"No," added Albert, "we shall have to buy a chain for you soon."

"If you do," said Mae quietly, "I'll slip it." And not another prayer
did she say that night.



CHAPTER VII.


It was the first day of Carnival. The determination to enjoy herself
was so strong in Mae, that her face fairly shone with her "good time
coming." She popped her head out of the doorway, and flung a big handful
of confetti right at Eric, but he dodged, and Norman Mann caught it in
his face. Then, seeing a try-to-be-dignified look creeping upon Mae, he
seized the golden moment, gathered up such remnants of confetti as were
tangled in his hair and whiskers, and flung them back again, shouting:
"Long live King Pasquino! So his reign has begun, has it?"

"Yes; King Pasquino is lord, now, for ten whole days," and she slowly
edged her right hand about, to take aim again at Norman. He saw her, and
frustrated the attempt by catching it and emptying the contents out
upon the floor. The little white balls rolled off to the corners and the
little hand fell slowly by Mae's side. "Why not go down to the Corso,
you and I, and see the beginning of the fun?" suggested Norman.

"Come along," cried Mae, "you, too, Eric," and the three started off
like veritable children, in a delightful, familiar, old-time way.
Arrived at their loggia, they found an old woman employed in filling,