TWO PROSTITUTES
451
middle, took up most of one wall. There were globe-shaped lamps
on low tables. Everything was spotlessly clean, and in spite of the
bright colors of the bedcover the atmosphere of the room was some–
what dull and sad, like that of an up-to-date, modest hotel. Rina
carefully took off her hat and put it in the wardrobe. Then she went
into a corner and pulled her dress off over her head, leaving her–
self clad in a perforated black slip. She had hardly any breasts,
Giacomo thought to himself, but her body was pleasing enough, with
the wide hips and plump legs. Not knowing quite what to do and
finding her within his reach he put his arms around her waist and
pulled her to him. She allowed him to kiss her but displayed no
feeling.
"I'll fix the bed," she said, "and you can undress in the bath–
room over there if you like...."
She bent over the bed to pull off the bedcover and lifted up her
silk-stockinged leg, showing again how the garter was too tight
above the knee. Then she turned down the sheet, which was clean
and still creased from ironing. Plainly her statement about the
sanctity of the home had some real meaning. Giacomo wondered
whether he should get undressed, but he was ashamed to lie down
naked and alone in the big double bed. She was sitting on the edge
of the bed now, with her back to him, pulling off her stockings. The
younger sister had disappeared and through the half-open door he
could hear her stirring about in the bathroom. Giacomo observed that
it was very hot and asked Rina if she could open the window.
"After we've put out the light," she answered. "Otherwise
someone might look in and see."
Just then Lori came out of the bathroom and went over to
stand in front of the mirror in the wardrobe. Giacomo saw her
look at herself with curiously concentrated attention, then, as if her
mind were on something else, slowly unbutton her blouse from top
to bottom. When it was unbuttoned she hesitated for a moment, then
equally slowly took it off, revealing herself naked underneath. She
had rather large breasts, which seemed to be dragged down by their
weight, but the tips of them were pointed upward and from the
stiff way they shook with every movement it was clear that their
shape was a natural one and not the effect of age or weariness. She
walked by Giacomo, hung her blouse over the back of a chair and
