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Main > Fairy tale > All authors > Frank Baum > Fairy tale "Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad"

Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad

" gasped Patsy.

"I don't understand it in the least," continued Louise, looking at her

cousins as if she were really bewildered. "I left him in the courtyard

last evening to finish his cigar, and he said he would meet us in the

garden after breakfast. I am sure he had no intention of going away. And

for the honor of American travellers his account here must be taken care

of."

"One thing is singular," observed Beth, calmly. "There has been no train

since last you saw him. If Count Ferralti has left the hotel, where

could he be?"

The portiere brightened.

"_Gia s'intende!_" he exclaimed, "he must still be in

Taormina--doubtless at some other hotel."

"Will you send and find out?" asked Louise.

"I will go myself, and at once," he answered. "And thank you,

signorina, for the kind assurance regarding the account. It will relieve

the padrone very much."

He hurried away again, and an uneasy silence fell upon the nieces.

"Do you care for this young man. Louise?" asked Beth, pointedly, after

the pause had become awkward.

"He is very attentive and gentlemanly, and I feel you have all wronged

him by your unjust suspicions," she replied, with spirit.

"That does not answer my question, dear," persisted her cousin. "Are you

especially fond of him?"

"What right have you to question me in this way, Beth?"

"No right at all, dear. I am only trying to figure out our doubtful

position in regard to this young man--a stranger to all of us but you."

"It is really none of our business," observed Patsy, quickly. "We're

just a lot of gossips to be figuring on Count Ferralti at all. And

although this sudden disappearance looks queer, on the face of it, the

gentleman may simply have changed his boarding place."

"I do not think so," said Louise. "He liked this hotel very much."

"And he may have liked some of its guests," added Patsy, smiling. "Well,

Uncle John will soon be back, and then we will talk it over with him."

Uncle John was late. The portiere returned first. He had been to every

hotel in the little town, but none of them had received a guest since

the afternoon train of yesterday.

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