was such a long journey up into the mountains, moreover, and it was
impossible to realize what horrible people they were who lived up there.
But it proved how very bad they must be when a tender little fellow like
Rico preferred to incur the great danger of the journey than to remain
among such rude folk. "If it were practicable," however, added Mrs.
Menotti, "no money would seem to me wasted that would procure me such a
girl to quiet Silvio's longing, and to have some one to help take care
of him;" for sometimes she had almost too much to endure, and felt as if
she must give up altogether. And Rico, who was usually very discreet in
his conversation, was of the opinion that nobody could help her so much
nor so well in every way as this same Stineli. He ought to know her very
well, too; and certainly, if she really corresponded to his description,
it would be a great escape for such a girl to get away from the
mountains; but she did not know of anybody who would do them such a
favor as to bring her.

To all this discourse the kind priest lent an attentive ear in profound
silence, until Mrs. Menotti had quite finished. Indeed, he could not
have got a word in edgewise if he had been inclined; for the good woman
had not opened her heart for a long time, and it was so full that it
almost choked her when she gave her words full expression, and she quite
lost her breath.

Now quiet reigned for a while, then the good man began very calmly to
smoke his second pipe; and presently he said, "H--m, h--m, Mrs. Menotti;
I rather think you have an impression of the mountaineers that is
decidedly exaggerated. There are good Christians there as elsewhere; and
now that there are so many ways of doing things discovered, it would be
also quite possible to get up there without danger. We must bethink
ourselves about that, and find out about it."