Lucia seated at the table was watching the work, while Don Paolo sat in a straight-backed chair, his white hands folded on his knee, from time to time addressing a remark to Maria Luisa.

The latter, being too stout to recline in the deep easy-chair near the empty fireplace, sat bolt upright, with her feet upon the edge of a footstool, which was covered by a tapestry of worsted-work, displaying an impossible nosegay upon a vivid green ground.
They had discussed the priest's canonry, and the order for the crucifix.
They had talked about the weather.

They had made some remarks upon Marzio's probable disposition of mind when he should come home, and the conversation was exhausted so far as the two older members were concerned.

Gianbattista and Lucia conversed in a low tone, in short, enigmatic phrases.
"Do you know ?" said the apprentice.
"What ?" inquired Lucia.
"I have spoken of it to-day." Both glanced at the Signora Pandolfi.

She was sitting up as straight as ever, but her heavy head was slowly bending forward.
"Well ?" asked the young girl "He was in a diabolical humour.