quickly to one of the chapels and dropped four shining copper pennies
into the mite box that stood on a little shelf beside the altar. She
stayed only long enough to say a hasty little prayer, and then hurried
out again into the sunshine. The clouds of the night before and the
mist of the early morning had disappeared, and the market-place was
bathed in warm golden sunshine.

Lucia picked up her pails and hurried to her aunt's stall.

"Well, you are late," Maria said. "We thought you had stubbed your toe
and spilled all the milk."

"And only two half-full pails again," Señora Rudini grumbled. "But no
matter, we can get more from old Paolo. Have you heard the news?" she
asked abruptly.

"No," Lucia replied indifferently. "What is it?"

"A big gain by the enemy. They have taken thousands of our men, and
they say we may be ordered to leave Cellino at any minute."

"Think of it! They are as near as that!" Maria said excitedly. "Oh if
we must move, where can we go to? I am so frightened."

"Nonsense," Lucia spoke shortly. There was an angry gleam in her big
eyes and her cheeks flushed a dark red.

"Leave Cellino, indeed! The very idea! Since when must Italians make
way for Austrians, I'd like to know?"