The Italian Twins, by Lucy Fitch Perkins. 

________________________________________________________________________This is a truly delightful little book, despite the sad predicament inwhich the Twins find themselves. Beppo and Beppina are twelve years oldand are the older children of the aristocratic Marchese Grifoni. Theyare taken by their family nurse to visit the cathedral in the centre ofthe city of Florence, for it is Easter Saturday. Unfortunately theylose contact with Teresina the nurse, and set off to find their own wayback home. But somehow they lose their way, and are wondering whatdirection to take when they come across a man and woman with aperforming monkey and bear. The woman offers to take the children home, and they all jump up into the van, drawn by a donkey. But when it getsdark the children realise they have been kidnapped. 

They travel on through the villages, and the children give performancesof dances the woman has taught them, and sing beautifully the songs theyhave learnt previously. In this way they earn their keep. The woman isdetermined to get back to the island-city of Venice, which is where herfamily are. After many months Beppo works out how to escape by stealinga boat, and the children make their way due west to Padua. By chancetheir own nurse Teresina and their mother the Marchesa are in Padua topray to Saint Antony for his help in restoring the lost Twins to theirfamily. Great are the rejoicings when Teresina finds the children. ________________________________________________________________________THE ITALIAN TWINS, BY LUCY FITCH PERKINS. 

CHAPTER ONE. 

MORNING IN THE GRIFONI PALACE. 

Near the banks of the river Arno, in an upper room of the beautiful oldpalace of the Grifoni family, Beppina, the twelve-year-old daughter ofthe Marchese, lay peacefully sleeping. In his own room across the hallfrom hers, Beppo, her twin brother, slept also, though it was alreadyearly dawn of Easter Saturday in the city of Florence, and both childrenhad meant to be up before the sun, that no hour of the precious holidayshould be lost in sleep. 

It was the jingle of donkey bells and the sound of laughing voices inthe street below her windows that at last roused Beppina. Though it wasnot yet light, the peasants were already pouring into the city fromoutlying villages and farms, bringing their families in donkey-carts orwagons drawn by sleek oxen, to enjoy the wonderful events which were totake place in the city on that holy day. 

Beppina opened her great dark eyes and sat up in bed to listen. "I'mawake before Beppo, " she whispered joyfully to herself. "I told him Ishould be first. I wonder what time it is!"

As if in answer to her question a distant clock struck five. "Fiveo'clock!" murmured Beppina, and, struggling to her knees in her greatcarved bed, she dipped a dainty finger in the vase of holy water whichhung on the wall near by, and crossed herself devoutly. Then, foldingher hands, she murmured an Ave Maria before the image of the Virginwhich stood on the little table beside her bed. This duty done, sheslid to the floor, thrust her little white feet into a pair of blue feltslippers, and her arms into the sleeves of a gay wrapper, then ranacross the room to the eastern windows. 

As she pushed open the shutters, a gleam of sunshine flashed across theroom, lighting the dim frescoes on the high ceiling, and paling thelight of the little lamp which burned before the image of the Madonna. A wandering breeze, fresh from the distant hills, blew in, making theflame dance and flicker and flaunting a corner of the white counterpanegayly in the air. 

Beppina leaned her arms on the wide stone window-sill, and looked outover Florence. The sun had just risen above the blue crest of theApennines, its level rays tipping the Campanile and the great dome ofthe Cathedral with light, and turning eastern window-panes into flamingbeacons. The glowing colour of the sky was reflected in the waters ofthe Arno, which flowed beneath its many bridges like a stream of moltengold. Pigeons wheeled and circled above the roofs, and the air wasfilled with gentle croonings and the whir of wings. 

For a moment Beppina stood drinking in the freshness of the lovelyspring morning, then, stepping softly to the door of her room, sheopened it cautiously and peered into the dark corridor. She listened;there was not a sound in the house except the gurgle of a distant snore. 

"Ah, that Teresina!" murmured Beppina to herself. "She sleeps like akettle boiling! First the lid rattles, then there is a whistle like thesteam. Why does she not put corks in her nose at night and shut thenoise up inside of her?"

She slipped silently into the hall and listened at the door of Beppo'sroom. She heard no sound, and was just on the point of turning theknob, when the door flew open of itself and a boy with great dark eyeslike her own burst into the corridor and bumped directly into her. Beppina backed hastily against the wall, and though the breath wasnearly knocked out of her, remembered to offer him her Easter greetings. 

"Buona Pasqua, Beppo mio, " she gasped. "I was just going to wake you. "

"To wake me!" Beppo shouted derisively. "That's a good joke. I'm upfirst, just as I said I should be! See, I am all dressed, and you--youhave not even begun!"

Beppina laid her finger on her lips. "Hush, Beppo!" she whispered. "Don't roar so. It's only five o'clock, and every one else in the houseis asleep. Not even the maids have stirred, and as for Teresina--listento her! She sleeps like the dead, though less quietly, yet she rousesat once if the baby stirs, and if we should wake the baby at this hour, she would be angry at us all day long. "

They listened for a moment to the appalling sounds which rolled forthfrom the room where Teresina, the nurse, slept. Then Beppo said: "Ifthe baby can sleep through that noise, she can sleep through anything. It sounds like a thunder-storm in the mountains. "

At that moment a wicked idea popped into his head. "I know what I'mgoing to do, " he whispered, grinning with delight. "I'm going to creepinto her room like a cat and drop something into her mouth. She sleepswith it open, and I have a piece of soap just the right size!"

"Beppo!" gasped Beppina. "Don't you dare! Teresina would then refuseto take us to the piazza, and you know very well there is no one else togo with us, for the governess had a headache last night and went to bedlooking as yellow as saffron. "

"Oh, but just think how funny Teresina would look, choking andsputtering like a volcano pouring forth fire, smoke, and lava, " chuckledBeppo, who was studying geography and liked it much better than Beppinadid. 

"If you do it you'll just have to spend Easter Saturday in the house andmiss all the fun, " warned Beppina. "Mammina would not let us go withany of the other servants. "

"I don't see why she won't let us go alone, " said Beppo crossly. "Ihate to go out on the street with Teresina all dressed up in her ruffand streamers so people will know she's a baby nurse. I'm big enough togo by myself!"

Beppina looked despairingly at her brother. "Oh, dear!" she said, "Iwish Mammina had taken us with her to the villa instead of leaving us togo later with Teresina and the governess, when she has everything readyfor us. I wouldn't mind missing Easter Saturday here if only we couldbe up at the villa. "

"Or if only our dear Babbo had not had to go away to Rome, " added Beppogloomily. "He would have taken us with him to see all the Eastersights, and no thanks to Teresina either!"

"But they did go, both of them, " sighed Beppina. "So it's Teresina orstay at home for us, and I'm sure I don't want to stay at home!"

Beppo thrust his hands into his pockets, hunched up his shoulders, andlooked so gloomy and obstinate that Beppina saw something must be doneat once. "Oh, pazienza, Beppo mio!" she said, giving him a littleshake. "It might be worse surely. Come, let's go down to the gardenand feed the pigeons. You get the crumbs while I dress. "

"Hurry, then, " said Beppo, brightening a little, as Beppina flung him abutterfly kiss and ran back to her room. She threw on her clothes intwo minutes, fastened her long black hair with a hair-pin, and appearedagain in the corridor just as Beppo returned from the kitchen with a panof crumbs in his hand. 

The two children then quietly opened the door which led from the Grifoniapartment into the public hall of the old palace and crept silently downthe long, dark stone stairs to the ground floor, where Pietro, theporter, lived with his wife and six children. Pietro opened the door ofhis own apartment and stepped into the public hall just as the two darkfigures came stealthily down the last flight. Beppo was certainly in amood for mischief that morning, for when he saw Pietro he crept softlyup behind him as he was buttoning the last button of his livery, andsuddenly shouted "Boom!" right in his ear!

Pietro thought it was one of his own children who had played this saucytrick. "Santa Maria!" he cried, wheeling about with his hands out tocatch and punish the offender. "Come here, thou thorn in the eye!"Then, as he saw the children of the Marchese grinning at him out of theshadows, his hand went up in a salute instead. "Buona Pasqua, DonnaBeppina!" he cried, "and you too, Don Beppo! Why are you about at thishour in the morning scaring honest people out of their wits?"

"Buona Pasqua, Pietro, " laughed the Twins. "We are going out in thegarden, and we want you to open the door for us. "

No one but the gardener and the members of the Grifoni family ever wentinto the garden, which lay at the back of the palace, for the tenantswho occupied other portions of the ancient building were not allowed touse it, and the Marchese Grifoni lived in Florence only during thewinter months. The rest of the year--and the children thought much thebest part of it--was spent in their beautiful vine-covered villa in thehills near Padua. 

Pietro selected a key from the jingling bunch which he carried at hisbelt, and opened the old carved door. It was a charming sight whichgreeted their eyes as the door swung back on its rusty hinges. Thegarden was small, with a high wall all about it, over which ivy spread amantle of green. In the middle of the space a fountain splashed andbubbled, and the garden borders were gay with yellow daffodils, bluechicory, and white Florentine lilies. There were other delights also inthe Grifoni garden, for in the fountain lived Garibaldi, a turtle ofgreat age and dignity, and in the chinks of the walls were lizards whichliked nothing better than to be tickled with straws as they lay baskingin the sunshine. 

The moment the children appeared, a cloud of pigeons swept down from theneighbouring roofs and begged for food. Beppina held a piece of breadbetween her lips, and a fat pigeon with glistening purple feathers onhis breast instantly lit upon her shoulder. He was followed by anotherand another, until she flung up her arms and sent them all skyward in awhirl of wings, only to return again a moment later to peck the morselfrom her lips. 

As she was playing in this way with the pigeons, she chanced to glanceup at the windows of the porter's rooms which overlooked the garden. There, gazing wistfully out at them, were six pairs of eyes, belongingto Pietro's six children. Beppina waved her hand at them. "Come out!"she cried gayly, and, wild with delight at such an unheard-of privilege, the six came scrambling into the garden at once. There the eightchildren played with the pigeons in the sunshine, until in an unluckymoment Pietro's youngest baby fell into the fountain and was rescued, screaming with fright, by Beppina, who got her own dress quite wet inthe process. 

It was at this very moment, as luck would have it, that Teresinaappeared in the doorway, her ruffled cap bristling and her hands upheldin horror at finding the children of the Marchese Grifoni playing in thesacred palace garden with the dirty little children of the porter'sfamily. 

"I have been looking everywhere for you, " she said with freezingdignity. "The priest will soon be here to bless the house, and you, Signorina, are not half dressed, and besides, you are as wet as if youhad been swimming in the fountain! What would the Signora say if shecould see you now?" She glared at the six children of Pietro as shespoke, and they instantly scuttled back into their own quarters likemice who had seen the cat. Then she thumped majestically upstairs. 

The children prepared to follow, but all the brightness had gone out ofthe morning, and they went slowly and sullenly. Though Teresina had agood heart, she had a sharp tongue, and the Twins had some reason fornot loving her. It was now six months since she had first appearedbefore them, carrying a little red, wrinkled baby on a pillow, and hadtold them that it was their little new sister, and that now the Signora, their mother, would love the baby much better than she loved them, andshe had laughed when she said it! Yes, believe it or not, she hadlaughed!

"Teresina is always spoiling things, " said Beppo, kicking his feetagainst each step as he began to climb the stairs. 

"Che, che!" said Beppina, which is Italian for "tut, tut. "

"After all, it is quite true that we must be ready for the priest. Whatwould Mammina say if she knew we were wet and dirty when he came?"

Beppo's face broke suddenly into a beaming smile. "I know what I'lldo!" he cried, and disappeared into the garden again. In a moment hecame back, carrying some water from the fountain in an old flower-pot, and went bounding upstairs two steps at a time, slopping it all the way. Beppina followed breathlessly, and reached the top step just in time tosee that bad boy give a vigorous pull at the bell. 

There was a scrambling sound within before the door was thrown open byTeresina, who, supposing it to be the priest, had instantly called theother servants and flopped down upon her knees to receive his blessing, and the sprinkling of holy water which always accompanied it. BehindTeresina knelt Maria, the cook, and Antonia, the house-maid, with theirhands clasped and their heads reverently bent, and it was only when theyhad all received a generous dose of water which was not at all holy thatthey raised their heads and saw the grinning face of Beppo and the emptyflower-pot in his hand. Teresina started wrathfully to her feet, and ifthe real priest had not been heard coming up the stairs at that momentthings might have gone badly with Beppo. As it was, the real priestfollowed the bogus one so quickly that there was just time for thechildren to slip to their knees before Padre Ugo, who was short, fat, and breathless, entered, followed by an acolyte carrying the vessel ofholy water. 

Padre Ugo was in a tremendous hurry, for he had many other places tovisit that morning. He fairly ran through the rooms, sprinkling eachwith a dash of holy water, mumbling a prayer and raising his hand inblessing, then racing on to the next, with all the household trailingbehind him like the tail of a kite. He blessed the kitchen andpantries, he even blessed the cat which was washing her face by thekitchen range. Not being a religious cat, she put up her tail and fledinto the coal-hole, where she stayed until the priest had gone. 

The only room in the whole house to be missed was the one occupied bythe governess. That poor lady had locked herself in with her headache, and she was a Protestant besides, so that room had to go unblessed thewhole year through. 

When Padre Ugo had gone, Teresina was obliged to give her wholeattention to the baby, and it was not until she and the Twins were readyfor the street that at last she said stiffly to Beppo, "To-morrowmorning, Don Beppo, you will find that the hares have left no Eastereggs in the garden for such a naughty boy as you. "

CHAPTER TWO. 

IN THE PIAZZA. 

The clock in the reception hall had already struck eleven, when the twochildren, dressed in their best, followed by Teresina, passed outbeneath the carved stone arch of the palace door into the streets ofFlorence. Their way lay through the edge of the beautiful BoboliGardens, where lilacs bloomed, and birds were singing as they builttheir nests, past churches and palaces, across the Ponte Vecchio, one ofthe oldest of all the old bridges across the Arno, and then on throughnarrow streets on the other side of the river, and it was nearly noonwhen at last they reached the Piazza del Duomo. 

The square was a wonderful sight on that beautiful spring morning. There in front of them rose the great Cathedral, with its mighty dome, and beside it stood the bell-tower, which Beppina had watched from herwindow in the dawn. Here also in the square was the old Baptistery, _ilbel San Giovanni_, where Beppo and Beppina, and all the other childrenin Florence had been baptised when they were babies. 

From all the side streets entering the piazza there poured streams ofpeople, until it seemed as if everybody in the world must be there. Inthat great crowd there were peasants leading donkeys, with bellsjingling from their scarlet trappings; there were carts filled withblack-eyed babies and women whose only head-covering was their own sleekblack braids; there were farmers and peddlers, noblemen and beggars, great ladies and gypsies, bare-footed monks and tourists, black-hoodedBrothers of the Misericordia, and organ-grinders, fruit-sellers, flower-sellers, old people and young, rich and poor, every one eager forthe great Easter spectacle to begin. 

Teresina found a place for the children and herself on the edge of thecrowd, and almost at once there appeared right before their eyes a greatblack car drawn by four splendid white oxen all garlanded with flowers. This strange black car stopped directly in front of the Cathedral; thenfrom the open door of the Baptistery came a solemn procession, headed bythe Archbishop bearing a brazier filled with sacred fire. Theprocession disappeared within the Cathedral doors, and there was amoment of breathless silence both within the church and without, as theArchbishop lighted the candles on the high altar from the holy fire. 

The instant the candles flamed, the choir burst forth in a greatswelling chorus. "Glory to God in the highest, " they sang, and thebells in the Campanile began to ring as if they had suddenly gone mad. 

Then the wonderful thing happened for which every one had been waiting. Out of the door of the Cathedral, high above the heads of the people, there flashed a white dove! It sped along a wire to the great blackcar, and the instant it touched it there was a terrific bang, thenanother, and another, as hissing rockets tore their way into the sky. The whole car seemed to blow up in a joyful burst of sound!

"Look! Look! the Colombina!" shouted the people, and as the mechanicaldove returned along its wire to the altar, the air was filled withshouts of "Christ is risen! Buona Pasqua! Buona Pasqua!" from athousand throats. 

The bells of the Campanile clashed and sang overhead, waking all thebells in Florence and in the hills for miles around, so that, with thesinging and the ringing, there was never a more joyful noise made thanwas heard in the Piazza del Duomo on that Easter Saturday in Florence!

Teresina and the children, shouting like the others, had just turnedwith the crowd to follow the car as it moved away from the Cathedraldoors, when suddenly Teresina gave a shriek of joy, and, dropping theirhands, rushed to the side of a cart which was standing beside the curbin one of the streets opening into the square. It is not surprisingthat she forgot the children for a moment, for there in the cart sat hermother, holding in her arms Teresina's own baby, which she had left athome in order to take care of the baby of the Marchesa. Moreover, beside the cart was Teresina's husband, and in it there were also herlittle brothers and sisters!

The Twins, thus suddenly loosed from Teresina's grasp, were swept alongby the crowd, and when, a few moments later, she turned to look forthem, they were no longer in sight. 

Beppina clutched Beppo's arm as they were pushed along by a fat manbehind them. "We must find Teresina!" she shouted in his ear. 

"We can't get back!" Beppo shouted in reply, punching the fat man inthe stomach with his elbow and pulling Beppina closer to his side; "andbesides, " he went on in a lower key, "I'm glad to get away from her. We'll have a good time by ourselves and go home when we get readywithout being followed around by a nurse like two babies. "

"What will Mammina say?" gasped Beppina. 

"She isn't here, so she won't say anything at all, " said naughty Beppo. Then he added with an important wag of his head; "Just you stick by me;I'll take care of you. "

Beppina had her doubts, but she considered Beppo the most remarkable boyin the world, so she trotted obediently along with her hand in his, surethat he was equal to any situation that might arise. 

For an hour or more the two children wandered about the piazza, carriedhither and thither in the wake of the crowds. First they followed theblack-cowled Misericordia Brothers as they bore away to the hospital asick old man who had fallen in the street. Then they found a marionetteshow and stood entranced for a long time before it, watching thethrilling adventures of Pantalone. After that they crept into the dimCathedral, now nearly empty of people, and watched the women who came tolight their tapers at the Great Paschal Candle beside the altar. It wasthen that they discovered they were hungry, and, going out on thestreet, they refreshed themselves with oranges bought of a fruit-vendor. 

If Teresina could have seen the children of the Marchesa as they stoodsucking oranges in the public street, it is likely she might havefainted with horror, and been carried away to the hospital by theblack-robed Brothers of Mercy in her turn; but as it was, Teresina wasnot there to see. After searching the crowds distractedly for an hour, she had rushed back to the palace, hoping to find the Twins there beforeher, and turning the whole establishment into an uproar when she foundthey had not yet appeared. 

Meanwhile, the children, unconscious of time, were wandering aboutenjoying their new freedom, and growing more adventurous at every step. Though they had finished their oranges, they were still hungry, andthere was a wonderful smell of roasting chicken in the air, which Beppofollowed with the unerring instinct of a hungry boy, and soon the twochildren were standing before an open cook-shop in a side street, gnawing chicken bones and smacking their lips with as much gusto as ifthey had been bred in the streets instead of a palace. 

When they left the cook-shop, with its rows of bright copper pots andpans and its delicious smells, Beppo had only a few soldi left in hispockets, and as for Beppina, there had been nothing but a handkerchiefin hers from the beginning. 

"Avanti!" cried Beppo, made more bold than ever by the courage whichcomes with a full stomach. "Let's explore!" and, seizing the hand ofthe more timid Beppina, he ventured farther and farther up the narrowstreet. They had never been in this part of the city before in theirlives. They had never even dreamed that people could live in such dark, dirty houses, more like rabbit-warrens than homes for human beings, andon streets so narrow that Beppo could easily leap across them in onejump. 

They made their way through groups of idle loungers, stepping cautiouslyaround dirty babies playing in the gutters, and past slatternly mothersgossiping in shrill tones from doorsteps and open windows, quiteunconscious of the fact that every one turned to look with astonishmentat the strange spectacle of two well-dressed children walking alonethrough the burrow-like streets of old Florence. 

At the opening of a dark passage they almost stumbled over an old womanbent over a charcoal-brazier, where she was roasting chestnuts. 

"She looks just like a witch, " whispered Beppina, making the devil'shorns with her fingers to protect herself from the Evil Eye. "Let'shurry past. "

They shrank back against the opposite wall of the narrow passage andtried to squeeze by, but the old woman swept out a bony hand and seizedBeppina by the skirt. 

"For the love of Santa Maria, just a few soldi, my pretty little lady, "she whined, pulling the child toward her. Her smile was so terrifyingthat Beppina gave a little scream, and with Beppo's help tore herselffree of the old woman's grasp. Then the two fled still farther up thestreet, followed by a storm of abuse and the laughter of the idle peoplethey passed in their flight. 

When at last they paused for breath, they found themselves in alabyrinth of narrow alleys, with no idea of which way to turn to getback to the piazza. Beppina was frightened, but Beppo said confidently, "All we've got to do is to keep on going, and we are sure to strikeeither the piazza or the river, and we shall know how to get home fromeither one, so don't you be afraid. "

Inspired by his boldness, Beppina followed him from one narrow passageto another, until at last the streets began to widen again, and they sawbefore them an open square, and heard the sound of music. They ranjoyously forward and found themselves in a beautiful but strange piazza, with a great fountain playing in the centre, and fine old buildingssurrounding it on all sides. 

The source of the music was hidden by a throng of people gatheredtogether near the fountain. "It's a hand-organ, " cried Beppo eagerly. "Maybe there's a monkey!" and he dashed into the midst of the crowd. 

Beppina followed close behind, and the two worked their way under theelbows of the grown people until they reached the very centre, wherethey were thrilled to find a dark, swarthy man, holding a bear by arope. The bear was dancing clumsily on his hind legs, and near by awoman with black eyes and hair and great rings in her ears was grindingan organ. On top of the organ sat a monkey in a red cap shaking atambourine. Behind the group stood a yellow van, drawn by two donkeysgayly tricked out with scarlet nets and jingling bells. 

The Twins had no sooner arrived upon the scene than the music stopped, the bear dropped upon all fours, and the monkey, hopping down from theorgan, began to leap about among the people, holding out the tambourinefor money. Then it was wonderful to see how rapidly the crowd meltedaway! In a few moments the children were the only ones left. Beppogave his last coin to the monkey, and the woman, throwing a black lookafter the disappearing crowd, ground out another tune for them on theorgan, while the monkey, to Beppo's great delight, leaped upon hisshoulder and searched his pockets with her little black paws. 

The man, meanwhile, was preparing to start away. He handed the bear'srope to his wife and, climbing to the driver's seat of the van, crackedhis whip, and shouted, "Aiou! aiou! you laggards!" to the donkeys. Themonkey leaped from Beppo's shoulder to the back of the bear, and, as thecaravan began to move, turned somersaults on the bear's back with suchwonderful agility that no boy on earth could have resisted followingher. The woman said something to her husband which the children did notunderstand, though they did not know that it was because she spoke tohim in the Venetian dialect; then she turned to Beppo and said with aninsinuating smile, "Where is it that the Signore lives?"

Now here was a woman of sense! She called him Signore, as if he werealready a grown man! Beppo swelled with satisfaction and answeredpromptly, "In the Palace Grifoni, across the river. "

"Si, si, " said the woman, which in Italian means "Yes, yes. "

"We are going in that direction. Would you not like to go with us andlead the bear?" Oh, if Teresina could have heard that! Here werepeople who thought him quite big enough to lead a live bear, while she--and Mammina, too, for that matter--thought he still should be followedby a nurse!

Beppo leaped boldly forward, though Beppina tried to hold him back, and, seizing the bear's rope, marched proudly along behind the van. Thewoman laughed and clapped her hands. "Bravo, bravo!" she cried. Then, turning to the panic-stricken Beppina, she said comfortingly: "The oldUgolone will not hurt him. He is very old and as tame as a kitten. See!" She gave the bear a slap and walked along beside him with herhand on his back, and Beppina could do nothing but follow. 

For some time they trailed the van in this way, together with a smallarmy of boys and girls, who were consumed with envy for Beppo and hopedthey too might be allowed a turn at leading the bear. One by one theyhad dropped away and returned to their homes before the Twins realisedthat the afternoon was nearly spent and night was approaching. 

"We must go home now, please, " said Beppina politely to the woman. 

"Si, si, " said the woman, nodding her head and smiling more than ever. "We shall soon see the river. "

This assurance quieted Beppina for a time, and she trudged patientlyalong until they reached the very outskirts of the city, and still nobridge and no river had appeared. Not Beppina only, but Beppo too nowbegan to be alarmed. Where were they going? Oh, if only the grey wallsof the Grifoni palace would rise before them! Beppo even began tomodify his opinion about Teresina. Her ruff and streamers would havebeen as welcome a sight to him just then as an oasis to travellers inthe desert. But alas! Teresina was at that moment many miles away, anddistracted with anxiety and grief. The bewildered Beppina now began tocry. 

"Come, my pretty, " said the woman in a wheedling tone, "you are tired, is it not so? You shall rest the weary legs. " Her voice was soft, butshe seized Beppina with a grip of steel, and swung her up into the backof the moving van. "You too, my brave one, " she went on, taking thebear's rope from Beppo's hand, and tying it to a ring in the back of thecart. "Up you go. " She gave him a shove as he scrambled up besideBeppina, and then, tossing the monkey in after him, swung herself upbeside the children. 

The road now began to ascend, and the Twins with growing terror watchedthe sun sink lower and lower behind the dome of the Cathedral, whichthey could see in the distance. Beppina shook with sobs, and Beppo satpale and frightened as the tower and the dome, the only landmarks theyknew in Florence, grew darker and darker against the sunset sky. 

"Do not cry, madonna mia, " said the woman, giving Beppina a littleshake. "You have missed your way, but what of that? You are safe withus. If you have money in your pockets you might possibly find your wayhome even yet, though it is nearly dark, and it is very dangerous forchildren to go about alone. "

"But we haven't any money, " said Beppo. "I gave all I had to themonkey!"

"Ah, " said the woman, "that is bad, to go back without money! You wouldspend the night in the streets without doubt, or possibly in the jail. If the police found you they would take you for vagrants. It would beterrible indeed if the police should get you! Still, if you think bestyou can jump down and start back right now. I do not believe the bearwould hurt you, even though he does not like to have any one jump rightin front of him!"

The children looked down at Ugolone, lumbering along behind the van. Ifthey jumped it must be almost on top of him, and in the darkness helooked as big as a house and very alarming. Even Beppo lost hisswagger, and as for Beppina, she was speechless with terror. The womancontinued to cajole them. 

"Soon we shall camp beside the road for the night, " she said, "and youshall have something hot for your supper, and sleep in the van as cozyas birds in a nest. That is surely much better than the jail! Andto-morrow--oh, la bella vita! just think, you shall grind the organ andplay with Carina all day long, and there will be no lessons!"

There was no response to this alluring prospect. The children, homesick, weary, terror-stricken, clung to each other in the darkness, and shrank as far as possible from the woman, whom they now saw to benot their friend, but their jailer. 

On and on through the deepening darkness lumbered the yellow van, untilit seemed to the unhappy children that it must be nearly morning. Atlast, however, the team turned from the highroad and stopped beside alittle stream. The woman sprang out, and while her husband unharnessedthe donkeys and tied Ugolone to a tree for the night, she built a fire, and hung a kettle over it. She put the monkey in Beppina's arms, andsent Beppo for water from the stream, and to gather sticks for the fire. Soon a kettleful of steaming mush was ready, and the woman, whose namewas Carlotta, called Luigi, her husband, and, giving the children each atin dish, bade them eat their supper. Even if it had been her favouritefood, Beppina could not have swallowed a mouthful that night, but Beppo, though he too was homesick, could still eat, even though nothing betterthan polenta was offered him. He sat down with Carlotta and Luigibefore the fire on the ground, while Beppina stayed in the back of thevan, hugging the monkey to her lonely heart and striving to keep backthe tears. 

The flickering flames lit up the trunks of the trees, making them standout like sentinels against the velvet darkness of the woods beyond, andsending dancing shadows of the bear and the donkeys far across themurmuring stream. The moon looked down through the tree-tops and thenightingales sang plaintively in the shadows. 

After supper, while Luigi sat smoking his pipe by the fire, Carlottathrew a heap of straw into one corner of the van, and said to thechildren: "Come hither, my poverelli! Here is a soft bed for you! Liedown and sleep!"

Too tired to do anything else, if, indeed, there had been anything elsein the world for them to do, the children obeyed, and, clasped in eachother's arms, soon fell asleep, worn-out with sorrow and fatigue. 

CHAPTER THREE. 

IN THE MOUNTAINS. 

They were awakened next morning by the chattering of the monkey, and, looking out from their corner, they could not for a moment rememberwhere they were, or how they came to be there. The sun was shiningbrightly, the birds were singing, and Carlotta was up and stirringsomething in a pot over the fire. Luigi had gone with the donkeys togive them a drink, and Ugolone was standing on his hind legs beside histree, grunting impatiently for his breakfast. 

Beppina gazed at the strange scene for one blank moment, then, as memorycame back, she buried her head in the straw and sobbed. Beppo tried tocomfort her. 

"Don't cry, Beppinella, " he whispered. "To-day we shall find some wayof returning to Florence. I feel sure of it! It might be worse. Pazienza! We must make the best of it. "

Just then, Carlotta, hearing the muffled sobs and the murmur of hisvoice, appeared at the end of the van. 

"Come out, little lost ones, " she called to them. "The sun shines, andwe shall have a fine day in the mountains. See, here is Carina waitingto greet you!" She tossed the monkey toward them as she spoke, anddisappeared around the end of the van. Soon she returned, carrying inher hand a green blouse and a gay striped skirt. 

"Here, " she said to Beppina, "I will lend these to you. Then you cansave your pretty clothes so they will be clean to wear when you returnto your Mammina. " She spoke so confidently of their return that Beppinathought perhaps the woman meant to take them back that very day. Shereluctantly put on the queer blouse and the striped skirt, while Beppoarrayed himself in a pair of velveteen trousers which were as much toolong for him as the skirt was for Beppina. Carlotta had brought thesealso, and she gave him a red sash to bind around his waist as well. When they were equipped in these garments the two children gazed at eachother in dismay. 

"You don't look like Beppo at all. You look just like a bandit, " saidBeppina. 

"And you--you look like a gypsy girl!" gasped Beppo. 

"Even Mammina wouldn't know us if she were to see us now, " Beppinawhispered, despairingly. 

"That's just why that woman did it!" gasped Beppo, with suddenillumination. "She doesn't care a bit about saving our clothes! Shewants to disguise us, so people will think we belong to them!"

"Oh, dear!" shuddered Beppina. "Let's change back again. "

They seized their clothes, but just then they saw Carlotta's glitteringblack eyes gazing in at them from the end of the van. It was as if sheknew their very thoughts. 

"Avanti, avanti!" she called. "Is it that you are lazy? Come! We mustbe on the road!"

Not daring to linger or protest, the two strange little figures cametumbling out of the straw at once, and, after washing in the brook, satdown on a fallen log to eat their breakfast. Carina perched beside themon the log, and, when she had finished her own portion, leaped onUgolone's back, and, leaning down, snatched away some of his breakfastfrom under his nose. In vain poor old Ugolone growled and slapped ather with his clumsy paws. He was always too slow to catch her. 

The children were so absorbed in watching this drama that they did notnotice what Carlotta was doing meanwhile, but later, when they lookedfor their own clothes again, they had mysteriously disappeared, and werenot seen again. 

When they had finished breakfast, Carlotta called to Beppina, "Comehere, poverina! Your hair is full of straw. I will fix it for you. "Beppina obeyed, and the woman coaxed her tangled locks into place, combing them with her fingers, and at last succeeded in plaiting theminto a number of tight braids which she wound about her head. "There, "said she when this was done, "now you will no longer need your hat. "

"But, " said Beppina, "I want my hat! Only peasants go bare-headed. "The woman gave a short laugh, and her teeth gleamed so white between herlips that Beppina thought of the wolf who tried to pass himself off forRed Riding Hood's grandmother. 

"Do as you are told, " said Carlotta. She smiled as she said it, butthere was such a fierce look in her face that Beppina made the signagainst the Evil Eye, with her hand behind her, and submitted silentlyas Carlotta tied a red kerchief over the braids. These preparationscompleted, the caravan moved on, with Luigi as usual in the driver'sseat, Carlotta leading the bear, and the Twins, carrying the monkey, bringing up the rear. 

On and on they travelled, but in which direction the children could onlyguess. There were many turns in the road, which wound constantlyupward, and with every mile the country grew more wild. Throughopenings between the hills they caught fleeting glimpses of quaintvillages clinging to the mountain-sides, and of ancient castlescommanding beautiful views across fertile valleys. At one time they sawthe roofs of a great stone monastery, hidden away among olive trees. They heard the music of its bells and caught faint echoes of thechanting of the monks. It was then that they remembered that it wasEaster Sunday. 

"If we were at home, we should now be hunting Easter eggs and sugarlambs in the garden, " whispered Beppina. 

"Teresina said there wouldn't be any there, anyway, " Beppo answered, winking very hard; and then neither one said anything for a long time. 

All day long the donkeys plodded up the steep slopes, only stopping bythe wayside for rest and food at noon. It was evident that Luigithought best to keep to the least-frequented mountain ways, so allthrough the sunny hours the sad little travellers walked behind the van, or climbed inside to rest their weary feet, not knowing where they weregoing and not daring to ask. 

At sunset they reached the crest of a high hill, and, looking back, theycould see far, far away in the purple distance, the twinkling lights ofthe city of Florence, looking like a sky full of stars fallen to earth. On the slopes of nearer hills there were other twinkling lights likechains of jewels winding in and out among the trees. The mountainvillages were celebrating the Easter festival with candle-litprocessions and with singing. The words of the Easter song floatedacross the blue spaces. "The Royal Banners forward go, " came the faintchant, and, mingling with the vesper song of thrush and nightingale, lulled the tired travellers to dreamless sleep. 

CHAPTER FOUR. 

THEY LEARN TO DANCE. 

It was cold in the mountains, and the children shivered as Carlottarouted them out in the early dawn of the next morning. "Come, " she saidcrossly, as she set up the forked sticks for the kettle, "bestiryourselves, lazy ones! We are poor people. Do you think we can affordto feed you and wait upon you like servants besides? To-day there mustbe no more snivelling and whining. Beppo, take the pail and fetchwater. You, Beppina, gather sticks for the fire. "

Her wheedling manner was now quite gone. Instead she gave her orderswith such a threatening look that the children trembled with fear asthey hastened to obey. At a little distance from the spot where theywere encamped, a stream, fed by a mountain spring, gushed forth from apile of rocks, and Beppo, seizing the pail, plunged into the dark pinewoods to find it. Beppina followed, and the instant they foundthemselves alone in the forest, the two hid behind a tree and held ahurried consultation. 

"Listen, cocca mia, " whispered Beppo. "I have thought this all out. They do not mean to take us back, ever! They will keep us like slavesto work for them! If we want to see our home again, we must obeyeverything they say, no matter how hard. Then some day, when theyaren't watching, we will run away. Only not in these mountains! Weshould only die of hunger and be eaten by the wolves. "

Beppina shuddered. "Oh, Beppo, " she sobbed, "there is a lump in mythroat as big as an egg! I cannot swallow it. When I think of Mammina, it seems to me I shall die!"

Beppo gave her a little shake. "But you _must_ be brave, " he said. "Every day we will have a word together, and soon our chance will come. "

"I'll try, Beppo, " said Beppina, gulping down her sobs. 

"Good girl!" said Beppo, patting her approvingly, though his own lipstrembled and his voice shook. "Don't you remember how it is in thefairy tales? The prince _always_ kills the giants and dragons if onlyhe isn't afraid, even if he has to pass through enchanted forests. "

Beppina looked fearfully over her shoulder. "Oh, Beppo, " she gasped, "Ididn't think of it before, but now I'm sure. This _is_ an enchantedforest, and Carlotta is a witch woman! We must pray always to the HolyVirgin to protect us. Promise me you will!"

"I promise, " said Beppo solemnly; "and don't you forget about the princeeither. "

Just then they heard Carlotta's voice shouting at them, and, leapingapart, they fled to do their errands. 

When breakfast had been eaten, and the animals fed, Luigi lit his pipeand stretched out on the ground beside the fire with the monkey besidehim. 

"Here we stay a little, " he said. "Ugolone lies there like one dead. The donkeys are tired and so am I. We have come thirty miles fromFlorence. "

"Ecco!" said Carlotta. "Then there is time for bean soup. " She sentBeppo for more water, and, when the kettle was bubbling on the fire, called the children to her side. "Tell me, " she said, "can you dance?"

"A little, " quavered Beppina. "Dance, then, " said the woman. Beppinareluctantly seized her skirts, and, making a dancing-school bow, took afew dainty steps and tripped over a stone. 

Carlotta laughed contemptuously. "Santa Maria!" she said, "you don'tcall that dancing!" Then, beckoning to her husband, she cried, "Butthey know nothing! They cannot earn their salt! We have made a badbargain. Come, then, and we will teach these ignorant ones thetrescone!"

Luigi grunted as he rose unwillingly from his hard couch, tied themonkey's string about a tree branch, and came forward. 

"Watch closely, both of you, " said Carlotta to the children. "It is foryou to dance like Tuscans, not like marionettes. Even old Ugolone cando better. "

Once he was roused, Luigi's weariness seemed to vanish. He suddenlyseized Carlotta's hands, and, holding her at arm's length, began towheel and jump, to turn and twist in all sorts of curious figures. Sometimes the dancers' arms were linked above their heads. Sometimesthey shook a lifted foot. Faster and faster they whirled, and themonkey, inspired by their example, began to leap and bound about at theend of her string, chattering wildly. 

The speed of the dancers slackened like that of a spinning top, and theycame to a sudden standstill. Luigi returned to Carina and his place bythe fire, and Carlotta got out the hand-organ. All the morning she madethe children practice the figures of the dance to music, until they wereready to drop with fatigue. While she prepared the soup for their noonmeal they were allowed to rest, but immediately afterwards the donkeyswere harnessed again, and to the music of their tinkling bells thelittle cavalcade moved on. 

For some time they travelled over the steep mountain roads withoutseeing a soul; then they met a girl driving a flock of sheep to pasture. Later they overtook some peasant women walking like queens with greatloads of wood on their heads. Beyond them they passed an ox-team, andBeppo whispered to Beppina, "It's a good sign to meet oxen in the road. "But alas, a moment later they met a priest, mumbling his prayers as hewalked. It was a glance of despair that Beppina gave her brother then, for it is very bad luck to meet a priest in the road, as every Tuscanchild can tell you. 

Nevertheless, all these signs, bad and good, indicated that they wereapproaching a town, and a few moments later they came to a stream wherewomen were washing clothes, and the van rumbled across a bridge and intothe open square of a small mountain village. In an instant there wasgreat excitement in the town, and all the inhabitants swarmed about thevan. 

Luigi climbed down from the driver's seat, with Carina on his shoulder, and loosed the bear's rope, while Carlotta brought out the organ, andgave the tambourine to the monkey. 

"Balla! Balla!" cried Luigi, and Ugolone rising to his hind legswearily began his clumsy dance. The children, meanwhile, shrank backout of sight in the van. 

"She will make us dance like the bear, I know she will, " moaned Beppina, "and I cannot remember the steps!" She crossed herself frantically, andsaid a prayer to the Virgin, but it was of no avail, for soon Carlotta'swheedling tones reached their hiding-place. 

"Avanti, carissimi, " she called, and, not daring to disobey or even tolinger, the children leaped from the back of the van into the centre ofa crowd of round-eyed villagers. The children of the Marchese Grifonidancing in company with a monkey and a bear for the entertainment of anaudience of peasants! The humiliation of it was almost more than theycould endure, but the Twins did their best, and the moment theperformance was over dived into the back of the van, and hid themselvesagain, while Carina leaped about among the crowd, gathering the soldi inher tambourine. 

Their stay in the village was short, for the people were poor. 

"It is a town of pigs, " said Carlotta angrily, as she counted the money, and to the great relief of the children she gave the order to move oninto the hills beyond the village. 

They stopped at one more village during the afternoon, and here thingswent better. The children remembered their steps, and there were moresoldi in the tambourine, even though Ugolone sat firmly down upon hishaunches and refused to budge. In vain Luigi tugged at his rope andshouted "Balla! Balla!" It was as if Ugolone, seeing the childrendance, had concluded that his dancing days were over, and had resignedin their favour. 

To make up for Ugolone the Twins had to dance again and again, and thento their great surprise Carlotta made them sing! They had voices likethe whistle of song thrushes in the spring, but how in the world couldCarlotta have guessed that? They were too astonished to refuse, even ifthey had dared, so they opened their mouths and quavered out a songabout the swallow, which they had learned in the nursery at home. 

This was the song:--

 "Pilgrim swallow, lightly winging, Now upon the terrace sitting, Ev'ry morn I hear thee singing, In sad tones thy song repeating. What may be the tale thou'rt telling, Pilgrim swallow, near my dwelling?

 "Thou art happier far than I am; On free wing at least thou'rt flying Over lake and breezy mountain. Thou canst fill the air with crying His dear name through cave and hollow. Thou art free, thou pretty swallow. "

It was so familiar a song that all the people joined with them insinging it, and some of them danced to the music of the hand-organ whenit played, so that altogether the villagers had a gay time, and as aresult Carlotta found many more coins than usual in the tambourine whenthe performance was over. She glanced triumphantly at her husband asshe counted the money. "We have caught two pigeons with one pea afterall, " she said to him. 

"As for that lazy Ugolone, he gets no supper! If he will not work, heshall not eat!"

The children heard and shuddered. "She will treat us like that, too, "sobbed Beppina, "and if she's truly a witch she may even turn us intobears!"

Out through sunny vineyards and grey olive orchards beyond the town theyfollowed the winding road, and, as night came on, the weary children sawthat they were approaching a ruined castle set high on a spur of theApennines. The wind swept over the bare hill-top and whistled throughthe windows of its ruined towers, where hundreds of years before lovelyladies had watched their knights ride forth to battle. 

It was a bleak and lonely spot, fit only to be inhabited by ghosts, andBeppina shivered as the wheels of the van rattled over the ancientdraw-bridge, and stopped in the overgrown court-yard. 

"I know it's enchanted, " she whispered to Beppo, and Beppo, his ownteeth chattering, could only say, "Remember about the prince, " to keepup their failing courage. 

There was no sign of human beings about the place, and Luigi tookpossession as if he owned it. He tied Ugolone in the ruins of what hadonce been a stately banqueting-hall, and let the donkeys eat theirsupper from the green grass which carpeted the court-yard. 

Soon a fire was blazing in the ruins of an ancient chimney, and thetired travellers gathered about it for their evening meal. From thetower came the surprised hoot of a solitary owl, and bats, disturbed bythe light, swooped in great circles about the little group as theysilently ate their polenta. Even the monkey seemed to feel the weirdspell of the place, for she cowered in a corner by the fire, chatteringto herself, while from the banqueting-hall came the complaining growlsof poor hungry Ugolone. It was to such music as this that the childrenof the Marchese at last fell asleep. 

CHAPTER FIVE. 

ON THE ROAD. 

When they awoke the next morning Carlotta and Luigi were nowhere insight. The monkey was tied to one wheel of the van, and from thebanqueting-hall came the sound of human voices, quarrelling. The toneswere so loud that the children could not help hearing the words. 

"It is all your fault!" said Luigi's voice. "It was you who made me getthe bear in the first place, and undertake this foolish trip, allbecause you must again see your people in Florence. If we had butstayed in Venice! The bear was old when we got him; he was alreadytired and sick when we left Florence, and now, per Bacco, he is dead!You would not feed him, yet it was Ugolone that we depended upon tobring in the money. A hand-organ, a monkey--what are they? And now youhave added those brats beside for us to feed! This comes of listeningto a woman and a smooth-tongued Tuscan at that. I could beat you!"

Carlotta's wheedling voice answered him. "Do not grieve, my angel, " shesaid; "you will yet see the wisdom of your Carlotta. Ugolone was oldand sick, it is true. A pest upon the villain who sold him to us! Mayhis eyes weep rivers of tears! But you are wrong about the children. They are worth more than Ugolone, the donkeys, and the van, all puttogether. Did you not see how they pleased the people yesterday? Iwill teach them to sing more songs, and to dance the tarantella as wellas the trescone, and we shall soon forget this sorrow. When we reachthe coast, we will sell the van and the donkeys, and go back to yourbeloved Venice, to live in comfort on the earnings of these brats! Youshall see!"

"That's more of your oily Tuscan talk, " growled Luigi. "Think of therisk we run! If the ragazzini should be recognised, it would go hardwith us. Their parents will lay every trap to catch us. It is safeenough in these mountain villages, but in the larger towns it will be adifferent story. There are the police--"

Carlotta interrupted him. "Che, che!" she cried. "You have the heartof a chicken! I tell you, even their own mother would hardly know themnow, and it will be easy to hide them in Venice. We shall be like ratsin the walls of a house, where the cat cannot follow. As for traps--weare too sharp for them. Even if we were to be seen and tracked, theywill not seek donkeys and a van in Venice, where there are no suchthings. "

Luigi only grunted for reply, and Carlotta, seeing that her argumentshad made an impression, boldly finished her plan. 

"When we reach the coast, " she said, "you remain behind to sell the van, and I will go on to Venice with the ragazzini. We shall not be pursuedupon the boat. Courage! In a few days we shall be safe, and then wecan live at ease, and you will say, `Ah, what a great head has myCarlotta!'"

There was no reply from Luigi, and soon the children heard theirreturning footfalls on the stone flagging. 

"Pretend you're asleep, " whispered Beppo. "We mustn't let them think weoverheard. " They instantly lay down in the straw again, and whenCarlotta came to the back of the van a moment later, she was obliged tocall twice before she could arouse them!

While Carlotta, looking very glum, was cooking the everlasting polenta, the children crept fearsomely into the ruined tower to take a last lookat poor old Ugolone. There he lay on the flag-stones, a shapeless lumpof fur, and a little later Luigi skinned him, hung the pelt on the backof the van, and, leaving the bones to whiten where they lay, set forthonce more upon the road. From this time on things grew harder andharder for the unhappy children. Carlotta was caressing and smooth inher manner to them when they were in the villages, calling them "mychildren, " "carissimi, " which means "dearest, " and other tender names, but when they were by themselves she grew more and more harsh, whileLuigi was sullen, and scarcely spoke to them at all. 

It was Carlotta who made them dance until they were ready to drop withfatigue, and sing when their hearts were breaking. Everywhere thepeople thought them charming, and it was true, as Carlotta had said, that they brought in more money than Ugolone. 

They were now passing through one of the most lovely regions in theworld, but its beauty failed to comfort them or reconcile them to theirlot. The rocky ramparts and blue horizon of the mountains were butprison walls to them, from which they longed to escape. One night, asthey lay shivering in the straw, with Carlotta and Luigi snoring at theother end of the van, Beppo cautiously nudged his sister. 

"It sounds like Teresina, " he whispered. "Don't you remember how shesnored that day we left home?"

"Don't, " begged Beppina. "It makes me homesick. "

"I never thought I could wish to hear Teresina snore, " Beppo answered, "but now it would be music in my ears. " They were silent a few minutes, and then Beppina--timid Beppina--put her lips close to Beppo's ear andwhispered, "Let's get out and run away. "

"Where to?" Beppo whispered. 

"Anywhere, _anywhere_ away from here!" said poor Beppina. "I'd ratherstarve in the mountains than stay any longer. We could creep outwithout waking them. "

"It's awfully dark, " said Beppo, "and we'll have to climb right overthem!"

"Oh, let's try, " urged Beppina. They sat up cautiously and peered out. They could just see a dark mass blocking up the open end of the van. They struggled to their knees. The straw rustled, and they stoppeddead, until everything was still again. Then Beppo rose to his feet, and, treading very carefully, took a step toward the end of the van. But alas, he had forgotten the monkey! She slept beside her mistress, and Beppo stepped on her tail! There was a scream as Carina leaped upin the air, and lit on Beppo's shoulder, chattering furiously, and Beppoinstantly dropped down into the straw again. 

"What's the matter?" said Carlotta. 

The children could see her dark silhouette as she sat up and looked intothe dark interior of the van. 

"Carina mia! What is the matter?"

"Lie down, " growled Luigi. "She has had a bad dream. Go to sleep!"The monkey leaped to Carlotta's arm, snuggled down beside her, and quietreigned once more. When the snores began again, the children had nocourage for a second attempt, and morning found things as hopeless asever. 

They were now descending the eastern slopes of the Apennines, and Beppo, remembering his geography, knew that they were getting farther andfarther from Florence. At noon that day, as they were walking ahead ofthe van, they rounded a turn in the road, and came suddenly upon a viewstretching far across the plains of eastern Italy to where the bluewaters of the Adriatic lay sparkling in the sun. The landscape wasdotted with villages, and far away in the blue distance they could seethe spires and towers of a large coast town. 

Beppo's spirits rose a little. "See, " he said to Beppina, "we arecoming out of the mountains into a region where there are many towns. Who knows? Perhaps we may find a chance to get away. It would be lessdangerous here than in the hills. "

But again they were doomed to disappointment, for the next day itrained, and Carlotta made them stay hidden in the van as it lumberedslowly through the villages on the road to the sea. Though it was onlytwo days, it seemed at least a week that they lay in the straw, listening to the rumble of the wheels and the patter of the rain on theroof. There could be no fires, so their food was bread and cheese, which Carlotta bought in the towns. 

At last, early on the third morning, they heard from their prison a newsound, and, peering cautiously over Luigi's shoulder, saw that at lastthey had reached the sea. They could hear the slapping of waves againstthe piles of a dock, and could catch glimpses of green water. Men withtrucks were hurrying by, loading fruit and vegetables upon a large boatwhich was tied to the pier. There was so much noise about them that thechildren could talk together in low tones without being overheard. 

"I know where we are, " said Beppo. "I tell you, I'm glad I studiedgeography! The sun is breaking through the clouds over the water, andit's early morning, so that's the east, of course. We heard Carlottasay they were going to take us to Venice, so this must be a coast townon the Adriatic. It isn't Ravenna, because Ravenna is back from the seaa few miles. The only other big port along here is Rimini, and I'll betthat's just where we are. "

"Oh, Beppo, what a wonderful boy you are, to think that all outyourself!" said Beppina. "You're such a wonderful thinker! Why can'tyou think of away to escape?"

"I do think, all the time, " answered poor Beppo, "but Carlotta is justlike a cat at a mouse-hole. Her eyes never leave us, and if we shouldtry to run, she would pounce--"

"Hush!" whispered Beppina, "there she is. " There, indeed, she was, smiling craftily at them from the end of the van. 

"You may come out now, my little ones, " she said in her most syrupytones. "Here we leave the van with Luigi, while we take a niceboat-ride!" She seized them firmly by the hands, and, followed by Luigicarrying the organ and the monkey, led them over the gang-plank on tothe boat. Once aboard, she sought an obscure corner, behind the basketsof fruit and vegetables with which the vessel was loaded, and made thechildren sit beside her, while Luigi piled around them numerous bundlesbrought from the van. 

At last the rumble of trucks ceased, the sailors loosed the greathawsers which tied the boat to the dock, and in a few moments thechildren, looking back to the shore, saw a widening strip of green waterbetween them and their native land. 

CHAPTER SIX. 

VENICE. 

For two beautiful bright days they remained on the boat, as it made itsway up the eastern coast of Italy, and on the morning of the third, there, rising before them out of the mists, like a dream city afloatupon the waters, was Venice! It was so lovely, with its domes, towers, and palaces mirrored in the still waters, and its hundreds of sailsmaking spots of bright colour against the blue, that for a short timethe children almost forgot their grief. As the boat entered a greatlagoon, and slowly made its way through the Canal della Giudecca to thelanding-place, Carlotta grew more than ever vigilant. The children hadhoped against hope that some way of escape might appear when theyreached the dock, but Carlotta remained at their elbows every moment, and under her watchful eyes they could not even speak to each other, much less to any one else. 

It was evident that she meant to make them understand how impossible itwould be for them to get away from Venice, for as the boat rounded thewestern side of the island upon which the city is built, she pointed outto them the mainland, lying two miles away across the water, and thelong black railroad bridge which is the only connection between the two. 

"You see how it is, my little ones, " she said. "One cannot leave Venicewithout a boat, a ticket on the railway, or wings! And truly, how couldany one wish to leave it? Luigi has been wretched all the time he hasbeen away, and never wishes to desert his beloved city again. You toowill feel the same. "

The children made no reply. They were as helpless as caged birds, andcould only follow her silently, as she loaded them with bundles, and, herself carrying the organ and the monkey, led the way across thegang-plank to the dock. Staggering under their burdens, they enteredthe city of Venice. Oh, if they could only have entered it with theirdear Babbo, or Mammina, how happy they would have been, for there, rightbefore their eyes as they walked, were all the wonderful things whichBeppo had learned about in his geography!

There were the canals with the gondolas flitting about on them likeblack beetles on a pool. There were the great beautiful buildings withtheir facades rising out of the water, and their back doors opening uponnarrow streets or tiny open squares. There were the glimpses ofblossoming tree-tops hanging over high walls, and of balconies gay withpotted geraniums and carnations in bloom. There were the beautifulstone door-ways with gayly painted posts beside them, to which emptygondolas were tied. 

The air was misty and fragrant with sea smells, and in every directionthey looked their eyes were greeted with the lovely colours of the oldbuildings, reflected in the water so clearly that it seemed as if therewere two cities, one hanging suspended upside down below the other. Itwas so different from Florence, from Rome, from anything they had everseen before, that the children forgot even that they were hungry, andwent up the streets wide-eyed with wonder, absorbed in all thesemarvels. 

"Get on, get on!" said Carlotta crossly, behind them. "Your eyes willpop out of your heads, and drop in the street if you stare so. Carinais hungry, and so am I, and we must earn our dinner before we eat it. "

Through one narrow street after another they made their way, until atlast they reached an open square fronting on the water. 

"Here is the market, " said Carlotta, depositing the organ in the middleof the open space, and the children, sighing with relief, also droppedtheir bundles and gazed about them. Drawn up to the water's edge weremany boats loaded with great baskets of fruit and vegetables. Merchantsswarmed about these boats like flies, and the produce was immediatelypurchased and placed in stalls or booths around the edge of the square, where people with market-baskets on their arms were buying theirprovisions for the day. 

It was a busy and crowded place, but Carlotta gave the children littletime to look. "Dance, " she commanded, as she began to grind out a tuneupon the organ. Carina sprang to the top of the box, and began to hopup and down in time to the music as the children went through the wildcontortions of the trescone. A crowd immediately gathered about them, and the coins began to rain into Carina's tambourine. 

When the dance was finished, Carlotta led the way to a booth in thesquare, where hot macaroni was for sale, and here their hungry mouthswere filled with the first warm food they had tasted for several days. They ate and were comforted. Then, leaving the market-place, theypassed through narrow streets and over little bridges spanning thecanals, until they reached another small open square in a crowdedportion of the city. Carlotta walked faster and faster as theyapproached it, and the Twins had almost to run to keep up with her. 

As they entered the square, a small dirty boy about Beppo's sizesuddenly gave a shout. "It is Carina!" he cried, and, not noticingCarlotta or the Twins, he seized the monkey in his arms and kissed itslittle black face. Carlotta gave him a playful slap. 

"Ecco!" she cried to the Twins. "Here we have the brave Giovanni! Andhe cares nothing for his godmother! He loves only the little blackmonkey! See, Giovanni! I have brought two playmates for you. Theywere lost, and I have protected them out of charity. They will livewith us. "

Giovanni stared at the Twins for a moment, then he ran out his tongue atBeppo. "I can lick you!" he cried. Beppo stiffened with fury. All thepent-up rage of the past weeks rose up within him, and here was some oneon whom he could legitimately wreak it! He dropped his bundles, rolledup his sleeves, and roared, "Come on!"

Giovanni threw the monkey at Carlotta and instantly came on! A crowd ofragged boys and girls gathered about them, and the fight began. It didnot last long, for Beppo had taken boxing-lessons along with his otherstudies, and he met Giovanni's advance with a swift blow which sent himspinning to the ground. Then he sat upon him until he begged for mercy, while the crowd squealed with delight. Carlotta turned the organ andthe monkey over to Beppina, picked Beppo off the prostrate Giovanni, andthen, seizing the two boys by their collars, thumped their heads smartlytogether. 

"Ecco!" she said. "Now you have had your fight, you can be friends. "Loading them both with bundles, she marched them across the square tothe back door of a dilapidated house, with the crowd surging about them. Here she drew them into a narrow entrance and, leading them up twoflights of dirty stairs, knocked at a door. It was opened by aslatternly woman, who gave a shrill cry of astonishment when she saw thegroup on her threshold. 

The monkey evidently knew her, for he leaped from Giovanni's arms to hershoulder and began to pull her hair. 

"Santa Maria! Santa Maria!" screamed the woman. "If it is not thatdevil of a Carina come back again! Let go of my hair, you demon, orI'll wring your black neck!"

Carlotta laughed, and picked the monkey off of Giovanni's mother just asshe had picked Beppo off of her son a few moments before. 

The children, left to themselves, stared about at their new quarters, while Giovanni stared at them. The room was large, bare, dilapidated, and dirty. On the floor were some old mattresses filled withcorn-husks, which were evidently used as beds. There was a wooden tablewith some soiled dishes standing on it, and, beyond this and a fewchairs, there was no furniture except two pots of geraniums on thewindow-sill. A door opened into a smaller room beyond, and through itthey could see a stove, with a kettle standing on the floor beside it. 

Giovanni had evidently made up his mind that any one who could "lick"him must indeed be a hero, for, having finished his critical survey ofthe Twins, he said affably, "My father is a gondolier. What's yours?"

"A Marchese, " said Beppo. 

"Holy Madonna!" gasped the boy. "Doesn't he do any work?"

"No, " said Beppo. "He just goes to Rome to help the King. "

Carlotta overheard them. "Don't you ever say that again, you wickedlittle liar!" she cried fiercely. "If you do, I'll cut off yourtongue. " She turned again to the other woman. 

"Do they look like the children of a Marchese? I ask you, " she said. "They were lost, and I have taken care of them out of charity! Theysing and dance to pay for their keep, but it's little enough they bringin at best! Old Ugolone is dead, and Luigi has stayed behind to disposeof the van and the donkeys. With the money he gets for them he'll buy aboat and pick up a living on the canals. We shall go no more on toursabout the country. It does not pay. There are as many soldi to befound in Venice as anywhere, and with the organ and Carina we shall getalong, even with two extra mouths to feed!"

Giovanni's mother winked her eye and nodded a great many times. 

"Si, si, " she said. "There will be many tourists in Venice this summer, and it is not to believe the way Americans throw money about. Mariosays their pockets are lined with gold!"

Sick with terror, the children turned away from Carlotta and looked outof the windows. 

"See me, " said Giovanni. He wanted to do something to make himselfadmired after his recent humiliation, so he doubled himself across thesill of the open window and leaned far out over the canal which floweddirectly beneath. "Look!" he cried, waving his legs at the peril oftaking a header into the water. 

His mother seized him. "Madonna mia, " she screamed, "that boy wouldrather drown than not, " and, giving him a smart spank, she jerked himback into the room by a leg. Giovanni rubbed the spot and grinnedsheepishly, as his mother followed up the punishment by a flow of speechwhich sounded to the Twins much like the chattering of the monkey. "Getalong with you!" she said finally, giving him a shove. 

"Come, " said Carlotta to the Twins when this little scene was over. "Soldi grow only in the street, " and, picking up the organ, she led theway down the stairs. 

The children were glad to follow, for they preferred the streets to sucha dwelling, and Giovanni, thinking it advisable to remain out of hismother's sight for a while, followed them, carrying the monkey in hisarms. 

CHAPTER SEVEN. 

THREE WEEKS DRIFT BY. 

All the rest of that day, and for many days after, the children followedCarlotta through the maze of streets, dancing and singing in the piazzasand the market-place, or anywhere else where crowds were gathered. Giovanni, having nothing else to do, went with them much of the time, and added his talents to the exhibition. He could turn "cart-wheels"until he looked like a real whirling wheel with only four spokes, and hecould walk on his hands. He was glad to display these accomplishments, for he liked being away from home, he liked Carina, and best of all heliked the Twins. The three became quite friendly, and Carlotta, seeingthis, smiled her sly smile, and winked knowingly at Giovanni's mother, as though to say: "You see, they are getting used to their new way ofliving. Soon they will forget their old home, and I shall have no moretrouble with them. "

Little by little the children came to know Venice better than they hadknown Florence, which is not saying much, since in Florence they had socompletely lost themselves. They could go from Giovanni's house to theRialto, the largest of the three bridges which span the Grand Canal, andfind their way through the maze of streets to the beautiful Piazza ofSan Marco. They liked best to go there, not only because it is the mostbeautiful spot in Venice, not even because it is said to be the finestpiazza in the world, but also because the flocks of pigeons flying aboutin clouds, and lighting upon their shoulders, made them think of theirown little garden in Florence. 

Carlotta liked the piazza because it was the best place in Venice togather in the soldi. There were always tourists in the square, walkingabout with guide-books in their hands, and reading passages about itshistory aloud to one another. Indeed, there was no end to the wonderfulthings in that famous square. There was the Church of San Marco itself, with its beautiful mosaics and the four splendid bronze horses over theentrance. There was the magnificent Ducal Palace, packed full ofthrilling stories of past splendour; and, back of it, spanning thecanal, the "Bridge of Sighs, " which led from the palace to a dark prisonon the other side. On the day she first saw that, Beppina shed tears, thinking of all the unhappy prisoners who had passed over the bridgenever to return. She knew how prisoners felt. 

Giovanni tried to comfort her. "Don't you fret about them, " he said. "They're as dead as they can be, all of 'em, and in purgatory or a worseplace, and you can't get 'em out no matter how hard you pray. Come on;let's go look at the clock. "

Beppina knew that Carlotta would be angry if they lingered, but stillshe crossed herself and murmured a hurried "Our Father" for the poorprisoners, on the chance of its helping them, before she ran back toBeppo and Giovanni. She found them standing before the greatclock-tower which rose above a high gateway over the street. It wasalmost noon, and a crowd had gathered to see the clock strike the hour. There was always a group waiting there on the hour, for this was noordinary clock. The children watched with breathless interest as twobronze giants on the platform high above their heads suddenly liftedtheir arms and struck a huge bell twelve times, then relapsed intobronze statues again. Giovanni told the Twins that at Christmas-timethe Three Wise Men came out of the clock and bowed before the Madonnaand Child. The Twins thought this could be nothing else than a miracle, but Giovanni, who was wise beyond his years, said it was just works inthe clock's insides. "It's no more a miracle than a stomach-ache insideof you, " he explained. 

There was no time for further revelations on the day this happened, forat that moment Carlotta called them. She was afraid the crowd woulddisperse before she had coaxed money from their pockets. Every momentthat they were not dancing or singing, the children wandered about thismagic place, where in every direction they looked there were wonderfulstories in bronze, marble, or mosaic. One could stay there a year andnot begin to know them all. If it rained, they took refuge under thearcade of the Ducal Palace or in the quiet interior of the Church of SanMarco itself. Sometimes they could even step in and pray before thealtar. Their prayers were always the same, that the Holy Virgin andSaint Anthony, the special guide of those who were lost, would take careof them and bring them safely again to their Babbo and Mammina and theirlovely home. 

Many days passed in this way, and it was the middle of May before thechildren ever rode in a boat, for though Giovanni's father had agondola, it was his business to take passengers about Venice just like acab-driver in our own cities, and he did not use it for pleasure ridesfor Giovanni and his friends. 

Then one afternoon when they returned from singing in the piazza, theyfound Luigi waiting to show Carlotta the boat which he had bought withthe money he received for the donkeys and the van. It was not agondola, but a _sandalo_, a large row-boat, with a pair of oars, suitedto carry either passengers or freight. 

"The weather is warm now, " said Luigi to Carlotta; "the tourists arealready lingering on the canals for pleasure in the evenings, and Ibelieve we should do well to let the children go about with me in theboat to sing. "

Though they were weary from dancing and singing all day in the streets, it would be far pleasanter to drift about on the canal in the eveningthan to spend it tossing about on the husk mattresses in Giovanni'ssqualid house, and the children listened with eager attention toCarlotta's reply. 

"As you like, " she said, shrugging her shoulders; and that very eveningthe plan was carried out. Luigi rowed the boat slowly about on theGrand Canal, and the sweet voices of the children, floating out over thestill waters, attracted the gondolas about them, and many soldi wereflung to the singers. 

As the weather grew warmer, the evenings on the canal grew longer andlonger. Sometimes the gondolas would join together in long chains andfloat about in the moonlight with every one joining in the singing. Onfestival nights there were Chinese lanterns in every prow, and theboats, flitting about over the water, looked like giant fireflies atplay. 

In this way three weeks drifted by, and at last it was June, and stillthe children had made no progress toward freedom. 

CHAPTER EIGHT. 

BEPPO HAS A PLAN. 

One day, when they had just finished a performance in the piazza andwere allowed to wander for a few moments by themselves, Beppo drewBeppina to the water's edge, and, looking up at the winged lion of SaintMark's, said to her, "Do you remember what Carlotta said about having tohave a boat, a railroad ticket, or wings to get out of Venice?"

Beppina remembered very well. 

"The wings on that lion made me think of it, " said Beppo, "and I'vethought of something else too. There's another thing you need, andthat's brains! I've got those, and I'm going to get out of thiswater-soaked old place or die in the attempt!"

"Oh, Beppo, " breathed Beppina, "how?"

"I've got it all planned, " said Beppo. 

"I guess Saint Anthony must have put it into your head, " sighed Beppina, "for he takes care of all the lost people. Anyway, you haven't thoughtof anything before. "

"I thought of this my own self, " said Beppo, rather resentfully. 

"Well, " said Beppina, clasping her hands, "you think, and I'll pray. I'm going to begin a novena. I'll pray hard to Saint Anthony every dayfor nine days, and ask him to please, please guide us! I'm going tobegin right now. " She crossed herself and began moving her lips inprayer, but got no farther than "Blessed Saint Anthony, " when Bepponudged her with his elbow. 

"Stop it!" he whispered, "here comes the old cat. " (He meant Carlotta. )"Don't you let her catch you praying to Saint Anthony, or she'll knowwhat we're up to. You can pray like fury, but say your prayers in yourheart, and then some night if I wake you up, you just keep as still as amouse and follow me. "

Carlotta reached them just then and ordered them to go with her back tothe Cathedral to sing, and all that day there was no chance for Beppo toexplain his great idea. Beppina caught him many times with his foreheadall snarled up as if he were trying to think how much 9 times 7 was, orsomething hard like that, but just what he had in mind she could notguess. 

That night when they were out in the boat, Beppo asked Luigi if he mighttry to row it home, and Luigi, being willing to loaf whenever it waspossible, said he might. Beppo did so well that night that on the nextLuigi allowed him to row as well as sing, and very soon Beppo came toknow his way about the Grand Canal better than he knew themultiplication-table--oh, much better!

At last one night, after they had gone to bed, Beppo lay still for along time, until he was sure that every one else in the room was asleep. Then he quietly woke Beppina, and the two slid from their mattresses tothe floor. Here they waited a moment, for the husks rattled a little, and then, as no one stirred, they moved stealthily to the door, carryingtheir shoes in their hands. They had slept in their clothes, for theystill wore the ones Carlotta had given them, and had not seen their ownsince the day she had made them change in the van. 

They almost suffocated with fright as they opened the door, for itcreaked and they feared the monkey would begin to chatter, but Carinawas tired, too, and slept as soundly as the rest. In a moment they hadquietly closed it behind them, and were feeling their way in the dark, down the stairs and through the passage at the bottom to the canalentrance of the house, where Mario and Luigi kept their oars. Beppo hadnoted carefully when they came in just where Luigi had placed his, and, feeling cautiously along the wall with his hands, was able to locatethem in the dark. He gave his shoes to his sister, took down the oars, and managed to get them to the door without knocking anything over ordropping them on the stone floor. 

Followed by Beppina, who was holding on to his coat and praying to SaintAnthony under her breath, he reached the water entrance to the house, and stood upon the landing. Luigi's boat and Mario's gondola were bothtied to a red pole beside the entrance. Beppo put one oar down on thestep, and with the other managed to reach the pointed prow of the boat, and draw it to the step. Then he leaped in, helped Beppina in with theshoes, took the other oar into the boat with him, and, untying the ropewhich fastened it to the pole, shot out into the stream. 

There was a scraping noise as the boat swung against the landing-step, and Beppo used the oar to push it away. There was also the rattling ofthe oar-locks, as he backed round and glided out into the canal, butthough he was nearly dead with excitement and fright, Beppo kept hishead. Never had he managed the boat so well. It slid through the waterlike a fish. They had gone two or three hundred feet and reached thepoint where the smaller waterway opened into the Grand Canal, whenBeppina was appalled to see the dim outline of another boat a littledistance behind them. "They're following!" she gasped. "Oh, Beppo, hurry!"

Beppo bent to his oars and the boat fairly shot through the water! Onand on they sped, past the great palaces now dark and grim in starlight, past the market-place, round the great curve of the canal, and soon totheir great relief the black boat was no longer following. 

"Do you suppose it was Luigi?" gasped Beppina. 

"No, " said Beppo, "he couldn't possibly have got after us so quickly, because I untied Mario's gondola too. It would drift away far enough soLuigi would have to swim to get it, and he couldn't do it in this time, I know. Maybe it was a police boat, or maybe it was some one going homelate. Anyway, he wasn't after us, so I don't care who he was. "

"Oh, Beppo, tell me your plan. Where are we going?" begged Beppina. 

"Keep still, " growled Beppo; "the less noise we make the more chancethere is of our getting away. "

Beppina crumpled up in the bottom and said no more, while Beppo made theboat skim on over the dark waters. At last he turned the prow towardshore and touched at a dock where many boats were already moored. Therewas no sign of life about the place, as they disembarked. There wasonly the soft lapping of the water to break the silence. 

"Stoop down, " whispered Beppo. "These are the boats that cross over toMestre on the mainland before daylight to bring fruit and vegetablesback to market, and it may be that some of the men sleep in the boats. We might wake them. "

For a few moments they listened, crouching down on the dock, and then, as they heard no sound, Beppo gave the sandalo a shove away from shore, and let go the rope. 

"Oh, " whispered Beppina, "why did you do that?"

"We don't want it any more, " answered Beppo, "and if they find it, they'll think we fell out and were drowned. Then they won't look forus. "

"Oh, Beppo, " said Beppina, "what a wonderful boy you are!"

"I've been planning this a long time, " Beppo answered, with a little ofhis old swagger; "but we aren't out of our troubles yet. "

They crept along the dock on their hands and knees until they came toone of the largest flat-bottomed boats in the fleet. Here Beppo paused, and, after carefully examining to be sure it was the one he was lookingfor, he helped Beppina aboard, and climbed in after her. There was apile of empty baskets and boxes at one end of the boat, and behind thesethe children hid themselves to wait for dawn. For a long time theycrouched there, listening to the thumping of their own hearts, and thelap-lap-lapping of the water, and at last, completely exhausted withfatigue and fright, curled up on the floor of the boat and fell soundasleep. 

CHAPTER NINE. 

THE ESCAPE. 

Beppo awoke next morning in the early dawn, and, forgetting where hewas, stretched his cramped legs. In doing so he kicked over a basket, which fell on Beppina. Beppina instantly sat up, and, blinking withsleep, said quite loudly, "Where are we?" She might well ask, forthere, directly in front of her, pulling stoutly at a pair of oars, sata short, thick-set man with brown skin and rings in his ears. The levelrays of the sun, just rising over Venice, shone full upon hisweather-beaten face and astonished eyes, as he gazed at the apparitionbefore him. Just then Beppo's head appeared beside his sister's, andthe man, overcome with astonishment, "caught a crab" and splashed bothchildren with water before he burst into speech. 

"Madonna mia!" he cried, "am I bewitched? How in the name of all thesaints in paradise did you get into this boat? You weren't in it when Ileft the dock!"

"Oh, yes, we were, " said Beppo. "We were behind the baskets. "

"But what are you here for?" demanded the man. 

"We want to go to Mestre, " said Beppo. 

The man regarded them suspiciously. "Do your folks know where you are?"he asked. 

"No, " said Beppo. "That's why we are here. We want to get back tothem. "

Beppina interrupted. "We were stolen away by gypsies, " she said. 

Then, still staring at them, the man asked, "Where are you from?"

"From Florence, " Beppo answered. 

The man threw back his head and laughed. "That's a likely story!" heroared. "From Florence! Ha, Ha! Very good, per Bacco! You are indeedclever liars! You are a pair of naughty little runaways, that's whatyou are, and if I had time I'd take you straight back to Venice now! Asit is, I'll wait until I get my load, and then back you go, and I hopeyou'll get a good spanking into the bargain. "

The children said nothing. They couldn't; they were crushed. Butduring the rest of the journey Beppo thought as he had never thought inhis life before, while Beppina prayed fervently under her breath. During the weeks that they had been so closely watched by Carlotta, Beppina had grown almost to read Beppo's thoughts, so when he furtivelytook her hand, lifted one eyebrow, and jerked his head in the directionof Mestre, she knew he meant to try to go forward no matter whathappened. 

They were now nearly across the lagoon and approaching the harbour. Early as it was, the water was already swarming with craft of alldescriptions, for Venice has to get all her supplies from the mainland, and many boats are required for the traffic. There was consequently agreat deal of shouting back and forth as the men jockeyed for the bestpositions at the dock. Their own brown boatman was so busy bawling athis competitors and shunting about that for a few moments he was unableto pay any attention to the children. At last, however, he crowded inbetween two other boats, and while he was explaining to their ownersthat they were the sons of pigs to take up so much room, Beppo seizedhis sister by the arm, and the two leaped into the next boat, from thatto a third, and then to the dock; and before their captor realised theywere gone, they were already speeding frantically up the dock. 

"Stop them! Stop them!" howled the boatman, climbing out and startingin pursuit. 

Two or three other men joined him, shouting, "Stop! Stop!" too, buttheir calls only lent speed to the flying feet of the runaways. Theydid not know where they were going, but they ran as rabbits run when thedogs are after them, and soon found themselves in the streets of thetown. The cries of their pursuers grew fainter, and were lostaltogether as Beppo suddenly dashed into a side street and they doubledon their tracks. 

From a safe hiding-place behind an old building in an alley they caughta glimpse of their pursuers as they turned back to the boats, talkingvolubly and gesticulating like windmills. They were telling the boatmanwho had brought the children over what they thought of him for gettingthem into such a wild-goose chase. Beppo actually chuckled as hewatched them go, so great was his relief. 

"Now, Beppina, " he said, almost gayly, "we'll hurry to the other end ofthe town as fast as we can go, and get something to eat. I've got tensoldi in my pocket that I picked up when Luigi wasn't looking, and I'mas hungry as a bear. They won't follow us any more, but we'll keep outof sight until the shops are open, anyway. "

For an hour or more they wandered quietly about, through the by-ways ofthe town, until they found a small bake-shop on an unfrequented street;and when an old woman appeared and took down the shutters, they went inand boldly asked for bread and cheese. The woman eyed them with somecuriosity, but asked no questions, and they got out as quickly aspossible and hid behind an empty house on the outskirts of the villageto eat their breakfast. 

"I'm sure of one thing, " said Beppo, as he munched his bread. "I'm notgoing to tell our story to any one after this. People would only thinkwe were lying. We'll find our own way to the villa, and earn our moneyas we go along. Padua is only about thirty miles from here, anyway. "

"Oh, Beppo, " said Beppina, much impressed, "how did you know that?"

"Geography, " said Beppo proudly. "You remember how I knew about Ravennaand Rimini, and, besides, the other day I asked a tourist to let me seethe map in the guidebook. Padua is almost straight west from here. Wecan go away from the sun in the morning and toward it in the afternoon, and we can't help running into it. We'll dance in the villages as we goalong, and when we get to Padua it will be easy enough to find thevilla. "

Beppina had some secret doubts. She remembered how sure Beppo was aboutfinding his way in Florence, but she didn't say a word. She was willingto take any risk if only they could keep out of the clutches ofCarlotta. 

"Do you suppose they are hunting for us in Venice?" she asked. 

"I shouldn't wonder, " answered her brother, glancing at the sun. Thenhe chuckled, "I'll bet they're mad! I hope they'll never find their oldboats!"

"Let's get away from here as fast as we can, " urged Beppina. "Theymight follow us, or they might send word to the police. "

"That's true, " said Beppo. "We can't be too careful. "

They had finished their breakfast by this time, and, taking theirdirection from the sun, set forth at once toward the west. Soon theywere out among the suburbs. Then they passed stately villas owned bywealthy Venetians, and beyond that came into open country. It was mucheasier walking than it had been in the mountains, for the land waslevel, or gently rolling, the villages were near together, and thehighways well travelled. Moreover, they had been hardened to muchwalking by their weeks of constant practice, and were able to trot alongthe road at a good rate of speed. 

At noon they reached a village, and here they decided to replenish theirlittle hoard of money, so, making their way to the piazza, theysurrounded themselves with a crowd for whom they danced the trescone andsang themselves hoarse. They were just gathering up the few coins thatwere thrown to them, when Beppo saw a policeman approaching, and, notwishing to take any chances, the two children instantly disappeared likesmoke down a side street, and out into the highway once more. 

By supper-time they had covered ten miles, and when night overtook them, they were in open farming country, surrounded by olive orchards, vineyards, and cornfields. In a field beside the road they came upon astraw-stack, and, hiding themselves on the farther side of it, they atethe bread and ham which they had bought on the way, and then, pullingthe straw down over them for covering, slept peacefully until morning. 

CHAPTER TEN. 

HOME AGAIN. 

The next day and the next passed in much the same way. They danced andsang in the villages to earn their bread, and then passed out again tothe highway, where there were sign-posts to guide them, or they couldask directions from fellow travellers. One night they passed in anolive orchard, under a spreading tree. Another was spent under theprotection of a wayside shrine. 

When he awoke in the morning, Beppo found his sister kneeling before theshrine. She turned a beaming face upon him as he opened his eyes. 

"Oh, Beppo mio, " she said, "I haven't forgotten once, and this is theninth day! I've made my novena! I'm almost sure the blessed SaintAnthony means to get us to Padua this very day. If he does, I think Ishall die of joy. "

"What would be the good of that?" Beppo inquired, practically. Then headded, "Anyway, I think it'll be very mean if he doesn't, after all thepraying you've done, and all my thinking too. "

They ate a hasty bite of bread beside the shrine, then trudged on, and, before the morning was over, actually found themselves passing throughthe beautiful gardens which surround the city of Padua. They entered itfrom the east by the Porta di' Pontecorbo, walked a short distance alonga wide street, crossed a canal, and, turning to the left, saw risingbefore them from a great open piazza the huge church of Saint Anthony ofPadua, crowned by its six domes and many spires. It was as if they hadknown every inch of the way, so directly had they come. 

The bells of the church were pealing joyfully, and the square was fullof people, all going toward the church, for it was the festa of SaintAnthony, though the children did not know it. 

Passers-by glanced curiously at the two queer, forlorn little figures, but no one spoke to them, and they stood for a moment uncertain what todo, or in what direction to go, when suddenly Beppina gave a shriek ofjoy, and, springing forward, threw her arms about a tall, stern-lookingwoman in a nurse's ruff and streamers who was hurrying toward the churchcarrying an immense loaf of bread in her hand. 

"Teresina!" screamed Beppina. 

The woman looked at the child in blank astonishment, but it was notuntil she saw Beppo that the light of recognition dawned in her face. Then, dropping the bread and falling upon her knees, she engulfed bothragged, dirty children in a wide embrace. 

"Oh, thanks be to God, the blessed Virgin, and Saint Anthony, you arefound again!" she cried, her eyes streaming tears and her tongue prayersof thanksgiving at the same time. "I was just on my way to offer thisbread at the shrine of the blessed Saint, and pray, as I have prayeddaily since you were lost, that you might be found again! And herebefore I have even been to the church at all, the blessed Saint hasheard my prayers, and you rise up before me as if out of the ground. Itis a miracle! Ah, Madonna mia! what tears the Signora has wept for you!And the Signore your father, he has not slept for seeking you! Come, come--do not delay! We must send word to the villa at once that theymay come running to meet you even as his father met the prodigal son. "

Her tongue ran so fast that the children had no chance to ask questions. A crowd now gathered about them, and when Teresina had explained thecause of the excitement and joy, sympathetic bystanders rushed to sendword to the villa, seven miles away, and to spread the good news thatthe children of the Marchese Grifoni, for whom the police had beensearching every town in Italy for two months, had now appeared in Padua. 

"It is not for nothing that Saint Anthony is the patron saint of all whosuffer loss, " said the pious ones, and many a candle was gratefullyoffered on his shrine that day. 

When her joy had a little subsided, Teresina gazed with horror at theTwins. They were indeed a terrifying spectacle. Ragged, thin, encrusted with dirt, with their toes sticking through their worn-outshoes, it is no wonder that she did not at once recognise the childrenof the Marchese. Grasping them by the hands as if she would never againlet them go, Teresina hurried them toward the Hotel Due Croci Bianche, which opened upon the square, followed by crowds of interestedspectators. The landlord himself, when the news reached him, came outto greet the wanderers and conduct them to a room. 

Teresina went with them, giving orders right and left as she flew downthe long corridor. 

"It is for the Marchese Grifoni!" she cried to the bewildered servants, as she hustled the children before her to the bath. "Bring soap, bringtowels, bring food, and for the love of Saint Anthony keep the wires hotto the villa. Never mind the cost, for the lost is found. They willreward you well. Tell them, for the love of Heaven, to bring clothesfor the Signorina and Don Beppo, and hurry, hurry, hurry!"

Then she shut the door upon her charges, and the process of purificationbegan. She rang the bell furiously a few moments later, and, openingthe door a crack, handed the servant who answered it a bundle, hastilywrapped in newspaper. 

"Their clothes, " she said briefly. "The Marchesa must not see them. Burn them at once!"

For one hour or more she scrubbed and shampooed, and all but boiled thewanderers alive in her frantic efforts to get them clean before theirmother should be able to reach them. 

At last a carriage, drawn by a pair of steaming black horses, dashed upto the hotel, and the beautiful Marchesa, pale but radiant, sprang outand, attended by the landlord himself, hurried to the room where herlost ones waited to embrace her! Teresina opened the door, and, stepping into the hall, left the mother and children together with nohuman eye to see that meeting! Red-eyed herself, and wiping her nosevigorously on her apron, she went down to tell the footman all the news, and to get the bundle of clothes for the children, which in the hasteand excitement had been left in the carriage. 

An hour later, the Marchesa and two very clean and happy children cameout of the hotel, followed by Teresina. The coachman, grinning, asTeresina said, "like a cracked melon, " greeted the children as if hewere an old friend, and the Marchesa, standing in her carriage, scattered tips with a lavish hand. They drove away with the landlordbowing from the doorway, and the crowd shouting vivas as long as thecarriage was in sight. 

It was a long drive over beautiful, winding roadways to the villa, andevery inch of the way the Marchesa sat with her arms clasped about herdarlings telling them of their father, who was still in Florenceconducting the search, of the baby, who had six teeth and was fat asbutter, and hearing from them the tale of their adventures, whileTeresina beamed at them from the opposite seat. 

At last they rounded a well-remembered curve in the road, and there, shining down on them from the summit of a hill overlooking the village, was their own white, vine-covered villa. The children shouted with joywhen they saw it, and Beppina threw a kiss. 

Then they heard a great shouting down the road. All the village hadcome out to greet the children of their beloved Marchesa. Old andyoung, they swarmed about the carriage, shouting "Ben trovati, " whichmeans "Welcome, " and tossing flowers at the feet of the returnedtravellers. Ah, what a happy time it was!

At last the carriage stood before the loggia of the villa, and when hisold dog, barking with joy, came bounding out to meet them, Beppo, whohad been dry-eyed and brave through all the dreadful weeks, buried hishead in Tonio's shaggy fur and gave way to tears. 

After the baby had been kissed, and the servants greeted, and all thedear, familiar places visited once more, it was time for supper, and, oh, what a supper it was! The cook, the moment the wonderful news hadreached the villa, had flown to the kitchen, and there she had cookedall their favourite dishes. There were artichokes for Beppina, and_stufato_ for Beppo, and a cake as soft and light as thistle-down fordessert. In the evening they received a telegram of welcome from theirdear Babbo in Florence, for the good news had been flashed across thewires to him and all the servants in the Grifoni palace were rejoicingtoo. 

When bedtime came, instead of lying down upon straw, or a husk mattress, the Twins had their own mother to tuck them in their own white beds intheir own dear, clean rooms, and then to sing them to sleep as she haddone when they were little, little children. 

Long after they were safe in dreamland, the Marchesa lingered besidetheir beds, and then, throwing herself upon her knees before the imageof the Madonna in her own room, she poured out her grateful heart inthanksgiving to that other Mother who had lived and suffered too. 

APPENDIX. 

SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS. 

The citizens of America are one and all the descendants of immigrants, and they must never lose their sympathy with the things that are best inforeign lands. Italy has sent us hundreds of thousands of new citizens;and these people and their children are among the most loyal Americans. Between the United States and Italy there has been a long friendship, without mistrust and without strife. This is because the nationalideals of the United States and of Italy are so much alike, and becauseeach country possesses a great, industrious, peace-loving population. In America, the Italians "find an opportunity to go forward in thosepaths which most warmly appeal to them, and which they can follow withno breach of tradition, no break of affections, no sundering of ancientand beloved ties. " Italy, like us, has her great national heroes--Garibaldi, Mazzini, and Cavour, to mention only a few--whose deeds maywell inspire our people. Italy's music, art, and literature arepriceless possessions which are adding richness to our Americancivilisation. 

"Americanisation" in its best sense is the need of the hour; but thisword means not alone the converting of the foreign-born into voters inthis country, but also the fusing of their highest ideals into our own. Teachers can use _The Italian Twins_ as the earliest introduction toItalian homes and ways, and can build up from the impression it makesupon children, a full appreciation of the sterling qualities of theItalian people. 

_The Italian Twins_ can also be correlated with American governmentthrough the use by teachers of Webster's _Americanisation andCitizenship_; pupils can read Bryant's _I Am an American_. History canbe correlated through the reading, either to the pupils or by them, ofTappan's _Story of the Roman People, Our European Ancestors_, and_American Hero Stories_; also Moores's _Christopher Columbus_ andStevenson's _Poems of American History_. Italian art is wellillustrated by several volumes in the _Riverside Art Series_, and inHurll's _How to Show Pictures to Children_. 

For a background of Italian history teachers are referred to Davis's_History of Mediaeval and Modern Europe_ and to Sedgwick's _ShortHistory of Italy_. Certain aspects of Italian literature are introducedthrough Kuhns's _Great Poets of Italy_ and Crane's _Italian PopularTales_. Numerous books interpret Italian life and manners; for example, Hawthorne's _French and Italian Note-Books_, Forman's _The Ideal ItalianTour_, Potter's _A Little Pilgrimage in Italy_, James's _Italian Hours_, and Howells's _Italian Journeys_. 

Pupils will delight in reading "The Buried Treasure, " in the _RiversideFourth Reader_; "An Italian Boy at School" (De Amicis), in Bolenius's_Sixth Reader (The Boys' and Girls' Readers_); and the play, "Christopher Columbus, " in Stevenson's _Children's Classics in DramaticForm_, Book III. 

Earlier books in the Twins Series contain many other specificsuggestions which teachers can readily adapt to the present story.