Books › The Red Book 1911-04: Vol 16 Iss 6, 1911 › scan 51
Scan 51
The Red Book 1911-04: Vol 16 Iss 6, 1911
66 lines. Read by computer on 14 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1Now, there was something in the voice of the young musician quite like the best tones of the G on his violin. And somehow, for absolutely no reason, Delicia ceased to be savage.
3"Will it please you, signore, to be seat?" she said.
5But, there was no seat large enough for Cavallo, and, in his immense delight at the unexpected invitation, he sat, panically, upon the foot of the small bed—much too small, for so had Delicia grown that her feet stuck through the bars at the foot. The mother sat at the head of the stairs.
7"And, also, will you have some tea—signora mama, and signore Cavallo?"
9And, when both had answered "yes"—one with a smile, the other very seriously—which being which you are to guess, Delicia took two cups, no larger than your thumb, from the hot stove in The House of The Dormer—very red paint proving the degree of heat—filled them from the teapot steaming on the same (you might think the steam only cotton), and beautifully served them. And, what they drank was nothing better nor worse than the rain-water which fell into the cool, deep well—id est, a flower pot just outside of the dormer window, with a medicine cork stopping the hole in the bottom—and causing the tea to smell, aye, and taste, too, a bit pharmaceutical. Then the mother said:
11"I am afraid the beets will burn, dear. Therefore I go, beloved, leaving Cavallo with you."
13"Yes, signora mama," said Delicia, washing the cups and the pot in the remaining medicated water of the well, and putting them away.
15Cavallo was picking "Ah, I have sighed to rest me—" on the E string, in the sixteenth position.
17"For, soon you will be fifteen—" the mother went on.
19"The tenth of May—" said surprised Delicia, who never forgot her birthdays—though it was then only the thirteenth of June.
21Then she of the wooden spoon went away and Cavallo came upon Delicia and woefully asked if he might kiss her.
23"Certainly," said Delicia, "though I know not why you ask, to-day, nor why you go upon your knee, and fear like to one who is to be shot at. Have you not always kissed me?"
25"Ah, Virgin!" sighed Cavallo, "But you are woman now. So say the madre, and I am man. To-day I have sign contract for second violi for the orchestra in the opera house—"
27"You have played there for three years," said Delicia.
29"Heretofore have your father he sign the contract. He the first violin, I the second. Account he teach me. To-day I sign! I am man!"
31Delicia understood nothing of these refinements of manhood and womanhood.
33"If you are still waiting to kiss me, hurry. I have much to do."
35She put her very beautiful mouth upward.
37Cavallo kissed her. He seemed to make a great ceremony of it.
39"Virgin! That is over! Get up!"
41But, Cavallo, grown more courageous, not only did not get up, he detained her from her household duties.
43"You marry me—soon?"
45"Why?"
47"You loave-a me—yes—yes?"
49"Certainly. I love everybody. Father Isoleri says I must. Besides, I like to love everybody—especially—"
51Delicia gathered Garden, Tetrazzini, and Doria in her arms and kissed them ravenously.
53"But not as de doll!" breathed Cavallo through his teeth, jealously.
55"Certainly not! What can you be thinking of! Such smooth and lovely faces and such soft hair— Take yours away!"
57For, Cavallo had, injudiciously, thrust his dark head among the painted blondeness Delicia was embracing—where the comparisons could not but be unfavorable to him. He touched her cheek with his.
59"You will scratch my skin off! And your voice smells of garlic! Go away!"
61Cavallo did as he was told.
63"Yet, you have not say when you will marry with-a me?"
65"Oh, Cavallo, dear, go away, and let
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