I must question him directly."
Nanina, seeing that he took no notice of her, felt that she might
now easily effect her retreat. She opened the studio door, and
repeated, for the twentieth time at least, that she was sorry she
could not sit to him.
"I am sorry too, child," he said, irritably looking about for his
hat. He found it apparently just as Nanina was going out; for she
heard him call to one of the workmen in the inner studio, and
order the man to say, if anybody wanted him, that he had gone to
Father Rocco's lodgings.
CHAPTER VI.
The next morning, when Nanina rose, a bad attack of headache, and
a sense of languor and depression, reminded her of the necessity
of following the doctor's advice, and preserving her health by
getting a little fresh air and exercise. She had more than two
hours to spare before the usual time when her daily attendance
began at the Ascoli Palace; and she determined to employ the
interval of leisure in taking a morning walk outside the town. La
Biondella would have been glad enough to go too, but she had a
large order for dinner-mats on hand, and was obliged, for that
day, to stop in the house and work. Thus it happened that when
Nanina set forth from home, the learned poodle, Scarammuccia, was
her only companion.
She took the nearest way out of the town; the dog trotting along
in his usual steady, observant way close at her side, pushing his
great rough muzzle, from time to time, affectionately into her
hand, and trying hard to attract her attention at intervals by
barking and capering in front of her.
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