"Only because I am compelled to, Captain, do I give this boy into your
care. He is good and innocent. Bear in mind that from now on you are
accountable to God for his soul."

The Captain muttered something which could not be understood and tried
to make an end to the scene. He took the boy by the arm, made a stiff
bow, and stepped to the door. Here, on hearing the news that Willy was
about to leave the school, most of his companions had assembled to bid
him good-bye. Many shed tears, and Peppo, at the last moment, came
flying in breathless. "Oh, Willy, Willy," he cried embracing him,
"never, never shall I forget how good you were to me. Who will protect
me now when they all tease me?"

"Oh, but you are all here together and like each other so much,"
answered Willy. "Who is going to protect me from this bad man?" The
last words he whispered in the ear of his little friend.

"Your holy guardian angel," he answered, "and we will all pray for you."

"Come on, nephew, I don't want to stay here any longer," urged the
Captain, and a moment later the two had left the College of the Holy
Saviour and were out in the street.

Immediately after their departure Father Somazzo called his pupils into
the chapel and there they commended their small companion to the
Blessed Virgin and the holy guardian angels. Of all there assembled
small Peppo prayed most earnestly.

"O holy guardian angel, thou who art my protector," he said in his
childish simplicity, "Willy will now have need of two guardian angels