CHAPTER XV

EXCITING NEWS

"Lucia, Lucia, such exciting news, come here at once!" Maria ran up
the stairs excitedly.

Lucia, who was busy helping Sister Francesca put away the clean sheets,
dropped what she was doing and ran down the corridor.

"What is it!" she demanded. "Have the Austrians surrendered?"

"No," Maria stopped, breathless from her haste, "that is, not yet,
though Roderigo says--"

"Oh, oh, oh!" Lucia protested. "Don't start on what Roderigo says, or
we will never learn the news."

Maria pouted. "For that I have a good mind not to tell you," she
threatened.

"Then I shall go downstairs myself and find out," Lucia replied, not
one whit disturbed.

"Then I may as well tell you," Maria laughed, "for the ward hums with
it. The King is coming--think of it--he is coming to Cellino
to-morrow, and he is to go through the hospital and see all the
wounded. Only fancy, our King!"