"She got up early, like a woman who is used to work in the morning. She woke me up by doing so, and I watched her through my half-closed eyelids.
"She came and went without hurrying herself, as if she were astonished at having nothing to do. At last she went to the washstand, and in a moment she emptied all the scent that remained in my bottles. She certainly also used some water, but very little.
"When she was quite dressed she sat down on her box again, and holding one knee between her hands, seemed to be thinking.
"Then I pretended to notice her, and said:
"Without seeming in at all a better temper than the previous night, she murmured, 'Good morning.'
"When I asked her whether she had slept well, she nodded 'Yes,' and jumping out of bed, I went and kissed her.
"She turned her face toward me like a child who is being kissed against its will; but I took her tenderly in my arms (the wine being poured out, I would have been very stupid not to drink any more of it). Gently I put my lips on her large eyes, which she closed with evident distaste under my kisses on her fresh cheeks and full lips, which she turned away.
"'You don't seem to like being kissed, I said to her.'
"I sat down on the trunk by her side, and, passing my arm through hers, I said: '_Mica! mica! mica!_ in reply to everything. I shall call you Mademoiselle _Mica_, I think.'
"For the first time I fancied I saw the shadow of a smile on her lips, but it passed by so quickly that I may have been mistaken.
"'But if you never say anything but '_Mica_' I shall not know what to do to try and please you. Let us see; what shall we do to-day?'
"She hesitated a moment as if some fancy had flitted through her bead, and then she said carelessly: 'It is all the same to me; whatever you like.'
"'Very well. Mademoiselle _Mica_, we will get a carriage and go for a drive.'
"Paul was waiting for us in the dining-room, looking as bored as third parties generally do in love affairs. I assumed a delighted air, and shook hands with him with triumphant energy.
"'What are you thinking of doing?' he asked.
"'First of all we will go and see a little of the town, and then we might take a carriage, for a drive in the neighbourhood.'
"We breakfasted in silence and then started on foot to visit the museums. We went through the Spinola Palace, the Doria Palace, the Marcello Durazzo, the Red and White Palaces. Francesca either looked at nothing or merely just glanced carelessly at all the various masterpieces. Paul followed us, growling all sorts of disagreeable things. Then we all three took a silent drive into the country and returned to dinner.