The
little girl stopped to report to him the safe delivery of her
dinner-mats; but he passed on quickly with a nod and a smile. His
interview with Nanina had left some influence behind it, which
unfitted him just then for the occupation of talking to a child.
Nearly half an hour before nine o'clock on the following morning,
Father Rocco set forth for the street in which Nanina lived. On
his way thither he overtook a dog walking lazily a few paces
ahead in the roadway; and saw, at the same time, an
elegantly-dressed lady advancing toward him. The dog stopped
suspiciously as she approached, and growled and showed his teeth
when she passed him. The lady, on her side, uttered an
exclamation of disgust, but did not seem to be either astonished
or frightened by the animal's threatening attitude. Father Rocco
looked after her with some curiosity as she walked by him. She
was a handsome woman, and he admired her courage. "I know that
growling brute well enough," he said to himself, "but who can the
lady be?"
The dog was Scarammuccia, returning from one of his marauding
expeditions The lady was Brigida, on her way to Luca Lomi's
studio.
Some minutes before nine o'clock the priest took his post in the
street, opposite Nanina's window. It was open; but neither she
nor her little sister appeared at it. He looked up anxiously as
the church-clocks struck the hour; but there was no sign for a
minute or so after they were all silent.
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