Military life in Italy : sketches - Societa italiana di storia militare

CARMELA. 175
that moment Carmela raised her eyes to the wall, caught
sight of a high hat hanging from a nail, burst out into a laugh,
took it, put it on her head, and screaming and shouting, she
began jumping about the room.
" " Carmela ! cried the officer, sorrowfully. But she did not
heed him.
" " Carmela ! he shouted again, dashing toward her. She,
frightened, sprang down the staircase, and a moment later
was
in the middle of the square, still
jumping, shouting, and shrieking
with laughter.
The officer went to the window.
" Carmela !
" he shouted
once more in an exhausted voice, then covered his face with
his hands and dropped down into a chair.
VIII.
The following morning, as soon as he was up, he went to the
doctor's house. The latter, on catching a glimpse of the red
eyes and distorted face, saw that he had come for comfort and
counsel, and making him sit down in front of him, began a
regular lecture. But the officer did not listen to him, and
seemed preoccupied with other thoughts. Suddenly he grew
brighter, and clapping his hand to his head, exclaimed " : Ah !
I never thought of that before " " " Of what ! ? .asked the
doctor. The other made no reply ;
took a sheet of paper, a
pen, and began writing furiously. When he had finished he
read the following letter :
LIEUTENANT :
Without any preamble, as is the habit among us military men. I will
say that I have been, for a month and a half, in command of the detachment
of ... which you commanded three years ago during the months of July,