Carmella Commands
her in English. “Thees keed,” he began, and gave up the effort. In his own language he said:
“My little girl, she will do the speaking for me. I will do the talking.”
“Morning!” said Carmella. “Dad says I’ll interpret for him while he does the heavy stuff. All right with you?”
Both men bowed gravely.
“All right with us, Miss⸺”
“Kate,” said Carmella suddenly.
“Miss Kate,” added Mr. Hastings, who proved to be the talking member of the pair.
Carmella climbed into the rear seat with her father. The fact that it was a Packard instead of a flivver had already made her forenoon complete.
With little talk the three men and the girl rolled easily through the suburbs into the region of open spaces and occasional bungalows. Presently Mr. Richmond, at the wheel, steered off the cement to the right and brought the car to a stop.
“This the place, Mr. Coletta?” he asked.
Curiously enough, it was the first time Carmella had ever heard her father called Mr. Coletta to his face. The neighbors called him Tommaso or Tom. She glanced at him with new respect, waiting for something to translate.
But instead of speaking, he nodded and pointed to the open field across the road. The four got out. Tommaso then pointed again and said:
[44]
