"I should hate to brag," he said, but anyone could see from the absence of a diamond ring on his little finger that he was a person of weight in his community.
"Oh!" said momma, "my daughter is awake at last! Mamie, let me introduce Count Filgiatti.

Count, my daughter.

What a pity you went to sleep, love.

The Count has been giving us _such_ a delightful afternoon." The carriage swayed a good deal as the Count stood up to bow, but that had no effect either upon the dignity or the gratification he expressed.
His pleasure was quite ingratiating, or would have been if he had been a little taller.

As it was, it was amusing, and I recognised an opportunity for the study of Italian character.