She accepted, but hardly
returned, my salute, was very silent throughout the preparation and
eating of our supper; now and then, glancing at her, I caught her gaze
fixed upon me, and fancied that there was a hard light in her eyes. Our
companions, Gioiachino and his wife Teresa, rallied us on what they
thought to be one of those domestic differences common to the most
affectionate couples. "A tiff, a tiff!" said they, nudging each other.
"Virginia has caught him with the gardener's wife. We shall get no sleep
to-night." This gardener's wife was an obese and asthmatic matron of
some two-score years; who occupied a room in our little house, and was
kinder to me than I cared for. It was not until Gioiachino and his
Teresa were asleep that I could hope to discover what had affected
Virginia. She then told me that, as she had been at work that afternoon,
kneeling on the boards by the river with the other women, the Cavaliere
Aquamorta with a party of gentlemen had come by the meadows and stopped
to jest and bandy familiarities with the laundresses. Although he had
pretended not to recognise her, Virginia was not deceived. Finding his
opportunity, he drew near to her side, and whispered in her ear, "Can I
believe my senses? You, my charming consort of a few weeks ago, in such
a plight, in such a company!" Virginia had replied that the company had
been of her own choosing up to this hour, and that what he complained of
now could be remedied very easily, and by himself only.
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