Annunziata, seeking him to announce that supper was ready, found John,
seated in his chamber of dead ladies, his arms folded, his legs crossed,
his eyes fixed, a frown upon his prone brow; his spirit apparently rapt
in a brown study.
"Eh! Prospero!" she called.
Whereat he came to himself glanced up, glanced round, changed his
posture, and finally, rising, blew his preoccupations from him in a
deep, deep sigh.
"Oh, what a sigh!" marvelled Annunziata, making big eyes. "What are you
sighing so hard for?"
John looked at her, and smiled.
"Sighing for my miller's daughter, my dear," he said.