say?â
âSome say this and some say that. But they all say that Grace Mendone is good to be with. So good to be with that a proposal has been made.â
âThank you.â
âItâs what they say.â
âAnd they speak of you,â said Grace. âMay I ask you something? Is there work on the railroad for my grandfather?â
âCan he do it?â
âHe is good company,â said Grace.
âCan I talk with him?â
âHe works three days a week in the market. Do you have time to come and visit us tonight?â
âIâll be here early.â
âWeâll be waiting.â
âIâll be waiting longer,â said Fabrizze.
It was a splendid evening.
Mendone never once stopped talking. His bald head was aglow and his fine white moustache followed the joyous curve of his mouth. Fabrizze listened to the singsong of talk and watched Grace out of the corner of his eye. Her pale dark beauty struck him speechless. Suddenly he was afraid to turn and look at her. He leaned forward in his chair and fixed his glance on Mendone. The old man was delighted and drew his own chair closer.
âItâs years ago I came to America,â said Mendone. âI had a taste for money and power and corn meal. The com meal was for balance. My brother took me aside before I left. âYour appetites change now that you change countries?â he said. âNo, no,â I told him. âIâm changing countries because of my appetites.â âYou aim low,â he said. âWhy not put in strength of character as a thing to strive for?â âVery good,â I said. âFrom this moment I put in strength of character, and take out the corn meal.â It was all a dream, Fabrizze, except for the corn meal.â
âHe is here to see you about work,â said Grace.
âI clean vegetables in the market,â said Mendone. âLettuce and carrots and cabbage. Iâm good for nothing else.â
âShame on you,â said Grace.
Fabrizze blushed in delight.
âItâs a strange thing,â said Mendone. âIn Italy I was as sure of my talents as of the fact there were no opportunities. I came here. Now Iâm as sure of the opportunities as of the fact I have no talents. I sit in the sun with a cabbage in my hands. What do you make of it?â
âItâs nonsense,â said Grace. âYou were too old when you came.â
âI lived alone for a time,â said Mendone. âI managed to put a little money on this house. And then I sent for the girl. Her mother is dead, and my son married again.â
âI believe thereâs a job for you,â said Fabrizze.
âSuch an old man?â
âOne of the men was over seventy,â said Fabrizze. âHis name is Bassetti and he just left off a few weeks ago. I can put you on as my assistant for a while.â
âYou mean until they find out,â said Mendone. âReally though, itâs kind of you. Let me tell you how happy I am that you are here. And the girl is happier still. Why? Because you came to see me about the work.â
âBut he did,â said Grace.
âWhich of us is the fool here?â said Mendone. âLet it rest then. Stay a little, my boy. Mancini is coming downstairs for a game of cards. Pass the evening with us.â
âIâll be here until you send me away,â said Fabrizze.
He made three visits a week during the next month. Mancini was always there. The carpenter had black eyes and a mop of black hair splashed with gray. He was suspicious the first time he saw Fabrizze. He drank more wine than anyone and he played every card like a trump.
âA man called Gritti works with me,â said Fabrizze. âIs it true you came from Sicily with him?â
âHe came with me!â said Mancini, playing a trump. âGritti canât put a nail in the wall! I wouldnât trust him with a
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