The boy said nothing.
"I know now," continued Maurice, "that I shall never come to any harm
with you to look after me."
Still Gaspare said nothing. He sat there on the floor of the boat with
his dripping clothes clinging to his body, staring before him as if he
were too deeply immersed in gloomy thoughts to hear what was being said
to him.
"Gaspare!" Maurice exclaimed, moved by a sudden impulse. "Do you think
you would be very unhappy away from your 'paese'?"
Gaspare shifted forward suddenly. A light gleamed in his eyes.
"D'you think you could be happy with me in England?"
He smiled.
"Si, signore!"
"When we have to go away from Sicily I shall ask the signora to let me
take you with us."
Gaspare said nothing, but he looked at Salvatore, and his wet face was
like a song of pride and triumph.