his shoulder.

Vaguely, tacitly, Peter supposed that they would be the
children of some of the peasants of the countryside, on their
way home from the village.

As they arrived abreast of him, they paid him the usual
peasants' salute. The boy lifted a tattered felt hat from his
head, the girl bobbed a courtesy, and "Buona sera, Eccellenza,"
they said in concert, without, however, pausing in their march.

Peter put his hand in his pocket.

"Here, little girl," he called.

The little girl glanced at him, doubting.

"Come here," he said.

Her face a question, she came up to him; and he gave her a few
coppers.

"To buy sweetmeats," he said.

"A thousand thanks; Excellency," said she, bobbing another
courtesy.

"A thousand thanks, Excellency," said the boy, from his
distance, again lifting his rag of a hat.