k again in a long line in the rain. The motor cars were gone from the square by the war monument. Across the square in the doorway of the cafe a waiter stood looking out at the empty square.American wife stood at the window looking out. Outside right under their window a cat was crouched under one of the dripping green tables. The cat was trying to make herself so compact that she would not be dripped on. p align="justify"> "I'm going down and get that kitty," the American wife said.
"I'll do it," her husband offered from the bed.
"No, I'll get it. The poor kitty out trying to keep dry under a table. "Husband went on reading, lying propped up with the two pillows at the foot of the bed. p align="justify"> "Don't get wet," he said.wife went downstairs and the hotel owner stood up and bowed to her as she passed the office. His desk was at the far end of the office. He was an old man and very tall. p align="justify"> "II piove," * the wife said. She liked the hotel-keeper. p align="justify"> "Si, si, Signora, brutto tempo/'" It's very bad weather. "stood behind his desk in the far end of the dim room. The wife liked him. She liked the deadly serious way he received any complaints. She liked his dignity. She liked the way he wanted to serve her. She liked the way he felt about being a hotel-keeper. She liked his old, heavy face and big hands.him she opened the door and looked out. It was raining harder. A man in a rubber cape was crossing the empty square to the cafe. The cat would be around to the right. Perhaps she could go along under the eaves. As she stood in the doorway an umbrella opened behind her. It was the maid who looked after their room. p align="justify"> "You must not get wet," she smiled, speaking Italian. Of course, the hotel-keeper had sent her. With the maid holding the umbrella over her, she walked along the gravel path until she was under their window. The table was there, washed bright green in the rain, but the cat was gone. She was suddenly disappointed. The maid looked up at her. p align="justify"> "Ha perduto qualque cosa, Signora?" *
"There was a cat," said the American girl.
"A cat?"
"Si, ilgatto." *
"A cat?" the maid laughed. "A cat in the rain?" p align="justify"> "Yes," she said, "under the table." Then, "Oh, 1 wanted it so much. I wanted a kitty. "She talked English the maid's face lightened. p align="justify"> "Come, Signora," she said. "We must get back inside. You will be wet. "p align="justify">'' I suppose so, "said the American girl.went back along the gravel path and passed in the door. The maid stayed outside to close the umbrella. As the American girl passed the office, the padrone bowed from his desk. Something felt very small and tight inside the girl. The padrone made her feel very small and ...
