"They are too proud to own that their house will be a hedge,"
she said to Peter, again in English. "Aren't you hungry?" she
asked the children.

"No, Excellency. We had bread in the village, below there,"
answered the boy.

"You will not come home with me, and have a good dinner, and a
good night's sleep?"

"Pardon, Excellency. With your favour, the father would not
wish us to turn back."

The Duchessa looked at the little girl.

The little girl wore a medal of the Immaculate Conception on a
ribbon round her neck--a forlorn blue ribbon, soiled and
frayed.

"Oh, you have a holy medal," said the Duchessa.

"Yes, noble lady," said the girl, dropping a courtesy, and
lifting up her sad little weazened face.

"She has been saying her prayers all along the road," the boy
volunteered.

"That is right," approved the Duchessa. "You have not made
your First Communion yet, have you?"