Miss Nevil had plenty of time to observe her, for the lady in the mezzaro had halted in the street, and was questioning somebody on a subject which, to judge from the expression of her eyes, must have interested her exceedingly.  Then, as soon as she received an answer, she touched her mount with her riding-switch, and, breaking into a quick trot, never halted till she reached the door of the hotel in which Sir Thomas Nevil and Orso were staying.  There, after exchanging a few words with the host, the girl sprang nimbly from her saddle and seated herself on a stone bench beside the entrance door, while her groom led the horses away to the stable.  Miss Lydia, in her Paris gown, passed close beside the stranger, who did not raise her eyes.  A quarter of an hour later she opened her window, and saw the lady in the mezzaro still sitting in the same place and in the same attitude.  Not long afterward the colonel and Orso returned from hunting.  Then the landlord said a few words to the young lady in mourning, and pointed to della Rebbia with his finger.  She coloured deeply, rose eagerly, went a few paces forward, and then stopped short, apparently much confused.  Orso was quite close to her, and was looking at her curiously.

“Are you Orso Antonio della Rebbia?” said she in a tremulous voice.  “I am Colomba.”

“Colomba!” cried Orso.

And taking her in his arms he kissed her tenderly, somewhat to the surprise of the colonel and his daughter—­but in England people do not kiss each other in the street.

“Brother,” said Colomba, “you must forgive me for having come without your permission.  But I heard from our friends that you had arrived, and it is such a great consolation to me to see you.”

Again Orso kissed her.  Then, turning to the colonel: 

“This is my sister,” said he, “whom I never should have recognised if she had not told me her name—­Colomba—­Colonel Sir Thomas Nevil—­colonel, you will kindly excuse me, but I can not have the honour of dining with you to-day.  My sister—­”

“But, my dear fellow, where the devil do you expect to dine?  You know very well there is only one dinner in this infernal tavern, and we have bespoken it.  It will afford my daughter great pleasure if this young lady will join us.”

Colomba looked at her brother, who did not need much pressing, and they all passed together into the largest room in the inn, which the colonel used as his sitting and dining room.  Mademoiselle della Rebbia, on being introduced to Miss Nevil, made her a deep courtesy, but she did not utter a single word.  It was easy to see that she was very much frightened at finding herself, perhaps for the first time in her life, in the company of strangers belonging to the great world.  Yet there was nothing provincial in her manners.  The novelty of her position excused her awkwardness.  Miss Nevil took a liking to her at once, and, as there was no room disengaged in the hotel, the whole of which was occupied by the colonel and his attendants, she offered, either out of condescension or curiosity, to have a bed prepared in her own room for Mademoiselle della Rebbia.