XIII. IL MAESTRO DI CALLIGRAFIA.
[1]andare in pensione, to retire, be pensioned off.
[2]in barba al, before the very face of, in spite of.[Page 109]
[3]un pan di zucchero, a lump of sugar, here soft-hearted, an easy mark.
[4]gliene... maniera, every sort of prank had been played upon him.
[5]in fin dei conti, after all.
[6]o; compare XI., note 1.
[7]Scusi, sa, Excuse us, will you.
[8]Loro, You, with change to less formal voi.—altri adds emphasis as in I. 29, p. 12.
[9]gli desse del, should call him a.
[10]tirasse... contro, should be so spiteful toward.
[11]C'è da far le maraviglie, Is it to be wondered at?
[12]gli metteva... addosso, gave him the cold shivers.
[13]le nostre, that is, our woes, troubles.
[14]collocamento a riposo, retirement.
[15]fossero, would they were.
[16]preso l'aire, struck the key, got started.
[17]dai, with.
[18]Ci mancherebbe... fosse, Matters would be worse if she were.
[19]metterlo sulla strada, get him started.
[20]Nemmen per idea; compare V., note 3.
[21]Siamo intessi, It is agreed.
[22]posto il caso, in the event.
[23]non potè... sorridere, could not help smiling.