Island of Mermaids by Iris Danbury Read Free Book Online

listening. ’ He dabbed cement on a portion of the wall and placed the stone on top, bending down to squint at its position before ramming it home.
    Althea felt irritated by his brusque, off-hand attitude towards Carla. If he didn ’ t want to encourage her youthful infatuation, he must surely know that his very casualness would only make her the more eager to overcome his opposition.
    ‘ It is the singing lessons, ’ Carla announced, undeterred by his coolness.
    ‘ What about them? Your mamma won ’ t let you g« to Naples. ’
    ‘ But now she will! ’ cried Carla happily. ‘ She has agreed. ’
    Kent swung round, trowel in hand. ‘ A sudden change of tactics. Your doing, Althea? ’
    ‘ No, indeed. I can ’ t claim any credit at all, ’ she replied quickly.
    Carla waved a hand in Althea ’ s direction. ‘P erhaps it is because Althea is here that Mamma has agreed. She can be my chaperone, you see. ’
    ‘ Chaperone? ’ This was the first Althea had heard of the idea.
    ‘ I see, ’ said Kent. ‘ As you ’ ve come here today, chaperoning each other. ’ As he spoke he cast a challenging glance at Althea.
    ‘ I doubt if I could go with you every week for your lesson, ’ Althea said to Carla.
    ‘ That is nothing. First we must have the teacher. Kent, you are a composer. You know all the musicians in Naples. ’
    Kent laughed. ‘ I know one or two, that ’ s all. I don ’ t even live in the place. How could I know many? ’
    ‘ But you can find out. Your friends will recommend? ’ Carla persisted.
    He nodded. ‘ If you think it ’ s for your own good, yes. ’
    ‘ But of course it is good for me, ’ retorted Carla. ‘ How shall I ever sing in opera if I am not properly trained? ’
    Kent smiled. ‘ All right. We ’ d better go and sit somewhere more comfortable and talk this matter over. ’
    The two girls followed him to the seaward side of the villa, where he called to Assunta to bring a pot of coffee.
    ‘ Now you understand, Carla, ’ he began, ‘ anyone I suggest may possibly turn you down, refuse to teach you, if he thinks your voice is not good enough. ’
    ‘ Oh, that will not happen to me, ’ returned Carla with superb confidence.
    ‘ But you must prepare yourself for such difficulties, ’ he pointed out.
    ‘ When shall we go to Naples? ’ the girl asked.
    Kent sighed and Althea smiled a little . Plainly Carla was the type of girl whose eyes, fixed on a distant goal, saw nothing of the stumbling blocks cluttered around her feet.
    ‘ Well, give me a few days. I have to go over to Naples and search around. ’
    ‘ You could telephone. ’
    ‘ Carla, please! How could such an important matter be arranged by telephone? Think of your mamma if she finds you are to visit a professor living in one room in a back street !’
    ‘ Be patient a little longer. ’ Althea spoke gently. ‘ You ’ ve had to wait so long for this ambition. Don ’ t spoil it by being too hasty now. Let Kent arrange what he thinks is best for you. ’
    Carla shrugged. ‘ Then it is settled. Oh, you will be proud of me one day when I am Madama Carlotta Marchetti at La Scala! ’
    ‘ Of course I shall, ’ agreed Kent. ‘ I shall boast that I knew La Marchetti when she was an unruly, spoilt girl, only fit for singing in a cabaret or garden-restaurant. ’
    ‘ You are very unkind, Kent. You make fun of me. ’
    ‘ Certainly not. I tell you only the truth—or as much as is good for you, ’ he protested.
    The coffee was finished and he rose. ‘ And now be off with you and let me get on with my building work. ’
    For some reason Althea was inwardly perturbed. When Carla happened to be a few yards away, as Kent accompanied the two girls towards the path that led back to the Villa Stefano, Althea whispered, ‘ You ’ re not leading her up the garden, are you? Pretending that she has a wonderful career in front of her? ’
    ‘ What makes you think so? ’ he answered in a low tone that resembled a grow