found.

Banker. (Anxiously.) But you recovered it, I trust?

Mrs W. Yes; but we are in sad trouble now:  a canister of arrow-root must have remained on the Lucca Railway, and baby will get ill without it.  We had a good many small packages, and this one was overlooked in the confusion; but—­

Banker. (Promptly.) I’ll write to the clerk in charge at the station about it at once.

Mrs W. Oh! thank you.  I was going to ask you to do so.  A brown, japanned canister, fastened down with some strong twine.

Banker. Very good, very good.  How do you like your house at the Villa?  I gave orders that the beds should be aired, and charcoal and oil provided before your arrival, just as you directed.

Mrs W. Thank you; pretty well; but, as usual with all Italians, the owners are most disobliging.  I wanted a cot put in for baby, but they say they have none, and that it was not stipulated for in the agreement.  Now, surely (impressively), surely a person of your experience would never take a house for a lady and young children without such an indispensable thing as a cot?

Banker. You did not mention it in your letter, my good lady, and having four other friends’ lodgings to fix that same day, it has, I fear, escaped me. (Good-humouredly.) But we’ll try and arrange matters.  I’ll come down and talk to the Padrone di Casa—­

Mrs W. (Taking a memorandum out of her reticule.) Let me see.  Ah, yes! butter, milk, eggs.  Could you favour me with the exact prices of all these necessaries? for I am certain the people of the house have cheated in what they have procured for us.

Banker. Certainly.  One of my clerks shall procure you every information.

Mrs W. Ah, yes! and if you will come this afternoon to the Villa, you can also insist on their white-washing my English servant’s room.  It overlooks the garden, and a scorpion was found on the window this morning.  Now, white-washing the walls is the only safeguard; it would really annoy me if he were stung.

Banker. I will see about that too.  Ahem!  I must write at once about the arrow-root, or the post will have left.  Can I supply you with any money?

Mrs W. You are very kind.  I must think—­(putting her hand to her head)—­a few more things I wished to ask.  Do you remember them, Freddy dear?