In reply to this, Rico had no answer. He remained silent for some
time; then he said, "Repeat the Lord's Prayer again, Stineli: I will
learn it."

His companion gladly complied, and it was soon learned. Then they
separated, and each went home; but Rico's thoughts were busy with the
"kingdom and the power."

Once more in his quiet room, he prayed humbly, and with a softened
heart; for he felt that he had been in the wrong to believe that the
good God ought to give him what he wished for, when he did not even
remember to pray to Him.

Stineli returned to the garden very full of anxious thought. She turned
over and over in her mind whether she ought to tell all this to Mrs.
Menotti. Perhaps she might be able to find some other employment for
Rico than this fiddling in the public-houses for dancing, that was so
detestable to the lad. But the thought of troubling Mrs. Menotti with
her affairs passed quickly from her mind as she entered the room again.

Silvio lay upon his pillows with flushed cheeks, breathing heavily and
irregularly; and by the bedside sat his mother, and wept.

The little invalid had had another of his severe attacks, and a little
anger at Stineli's absence had increased the fever. His mother was so
cast down, that she did not seem to Stineli the same person at all. When
she, at last, recovered her spirits a little, she said,--

"Come here, Stineli. Sit down here by my side: I want to tell you
something.