His powdered head and rather clumsy efforts to retaliate excited shouts of laughter from the adjoining balconies.
The young American, fresh from tennis and college athletics, darted about and dodged with an agility impossible to his heavily built foe; and each effective shot and parry on his side was greeted with little cries of applause and the clapping of hands on the part of those who were watching the contest.
Exactly opposite them was a balcony hung with white silk, in which sat a lady who seemed to be of some distinction; for every now and then an officer in brilliant uniform, or some official covered with orders and stars, would be shown in by her servants, bow before her with the utmost deference, and after a little conversation retire, kissing her gloved hand as he went.
The lady was a beautiful person, with lustrous black eyes and dark hair, over which a lace mantilla was fastened with diamond stars.
She wore pale blue with white flowers, and altogether, as Katy afterward wrote to Clover, reminded her exactly of one of those beautiful princesses whom they used to play about in their childhood and quarrel over, because every one of them wanted to be the Princess and nobody else.
"I wonder who she is," said Mrs. Ashe in a low tone.
"She might be almost anybody from her looks.
She keeps glancing across to us, Katy.
Do you know, I think she has taken a fancy to you."
Perhaps the lady had; for just then she turned her head and said a word to one of her footmen, who immediately placed something in her hand.
It was a little shining bonbonniere, and rising she threw it straight at Katy.
Alas! it struck the edge of the balcony and fell into the street below, where it was picked up by a ragged little peasant girl in a red jacket, who raised a pair of astonished eyes to the heavens, as if sure that the gift must have fallen straight from thence.
Katy bent forward to watch its fate, and went through a little pantomime of regret and despair for the benefit of the opposite lady, who only laughed, and taking another from her servant flung with better aim, so that it fell exactly at Katy's feet.
This was a gilded box in the shape of a mandolin, with sugar-plums tucked cunningly away inside.
Katy kissed both her hands in acknowledgment for the pretty toy, and tossed back a bunch of roses which she happened to be wearing in her dress.
After that it seemed the chief amusement of the fair unknown to throw bonbons at Katy.
Some went straight and some did not; but before the afternoon ended, Katy had quite a lapful of confections and trifles,—roses, sugared almonds, a satin casket, a silvered box in the shape of a horseshoe, a tiny cage with orange blossoms for birds on the perches, a minute gondola with a marron glacee by way of passenger, and, prettiest of all, a little ivory harp strung with enamelled violets instead of wires.
For all these favors she had nothing better to offer, in return, than a few long-tailed bonbons with gay streamers of ribbon.
These the lady opposite caught very cleverly, rarely missing one, and kissing her hand in thanks each time.
"Isn't she exquisite?" demanded Katy, her eyes shining with excitement.
"Did you ever see any one so lovely in your life, Polly dear?
I never did.
There, now! she is buying those birds to set them free, I do believe."
It was indeed so.
A vender of larks had, by the aid of a long staff, thrust a cage full of wretched little prisoners up into the balcony; and "Katy's lady," as Mrs. Ashe called her, was paying for the whole.
As they watched she opened the cage door, and with the sweetest look on her face encouraged the birds to fly away.
The poor little creatures cowered and hesitated, not knowing at first what use to make of their new liberty; but at last one, the boldest of the company, hopped to the door and with a glad, exultant chirp flew straight upward.
Then the others, taking courage from his example, followed, and all were lost to view in the twinkling of an eye.
"Oh, you angel!" cried Katy, leaning over the edge of the balcony and kissing both hands impulsively,
"I never saw any one so sweet as you are in my life.
Polly dear, I think carnivals are the most perfectly bewitching things in the world.
How glad I am that this lasts a week, and that we can come every day.
Won't Amy be delighted with these bonbons!
I do hope my lady will be here tomorrow."
How little she dreamed that she was never to enter that balcony again!
How little can any of us see what lies before us till it comes so near that we cannot help seeing it, or shut our eyes, or turn away!
The next morning, almost as soon as it was light, Mrs. Ashe tapped at Katy's door.
She was in her dressing-gown, and her eyes looked large and frightened.
"Amy is ill," she cried.
"She has been hot and feverish all night, and she says that her head aches dreadfully.
What shall I do, Katy?
We ought to have a doctor at once, and I don't know the name even of any doctor here."
Katy sat up in bed, and for one bewildered moment did not speak.
Her brain felt in a whirl of confusion; but presently it cleared, and she saw what to do.
"I will write a note to Mrs. Sands," she said.
Mrs. Sands was the wife of the American Minister, and one of the few acquaintances they had made since they came to Rome.
"You remember how nice she was the other day, and how we liked her; and she has lived here so long that of course she must know all about the doctors.
Don't you think that is the best thing to do!"
"The very best," said Mrs. Ashe, looking relieved.
"I wonder I did not think of it myself, but I am so confused that I can't think.