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Authors: Dörthe Binkert
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he wouldn’t see her any more often than in the laundry, and without any education and silent as a fish, she was unsuited for dealing with the hotel guests.
Nika was still standing there, waiting. And it dawned on Robustelli that she had no idea what this was all about.
“Someone has approached me on your behalf and asked that you be assigned a different job in the hotel,” he said pleasantly, “and I’m trying to figure out what sort of work you would be suited for.”
Nika was at first surprised, then she smiled, and her smile made Robustelli change his mind about he r . . . for it was enchanting, both shy and radiant. It was as if the sun had suddenly come out from behind the clouds, shedding light and creating gentle, colorful shadows where before everything had been gray.
An inspiration came to him: she could work outside! Gaetano, the gardener, could use a helper, and at the same time, he could train her. After all, the old man wouldn’t be able to go on forever. And then the painter could see the girl whenever he wished.
“Well,” he said with satisfaction, “I think we’ve found a solution. Go tell Giuseppina that we need you elsewhere and that she should talk with the head housekeeper about finding a new laundress. No, never mind; I’ll talk to her. Tomorrow, early in the morning, go immediately to see Gaetano, the gardener. I’ll speak to him today, as well as the head housekeeper. You’re in good health and can do garden work, can’t you?”
Again Nika’s face was lit by a brief smile before the radiance once more went into hiding. He couldn’t possibly know how much she loved nature. She observed animals and plants so closely that she could draw them from memory, that is, if she could find a scrap of paper and some time before going to sleep.
Nika looked at Achille Robustelli as if he were a saint sent from heaven or a hero who had just dismounted from his horse and who, after proposing this elegant solution, would be spurred on instantly to put the next plan into action.
“All right, you may go now,” he said, turning his ring again as if he really could occasionally perform magic with it.
“Two things, Andrina. The girl you brought to work in the laundry—I need her for another job. She’ll be helping Gaetano, our gardener. Second—” He saw how she stood there, pursing her full lips, in expectation, and he enjoyed the moment. “Second, I spoke with the head housekeeper. She praised your work. Even though you’re still young and don’t yet have a lot of experience”—he thought a moment—“you apparently handle things skillfully and deal with the guests courteously. Signora Capadrutt thinks you’re ambitious enough to work your way up in the hotel. This takes time, of course; and Signora Capadrutt is a strict supervisor. But you’ll probably be pleased to hear that we’re aware of your contribution, and I intend to promote you if you keep it up. When we reassign rooms next season, you have a good prospect of getting a single. As well as a job with more responsibilities.” He looked up at Andrina, “That is, as I said, if you keep working hard.”
Andrina opened her cherry red lips and said, more softly than was her wont, “Thank you, Signor Robustelli. That’s very kind of you. I won’t disappoint you.”
Games and Game Rules
James Danby was an excellent tennis player. And if he was right about the intrepid lady he had met in the park, a brisk exchange of balls with those in her own social set would intrigue her more than exploring the unique features of the local landscape. Besides, her husband seemed to be quite a bit older and there was the hope that he would be occupied with handling business affairs by phone or telegraph while his wife filled her day playing golf or tennis with the other guests.
He was in luck. She had signed up for a lesson and was flirting with the tennis pro, but she discovered James sooner than he had expected. He felt flattered when
Nika was still standing there, waiting. And it dawned on Robustelli that she had no idea what this was all about.
“Someone has approached me on your behalf and asked that you be assigned a different job in the hotel,” he said pleasantly, “and I’m trying to figure out what sort of work you would be suited for.”
Nika was at first surprised, then she smiled, and her smile made Robustelli change his mind about he r . . . for it was enchanting, both shy and radiant. It was as if the sun had suddenly come out from behind the clouds, shedding light and creating gentle, colorful shadows where before everything had been gray.
An inspiration came to him: she could work outside! Gaetano, the gardener, could use a helper, and at the same time, he could train her. After all, the old man wouldn’t be able to go on forever. And then the painter could see the girl whenever he wished.
“Well,” he said with satisfaction, “I think we’ve found a solution. Go tell Giuseppina that we need you elsewhere and that she should talk with the head housekeeper about finding a new laundress. No, never mind; I’ll talk to her. Tomorrow, early in the morning, go immediately to see Gaetano, the gardener. I’ll speak to him today, as well as the head housekeeper. You’re in good health and can do garden work, can’t you?”
Again Nika’s face was lit by a brief smile before the radiance once more went into hiding. He couldn’t possibly know how much she loved nature. She observed animals and plants so closely that she could draw them from memory, that is, if she could find a scrap of paper and some time before going to sleep.
Nika looked at Achille Robustelli as if he were a saint sent from heaven or a hero who had just dismounted from his horse and who, after proposing this elegant solution, would be spurred on instantly to put the next plan into action.
“All right, you may go now,” he said, turning his ring again as if he really could occasionally perform magic with it.
“Two things, Andrina. The girl you brought to work in the laundry—I need her for another job. She’ll be helping Gaetano, our gardener. Second—” He saw how she stood there, pursing her full lips, in expectation, and he enjoyed the moment. “Second, I spoke with the head housekeeper. She praised your work. Even though you’re still young and don’t yet have a lot of experience”—he thought a moment—“you apparently handle things skillfully and deal with the guests courteously. Signora Capadrutt thinks you’re ambitious enough to work your way up in the hotel. This takes time, of course; and Signora Capadrutt is a strict supervisor. But you’ll probably be pleased to hear that we’re aware of your contribution, and I intend to promote you if you keep it up. When we reassign rooms next season, you have a good prospect of getting a single. As well as a job with more responsibilities.” He looked up at Andrina, “That is, as I said, if you keep working hard.”
Andrina opened her cherry red lips and said, more softly than was her wont, “Thank you, Signor Robustelli. That’s very kind of you. I won’t disappoint you.”
Games and Game Rules
James Danby was an excellent tennis player. And if he was right about the intrepid lady he had met in the park, a brisk exchange of balls with those in her own social set would intrigue her more than exploring the unique features of the local landscape. Besides, her husband seemed to be quite a bit older and there was the hope that he would be occupied with handling business affairs by phone or telegraph while his wife filled her day playing golf or tennis with the other guests.
He was in luck. She had signed up for a lesson and was flirting with the tennis pro, but she discovered James sooner than he had expected. He felt flattered when
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