be worried."

She took his hand and together they drove the goats before them to the
cottage.

[Illustration: "Together they drove the goats before them."]

Nana Rudini was waiting for them at the door. She was a little,
wrinkled-up, old woman with bright blue eyes and thin gray hair. She
spoke very seldom and always in a high querulous voice.

"So you're back at last, are you?" she greeted, when the children were
within hearing. "Supper's been on the stove for too long. What kept
you?"

"Very busy day, Nana," Lucia spoke in much the same tone she had used
towards Beppi. "I had to help Aunt and Maria at market. More troops
have arrived and the streets are crowded."

"Oh, sister, you never told me that!" Beppi said accusingly. "Where
are they from?"

"The south mostly," Lucia replied, "fine soldiers they are too, if you
can judge by their looks."

"Which you can't," old Nana interrupted shortly. "Stop your talking
and come in to supper."

"Right away," Lucia promised, and hurried off to shut up her goats in
the small, half-tumbled-down shack at the back of the cottage.