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Everything we take the trouble to learn in our youth, even the most futile, is of use. If my wife had not received a man's education an unheard-of thing in Italy I should have been obliged to chop wood to get my living here. Povera Francesca! who would have told me that she would some day maintain me!"
I must confess that no other of my door-step acquaintance had so clear an idea as this one of the difference between things here and at home. To the minds of most we seemed divided here as there into rich and poor, signori, persone eivili, and povera gente, and their thoughts about us did not go beyond a speculation as to our individual willingness or ability to pay for organ-grinding.
Ah, now your smile is just as delicious but don't wrinkle your forehead like that; it is full of lines. So that is better. You make the eyes sad sometimes; eyes should be the windows that let light into the soul; they should be glad and admit only sunshine." Then with one of his lightning transitions of mood, he added, not without a ring of emotion, "Mia povera bella."
"But it will soon be over now, my child," he said, "all the trouble and the nursing. You have been very good to the poor forestiere since the povera went to the blessed saints. I shall soon see her again, and Anita, and the little Giulio, in the better country that the signorina was reading about, better, she says, than the patria itself, with its olives and vines. Ah!
"But I think even a soul may grow tired!" said Morgana, suddenly "so tired that even the Highest Good may seem hardly worth possessing!" There was a moment's silence. "Povera figlia!" murmured Aloysius, hardly above his breath, but she caught the whisper, and smiled. "I am too analytical and pessimistic," she said "Let us all go for a ramble among the flowers and down to the sea!
"Ma! no! But he tore the lace on her dress with his teeth and grazed her hand. It was little, but enough. He will bite no more povera bestia!" I gave the fellow five francs. "I liked the dog," I said briefly, "he was a faithful creature. Bury him decently under that tree," and I pointed to the giant cypress on the lawn, "and take this money for your trouble."
I said that I must come with her, whereupon she began to cry bitterly, to call me heartless and cruel, to pity herself in the most deplorable terms. She nursed and fondled herself by name. "Povera Virginia! Poor little Virginia, that works so hard for her tyrant and gives herself no rest. But he is cruel more cruel than if he beat her stabs her heart with cold words, rends it with sharp fingers.
"I think we had better stay at any rate till the auction is finished and we have had something to eat. Then we will go." "Va bene." The boy sounded doubtful. "La povera signora!" he said. "How disappointed she will be! She did want to speak to me. Her face was all red; she was so excited when she saw me, and her mouth was wide open like that!"
But in a moment she heaved a deep sigh, and said, "Too tired! too tired!" And then she threw the doll away from her and closed her eyes. La povera Mamma picked up the doll and put it away in a drawer, and then she sat still and looked at Teresina, with the tears rolling down her face.
Signore, she the povera signora she took his head in her hands. She held his head and she never cried, not a tear!" The man brushed his hand across his eyes. "Povera signora! Povera signora!" murmured the doctor. "And she comforted Gaspare, too!" Giuseppe added. "She put her arm round him and told him to be brave, and help her.
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