CHAPTER II

MARIA

A neatly-dressed, dumpy little woman in a black dress and shawl sat
beneath it, and behind a row of stone crocks beside her was a young
girl several years older than Lucia, who ladled out cupfuls of the milk
that the crocks contained, and gave them, always accompanied by a shy
little smile, to the soldiers in return for their pennies. She was
Maria Rudini, Lucia's cousin, a pretty, gentle-featured girl with shy,
bewildered eyes.

People often spoke of her quiet loveliness until they saw her younger
cousin. Then their attention was apt to be diverted, for Maria's
delicate charms seemed pale beside Lucia's southern beauty, and in the
same manner her courage grew less. Although she was three years older,
Maria never questioned Lucia's authority to lead.

When Lucia's father had died, the kindly heart of Maria's mother had
prompted her to offer her home to his children, but Lucia had declined
the offer. She said she would undertake the support of old Nana and
Beppi and herself. There was considerable disapproval over her
decision, but as was generally the case, Lucia had her own way. Her
method of wage-earning was a simple one. Her father had owned a herd
of goats and a garden, and the two had provided ample support for the
needs of the family. At his death Lucia, with characteristic
selection, had given up the garden and kept the goats.

Every morning she milked them and carried the bright pails to town,
where her aunt sold them at her little stall along with cheese and