These were that he should take the poor brute to water, and then lead him back to Baveno, and do duty in waiting upon her mother.

The first injunction was received in a decidedly acquiescent manner.

On hearing the second, which directed his abandonment of his post of immediate watchfulness over her safety, the man flatly objected with a "Signorina, no." He was a handsome bright-eyed fellow, with a soldier's frame and a smile as broad and beaming as laughter, indicating much of that mixture of acuteness, and simplicity which is a characteristic of the South, and means no more than that the extreme vivacity of the blood exceeds at times that of the brain.
A curious frown of half-amused astonishment hung on the signorina's face.
"When I tell you to go, Beppo!" At once the man threw out his fingers, accompanied by an amazingly voluble delivery of his reasons for this revolt against her authority.
Among other things, he spoke of an oath sworn by him to a foreign gentleman, his patron,--for whom, and for whomsoever he loved, he was ready to pour forth his heart's blood,--to the effect that he would never quit her side when she left the roof of her house.
"You see, Beppo," she remonstrated, "I am among friends." Beppo gave a sweeping bow, but remained firm where he stood.

Ammiani cast a sharp hard look at the man.
"Do you hear the signorina's orders ?" "I hear them, signore." "Will you obey them ?" She interposed.

"He must not hear quick words.