XVI。
Westovermettheladiescomingoutofthedining—roomashewentinratherlatetobreakfast；hehadbeenmakingastudyofLion’sHeadinthemorninglightafterthecloudliftedfromit。HewasalwaysdoingLion’sHeads，itseemedtohim；buthelovedthemountain，andhewasalwaysfindingsomethingnewinit。
Hewasnowseeingitinwardlywithsoexclusiveavisionthathehadnoeyesfortheseextremelyprettywomentilltheywereoutofsight。Thenherememberednoticingthem，andstartedwithasenseofrecognition，whichheverifiedbythehotelregisterwhenhehadfinishedhismeal。
Itwas，infact，Mrs。JamesW。Vostrand，anditwasMissVostrand，whomWestoverhadknowtenyearsbeforeinItaly。Mrs。Vostrandhadthenlatelycomeabroadfortheeducationofherchildren，andwaspausingindoubtatFlorencewhethersheshouldeducatetheminGermanyorSwitzerland。Herhusbandhadapparentlyabandonedthisquestiontoher，andhedidnotcontributehispresencetohermoralsupportduringherstrugglewithaproblemwhichWestoverrememberedashavingatendencytosolutioninthedirectionofapermanentstayinFlorence。
InthosedayshelikedMrs。Vostrandverymuch，andattwentyheconsideredheratthirtydistinctlymiddle—aged。Foronewintershehadafriendlylittlesalon，whichwasthemostattractiveplaceinFlorencetohim，thenacubpaintersufficientlyunlicked。Hewasawareofherchildrenbeingagooddealinthesalon：agirlofeight，whowaslikehermother，andquiteasavagelittleboyoffive，whomayhavebeenlikehisfather。Ifhewas，andtheabsentMr。Vostrandhadthesamehabitofsulkingandkickingatpeople’sshins，WestovercouldpartlyunderstandwhyMrs。VostrandhadcometoEuropefortheeducationofherchildren。