"We can see him again, darling, so stand very still," she said. "He is
coming to see the soldiers."

They watched the gate eagerly, and before long the gray car came
through it very slowly. A crowd of people surrounded it, cheering and
throwing flowers. The King smiled and bowed to them all. Lucia's eyes
never left his face. Suddenly she saw him lean forward excitedly as
the big car stopped. Beppi tugged at her skirts.

"Look at Garibaldi, she is blocking the way."

Lucia looked, and to her horror she saw her pet standing in the middle
of the road, her four hoofs planted firmly in the mud, and her head
lowered.

"Oh, the wretch," Lucia exclaimed, darting forward. "Come here at
once!" she called.

Garibaldi looked around and obediently trotted off. The car started,
and the King waved especially to Lucia as he passed, but even so great
an honor could not compensate her. She was mortified to tears that her
goat should have been guilty of _lese majeste_.

No entreaties on Beppi's part could make her stay to wait for the
King's return. She left him with a soldier, and went around the corner
of the convent, followed by the disgraced Garibaldi.

She sat down on a bench and sighed.

"Of course you're only a goat," she said scornfully, "but I did think