The girl turned, taking her hat and gloves from the table, and moved slowly, as though in hesitation, toward the door. Through an intense preoccupation it hurt her to know that lack of response was hurting her aunt, and once she paused, fingering the corner of the table by which she stood. She wanted to speak, but she could not. The minute passed and she went out of the room in silence.
That evening at the embassy Mrs. Garrison sought to do her duty.
"My niece is enjoying Rome," she told Curatulo, as the two stood watching Anne across the room. "But I hope she will not enjoy it too much, for she cannot stay here after this winter."
A sudden look of watchfulness came into the Italian's eyes, but was instantly repressed.
"And why, madame, can she not stay here?" he asked, turning to her squarely.
"There is no one but myself for her to stay with, and I must be at home."
"There are other conceivable ways of staying in Rome," answered Curatulo.
"You mean that she might marry here?" Margaret sought to dissimulate her definite purpose under lightness of word; but dissimulation of any76
