But for him you would...." He broke off, and whispered to Casanova: "I was just going to say something foolish." Amending his phrase, he said: "But for him, things would have been very different!" Like their father, the girls had black hair and dark eyes.

All of them including Teresina, the eldest, who was still quite the child, looked at the stranger with frank rustic curiosity.

Casanova did not stand upon ceremony; he kissed each of the girls upon either cheek.

Olivo said a word or two to the lad who was driving the trap in which the children had come, and the fellow whipped up the pony and drove along the road towards Mantua.
Laughing and joking, the girls took possession of the seat opposite Olivo and Casanova.

They were closely packed; they all spoke at once; and since their father likewise went on talking, Casanova found it far from easy at first to follow the conversation.