over that thought all these three years that are past? And when things
were almost unsupportable, and I longed to get away, have not I always
said to myself, 'If I could only be with Rico again, I would bear any
thing?' And now it has come about as we wished, and, indeed, far better
than I had imagined; and will you not be happy with me, Rico?"

"Yes; that I will," said the lad; and his countenance cleared a little.

He did belong to somebody, after all; and Stineli's words had restored
his tranquility. They shook hands again; and Rico went through the
garden-gate, and away.

When Stineli returned to the room, and, by Mrs. Menotti's directions,
was about to say good-night to Silvio, the child began to dispute
again, and declared that he would not be separated from his newly-found
friend even for a few hours; but would have her sit by his bedside all
night long, and say funny words to him, and look at him with her
laughing eyes.

Nothing that his mother could say produced any impression upon him,
until she spoke thus: "Very well; if you keep Stineli standing by your
bed to amuse you all night, she will soon be as ill as you are, and not
be able to get up at all, but have to lie in bed, and you will not see
her for a long time."

So, after a while, the child released his hold of Stineli's arm,
and said,--

"There, go to sleep; but come to me again to-morrow early."