III + 

Maddalena was waiting up for her husband; she came into the hall when she heard his latchkey. They stared at each other in silence for a moment, then she put her arms round him and kissed him. + 

“This is a terrible thing⁠—” said Maddalena; “a solemn and a terrible thing.” + 

“Terrible perhaps, but splendid for those who may fight for the country they spring from, mia donna⁠—if Italy comes into the war⁠—” + 

“Then Geppe will go,” she said thinking of Rosa. + 

He laughed bitterly: “Gia, then Geppe will go, and Riccardo who is still just young enough to fight, and Alano who is almost too young, and all the others⁠—but not Gian-Luca; he will not be wanted, he may feel he is Italian, but who was his father? They will say: ‘You have not got a name, Gian-Luca, we are very much afraid that your mother became English, so as you are a bastard, you too became English.’ Dio!” he shouted, stamping like a child. “Dio! I almost hate the English!” + 

She surveyed him very sorrowfully for a moment, then she said: “This country has sheltered you, amore.” And as she said it she felt afraid, realizing the meaning of her words. + 

“No country has ever sheltered me,” he retorted; “what I am I have made myself, Maddalena. I owe nothing to any man on earth but myself.” Then all of a sudden he wanted to cry. “But I wish I were the little Alano⁠—” he muttered. + 

“Italy may not come in,” she consoled. + 

“Oh, yes, she will surely come in,” he told her. “There is something in my blood tonight that tells me that my people will fight⁠—but it will not make any difference to me; I am English in the eyes of the law.” + 

“But what if this England should need you?” she faltered; and all her woman’s weakness urged her to silence, for nothing was steadfast at that moment but her soul. + 

Gian-Luca’s mouth grew arrogant and angry. “If England needs me she can fetch me,” said Gian-Luca. + 