so, because he never did say any thing about his family.

So she told all the guests in the inn that evening that Rico was going
to bring his sister down to Peschiera, because he had found out how well
they all lived there.

In order to show how highly she held the lad in respect, she had a big
basket brought down from the attic, and filled it with sausages and
cheese, and slices of bread, and eggs, saying,--

"You must not get hungry on the way; and what is left over, you can eat
while you are there. It will not be too much; and coming back, you will
need something too. You are certainly coming back, Rico, are you not?"

"Certainly," replied the lad. "In eight days I shall be back again."

In Mrs. Menotti's hands he placed his beloved fiddle, for he would not
have trusted it to any one else; and then he took his leave for eight
days, for he could easily be back again in that time, if every thing
went well.




CHAPTER XVII.

BACK AGAIN OVER THE MOUNTAINS.


Full of impatience, Rico stood at the station long before the appointed