the next day, Mrs. Ginniss received a sudden summons to the bedside
of Ann Dolan, the friend whose advice had led to Teddy's being
placed in his present situation.

The messenger had reported that Ann was "very bad wid her heart, an'
the life was knocked out intirely, sure:" and Mrs. Ginniss felt
herself bound to hasten to the help of her friend, should she still
be alive; or to see that she was "waked dacent" if dead. Just as she
was wondering if it was best to take Cherry with her, or to leave
her locked up alone until her return, Giovanni appeared at the door,
his face disposed in its most winning smile, and his manner as
respectful as if he had been addressing the march‚sa who had been
his own and his daughter's patron.

"Will my good neighbor allow that the little girl go for a walk with
me this fine morning?" asked he. "I would like to show her the
flowers and the swans in the gardens of the city."

"An' will you take the monkey an' the grind-orgin the day?" asked
Mrs. Ginniss doubtfully.

"Indeed, no! I go to a walk to enjoy the fine time, and to see the
flowers and the swans," explained Giovanni in his best English, and
with a proportion of bows and smiles; while Cherry stood by, her
little face full of surprise and mystery, not unmingled with a
little shame as she felt that her good mammy was being deceived and
misled by the wily Italian.

"Faith, thin, Mr. Jovarny, it's very perlite ye are iver an' always;
but I don't jist feel aisy wid the child out uv my sight. Mabbe