ve　affair；　as　though　he　took　for　granted　that　they　had　heard　of　it　already。

“The　lady　lived　across　the　valley　there　beyond　that　hill。　I　was　a　young　man　then；　for　it　was　many　years　ago。　I　used　to　ride　over　to　see　her；　it　was　a　long　way；　but　I　rode　fast；　for　young　men；　as　no　doubt　the　Signora　knows；　are　impatient。　But　the　lady　was　not　kind；　she　would　keep　me　waiting　；　oh；　for　hours；　and　one　day　when　I　had　waited　very　long　I　grew　very　angry；　and　as　I　walked　up　and　down　in　the　garden　where　she　had　told　me　she　would　see　me；　I　broke　one　of　her　roses；　broke　a　branch　from　it；　and　when　I　saw　what　I　had　done；　I　hid　it　inside　my　coat　so；　and　when　I　came　home　I　planted　it；　and　the　Signora　sees　how　it　has　grown。　If　the　Signora　admires　it；　I　must　give　her　a　cutting　to　plant　also　in　her　garden；　I　am　told　the　English　have　beautiful　gardens　that　are　green；　and　not　burnt　with　the　sun　like　ours。”

The　next　day；　when　their　mended　carriage　had　e　up　to　fetch　them；　and　they　were　just　starting　to　drive　away　from　the　inn；　the　Conte’s　old　servant　appeared　with　the　rose…cutting　neatly5　wrapped　up；　and　the　pliments　and　wishes　for　a　buon　viaggio　from　her　master。　The　town　collected　to　see　them　depart；　and　the　children　ran　after　their　carriage　through　the　gate　of　the　little　city。　They　heard　a　rush　of　feet　behind　them　for　a　few　moments；　but　soon　they　were　far　down　toward　the　valley；　the　little　town　with　all　its　noise　and　life　was　high　above　them　on　its　mountain　peak。

She　had　planted　the