Carmella Commands
Tommaso understood that phrase. Striding into the kitchen he seized Carmella by the shoulder.
“Who you say that to?” he demanded. And, to her bewildered surprise, he spoke English. She burst into tears.
Tommaso turned to his wife, and asked in Italian:
“What happens? What does this girl say? Tell me quick!”
Maria wiped her eyes with her apron and answered:
“She say ‘Go to hell!’ to me—to me, her mother. She refuse to do her work, so I scold her. And she say this.”
Tommaso held Carmella firmly in his grasp and looked her in the eye. Speaking in Italian, slowly and deeply, he said:
“You, girl, shall mind your mother. I shall teach you, if it must be. For a week, as punishment for what you have said, you shall both wash and wipe the dishes at night. And whatever your mother says, you shall do. If you do not, I shall teach you.”
“Si, padre!” said Carmella, bewildered and frightened.
“Now you washa the deesh!” commanded Maria, in English.
“Si, madre!” said the girl, and went to work.
Tommaso looked at his wife in surprise.
“You speak the English to her and she understand? How have you learned? Come here!”
He walked to the sitting room and sat in his chair,
[255]
