midday
Bastianello sat down again and continued to smoke his pipe . There was a happy look in his bright blue eyes which had not been there before . Bastianello sat still in his boat , but he no longer looked to seaward , facing the breeze . He kept an eye on the pier , looking out for his brother , who had not appeared since the midday meal . The piece of information he had just received was worth communicating , for it raised Teresina very much in the eyes of Bastianello , and he did not doubt that it would influence Ruggiero in the right direction . Bastianello , too , was keen enough to see that anything which gave him an opportunity of discussing the girl with his brother might be of advantage , in that it might bring Ruggiero to the open expression of a settled purpose -- either to marry the girl or not . And if he once gave his word that he would not , Bastianello would be no longer bound to suffer in silence as he had suffered so many weeks .