frankly.

The Captain laughed delightedly.

"But I'm not, Lucia," he said seriously. "I'm telling you the truth.
Down in the south I have a big house set in the very heart of a
beautiful garden, and I live there all by myself."

"Oh!" Lucia's big eyes were full of genuine sympathy.

"A long time ago, I used to have a little sister like you, but she
died, and since then I have been ever and ever so lonely. How would
you like to come and be my sister? I'd take awfully good care of you,
and Garibaldi."

For an instant Lucia's eyes danced with happiness, but it was only for
an instant, then her face fell.

"Oh, I would like that Captain, so very much," she said, "but I could
not leave Beppino and Nana."

Captain Riccardi looked at her in silence for a moment, then he said
slowly, "Of course, you couldn't. I forgot them for the moment. But
of course I meant to include them in the invitation. I am very fond of
Beppino already. We had quite a chat that day in the cave."

"Oh, but you don't mean it!" Lucia jumped up excitedly. "To live with
you and Nana and Beppi and Garibaldi in a garden,--oh! but of course,
it is not so, and I shall presently wake up."