Carmella Commands
“Padre Carbone at the church tells us to help those in trouble, mother,” she said calmly. “I was trying to do that. Please do tell father, and I will explain it. He will understand.”
Maria looked at her daughter, wondering.
“What happened to Nicolo?” she asked finally.
As Carmella finished the account of the morning’s events, the telephone rang. The girl answered, and appeared to hesitate.
“I’ll ask mother,” Maria heard her say, and shortly she came racing back to the kitchen.
“Madre! Mrs. Barrington wants me to come to lunch tomorrow. It’s Saturday. May I go? May I? I wish to very much.”
Maria thought slowly.
“Hurry, mother. She is waiting at the telephone for me to tell her.”
Maria’s slow thoughts ran in this wise: lunch with Mrs. Barrington meant talk of Hope House. It would mean—it might mean—that Mrs. Barrington would slip—would tell of her own lessons in English. She had promised faithfully not to—but sometimes tongues slipped.
“Perhaps,” Maria answered, after what to Carmella seemed an eternity of waiting. “Perhaps not. I will decide this afternoon. Tell her you will give your answer after school this afternoon.”
“But, mother! What is the⸺”
“Go!” said Maria, pointing toward the telephone.
[230]
