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There it was, just as Rico had described it, but more, much more lovely; for such colors Stineli had never seen before. She looked about her towards the purple mountains, across the golden waters, and she cried out with all her heart, "Yes, it is finer than the Lake of Sils." But Rico felt that it had never yet been so exquisitely beautiful as on this evening when he and Stineli saw it together.
Menotti to do; and she stood gazing at the nimble, willing girl, who had soon served Silvio also, as he lay in bed, cutting his food for him, and helping him neatly and rapidly, which pleased the child very much. Mrs. Menotti seated herself, saying, "I have not had such help as this in many a year; but, come now, Stineli: sit down, and eat with us."
At last he turned again to Stineli, who had been gathering the soft green moss that grew around the spot where they were lying, and of which she made a tiny bed with two pillows and a coverlet. She meant to carry them home to the sick Urschli. "You say I had better stay at home, Stineli; but, do you know, it is just as if I did not know where my home really is."
But Stineli was too much excited to be subdued by any thing. She ran on towards her grandmother, and said, "You have no idea how beautifully Rico can fiddle; and we have made a song of our own, for ourselves only. We will sing it to you this very moment."
They sprang up quickly, and ran off, hand in hand, down the hill-side through bushes, and through the snow across the meadow; and it had scarcely stopped ringing when they reached the door where the grandmother was on the lookout for them. Stineli had to go at once into the house, and her grandmother said quickly, "Go home directly, Rico, and do not hang around the door any longer."
"What did you say, Rico?" she cried out. "What did you say just now? Tell me again." "I told you my father's name." Mrs. Menotti was not listening: she ran towards the door. "Stineli, bring me a kerchief," she cried. "I must go to the priest at once: I am trembling all over." In great surprise, Stineli brought out the kerchief.
Menotti to see the long black coat of the kind-hearted old priest, who had not been to visit her for a long time, coming through the garden gate. She sprang up from her seat, crying out joyfully, "Look, Silvio; there comes the dear, good priest!" and went towards him. But Silvio, in his anger over every thing, said, as loud as he could, "I would rather it were Stineli!"
"Stineli made it up," replied Rico, very seriously. The students looked at each other at these words, and burst out again with laughter. "So Stineli made it up, did she? Then we must drink her health over it." Rico had to join in drinking the toast, and was nothing loath to drink to Stineli's health.
Stineli tried to console him a little with the half-gulden; but he was furious at the thought of the innocent piece of money, and would not even look at it. So Stineli said, "I will put it with my blutsgers, and we will have it all between us."
How good God is to let it all turn out in this way, that I can give it all to you, and yet stay here myself with a clear conscience. I will be a mother to you, Rico; and indeed you have long been as dear to me as if you were my own child. Now you must call me 'mother, and so must Stineli; and we shall be the happiest household in all Peschiera."
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