A delightful life it must be." The Count looked at the carpet.

"Ah, signorina, you misunderstand my poor English," he said; "she means quite different." It was not coquetry which induced me to cast down my eyes.
"The American young lady will sometimes contract alliance." "Oh!" I exclaimed.
"Yes.

And if it is a good arrangimento it is always quite _quite_ happy." "We are said," I observed thoughtfully, "to be able, as a people, to accommodate ourselves to circumstances." "You approve this idea! Signorina, you are so amiable, it is heavenly." "I see no objection to it," I said.

"It is entirely a matter of taste." "And the American ladies have much taste," observed Count Filgiatti blandly.
"I'm afraid it isn't infallible," I said, "but it is charming to hear it approved." "The American lady comes in Italy.

She is young, beautiful, with a grace--ah! And perhaps there is a little income--a few dollar--but we do not speak of that--it is a trifle, only to make possible the arrangimento." "I see," I said.
"The American lady is so perceiving--it is also a charm.