Part 9 (1/2)

Mrs. Menotti knew of whom they were speaking, for she had often heard Rico mention her during the years he had been with them. ”Yes,” she said, ”it would be delightful if we could have her, but my little boy must not forget to be reasonable.”

”But we _can_ have her, mamma,” broke in Silvio. ”Rico knows where she is, and he can go to-morrow and bring her to us.”

Mrs. Menotti had for some time secretly wished that Rico might find for her some one to a.s.sist in the care of Silvio, but she would not for a moment consider letting the boy go back to the perils from which he had so fortunately escaped. She sought to change the subject of conversation between the children, and endeavored to interest them in other things, but she failed to keep them from going back to the original subject. Silvio would invariably say, ”Rico knows where she is and he must get her.”

”Do you suppose that Rico will deliberately go among those wicked people to get her, when he can stay here in safety?” asked the mother.

”Will you?” said Silvio, fastening his large blue eyes upon Rico.

”Surely, I will go,” said Rico enthusiastically.

”Rico, have you lost your senses?” exclaimed Mrs. Menotti. ”What do you suppose I can do with you when you both begin to be unreasonable?

You had better play something for Silvio, Rico, and I will go to the garden for a while. By the time I get back I shall hope to find two good, sensible boys.”

The boys, however, did not care for music to-night, and they talked, instead, of possible ways of bringing Stineli to them and of how it would seem to have her there.

When she returned from the garden, where she had enjoyed the quiet evening, Mrs. Menotti had to remind Rico that it was time to go home.

Silvio urged his mother for a promise that Rico might be allowed to go for Stineli, and both boys eagerly awaited her answer.

”You may feel differently about it in the morning, children,” she said. ”I want you to go to sleep in peace; possibly before the night is over I can think of a way to satisfy you.”

Early the following morning Silvio raised himself in bed to see if his mother was awake and said, ”Have you thought of a way, mamma?”

Mrs. Menotti could not say that she had, and again the child's discontent broke out. All that day and the next and for many days thereafter he would not be comforted. Mrs. Menotti thought it was only a fancy and would wear itself out, but the extra strain upon the boy began to tell upon his health to such an extent that the mother became alarmed. She was convinced that Silvio ought to have a companion, and she resolved to consult with some trustworthy person, to see if it were possible to get a child from the hills in safety. Mrs. Menotti understood that Rico had escaped from ill treatment in the hill country, and she avoided asking him questions about his past life, hoping that he was young enough to let silence efface all unpleasant memories. On this account she felt quite unwilling to let him undertake the journey, and even the consideration of such a possibility brought to her a fuller realization of how necessary he had become to their own happiness.

CHAPTER XVI

THE ADVICE

Under these conditions it was a pleasure and relief to Mrs. Menotti to see the pastor walking up the garden path. He came frequently to inquire after the health of the little one. As usual he was dressed in his long black coat.

”Silvio, the pastor is coming; isn't that nice?” said Mrs. Menotti, as she went to the door to meet him.

”I don't want to see him. I wish it were Stineli,” said Silvio, pouting. Then seeing that the pastor had heard him, he covered his head with the bedclothes.

”My little boy is out of humor to-day, and I am sure he didn't mean what he said,” apologized the mother.

They heard the boy under the covers say, ”I did mean it.”

The pastor must have suspected where the voice came from, for he walked straight over to the bed, although there was not a bit of Silvio in sight. He said: ”G.o.d bless you, my son, how are you feeling, and why do you hide yourself like a little fox? Creep out of there and tell me what you mean by Stineli.”

Instantly Silvio's head was out and he said, ”Rico's Stineli.”

”You must be seated, pastor,” said Mrs. Menotti. ”I will tell you what Silvio means, for I want your advice very much.”