CHAPTER XVI
THE ADVICE
Under these conditions it was a pleasure and relief to Mrs. Menotti tosee the pastor walking up the garden path. He came frequently toinquire after the health of the little one. As usual he was dressed inhis long black coat.
"Silvio, the pastor is coming; isn't that nice?" said Mrs. Menotti, asshe 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 hishead with the bedclothes.
"My little boy is out of humor to-day, and I am sure he didn't meanwhat 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 hewalked straight over to the bed, although there was not a bit ofSilvio in sight. He said: "God bless you, my son, how are you feeling,and why do you hide yourself like a little fox? Creep out of there andtell 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 whatSilvio means, for I want your advice very much."
Mrs. Menotti recited in detail all that she knew about Stineli, thereason why they wished for her, and the obstacles in the way ofgetting her. "I have thought," she said, "that it might be a goodthing for the girl to get away from those wicked people, and I wonderif you can think of a safe way to bring her here."
"I think," said the pastor, "that you have been misinformed aboutthose people in the mountains. I am sure that there are kind-heartedmen and women living there as well as here. People travel so much inthese days that I am sure that it cannot be much of a task to get upthere. One thing I am positive about is that the journey can be takenin absolute safety. I know some live-stock dealers who regularly makethe trip from Bergamo to the mountains, and who will be able to tellme all about it. Since you are interested, I will see one of the menas soon as I go to Bergamo and I will let you know when I return."
Silvio's eyes had grown larger as the pastor spoke, and he began tofeel a great respect for the man who could so ably take his part. Whenthe pastor extended his hand to Silvio in parting, the boy fairlyplunged his little palm into the larger one, as much as to say, "Youdeserve it now."
Weeks passed by as Mrs. Menotti waited to hear further news from theminister, but Silvio's patience did not again fail him. He felt surethat the good man would help him to get what he wished.
When Rico heard that there was hope of his being sent for Stineli, heforgot that he had ever been sad. The expectation of having her thereto enjoy the beautiful scenes and to share his companionship fairlymade the world over for him. His serious expression gave way to ahappy one, and his purpose so animated him that it added a new charmto his manner. He went often to see Silvio, and took pleasure inentertaining him by relating incidents of his active life among thepeople with whom he lived. He stopped playing the dreamy airs andsubstituted those more suited to his present mood. He played so wellby this time that Mrs. Menotti was proud of his ability, and she oftengave up a walk in order to listen to him. It was here, with those wholoved him, that Rico enjoyed the music he had learned. The only regretof the day came when he had to bid them good night and go away, for italways brought afresh the longing for a home of his own.
The change in Rico was noticed at the hotel where he lived. Thelandlady was much astonished one morning to have him ask her to hiresome one else to care for the chickens and outbuildings. He thoughtthat he had performed those duties as long as was necessary, and hepreferred to be released also from blacking shoes and from similarwork. The landlady remarked that he was indeed getting fastidious, butshe was too wise to remonstrate, for she knew that there would stillbe enough for him to do.
Mrs. Menotti had liberally provided Rico with wearing apparel. Sheselected as carefully in material and workmanship as if he were herown child. The landlady said that he always went about looking like alittle prince, and she meant to find no fault in regard to the work hechose to do. "I am sure," she said to her husband, "that since hebrings so much money from the dances where he plays, I ought not toobject to the slight expense of hiring a boy to do the menial workabout the house and garden. Rico has been a credit to us so far."
The years had passed rapidly since Rico came to Peschiera. The vague,dreamy look in his eyes had given place to one of purpose anddetermination. He had the appearance of one much older than he was.
Another autumn was at hand. The purple grapes were temptingly ripe onthe vines, and the oleander blossoms sparkled in the sunshine. Onemorning, about the usual time for Rico to arrive at Mrs. Menotti's,Silvio was listening for his step on the garden walk. He heard thegate open, but when he raised himself to look, there was the pastorinstead of Rico! Silvio did not hide under the covers; instead, heclapped his hands, shouting, "Mamma, the pastor is here," andstretched his arms to him as soon as he entered the room.
This cordial welcome pleased the minister, and he went directly toSilvio's bed, although he had seen the mother gathering some figs inthe garden. He took the little one in his arms and said, "How is ourSilvio to-day?"
"Well, thank you. When can Rico go?"
The good man laughed. "To-morrow morning, my son; he is to go at fiveo'clock," he answered.
Later the pastor explained to Mrs. Menotti that he had just returnedfrom Bergamo, where he had spent a few days. He had looked up a stockdealer, according to his promise, and found that the man had maderegular trips to the mountains for the last thirty years; every bit ofthe way that Rico would have to go was familiar to him. It so happenedthat he had made his plans to go up again, and if they would send Ricoon the early morning train, he would take him along and see that hewas well cared for; moreover, he had said that as he was acquaintedwith all the coachmen and conductors on the way, he would arrange fora safe return trip, so that the young travelers could not possibly goastray.
"I wish that I could be certain that no harm would come to Rico," saidMrs. Menotti to the pastor, as she accompanied him to the gate on hisdeparture that morning.
"You have no reasonable cause for worry," replied the pastor. "Let thechild go in peace, and we will pray God to bless the journey."
Just at this moment Rico came in sight. Silvio saw him from thedoorway and shouted: "Don't tell him! Please don't tell him! I want totell him myself. Come, Rico; I have something wonderful to tell you."
Mrs. Menotti left the boys alone while she packed some things for thejourney. In a large traveling bag she put a great piece of smoked ham,a loaf of fresh bread, a package of dried fruit, some figs fresh fromthe garden, and a bottle of her best fruit juice wrapped in a napkin;next came shirts, stockings, shoes, handkerchiefs, and various otherthings, so that one might suppose that Rico were going for a month'sstay instead of a week.
"How much I have learned to care for that boy," she thought, as shelooked about to make sure that nothing had been forgotten, and herheart sent up a silent prayer for a safe journey.
"I think you had better take this bag to the station now, Rico," shesaid to him when she came downstairs. "Silvio has told you that youare to go on the early train, and you will wish to explain matters tothe landlady. You must ask her if it greatly inconveniences her to letyou go so soon."
Rico was astonished to find that he was expected to take a travelingbag of such huge proportions, but knowing that loving hands hadprepared it, he did not remonstrate, but took it gladly and did as hewas directed.
When Rico told the landlady that the pastor had planned for him to goto the mountains in the morning to get Stineli, she took it forgranted that the girl was his sister, and inferred that the sisterwould live with them. Rico's statement that Stineli was to live withMrs. Menotti undeceived her. It was a disappointment, but she gave herconsent, feeling thankful to Mrs. Menotti for not having tried to getRico.
"It must be that Rico likes it here," said the landlady to some gueststh
at evening, "because he is going back to get his sister." She meantto let those people in the hills know how good a place the boy had, soshe packed a large basket with sausages, cheese, and boiled eggs, andspread a loaf of bread with fresh butter, saying: "You mustn't behungry on the trip. If I put up more than you need, they will nodoubt be glad to have some up there; besides, you must have somethingon the way back, for you will surely come back to me, won't you,Rico?"
"In a week I will be here again," said Rico. He took his violin andwent over to bid Silvio and the mother good-by. He asked them to carefor his violin, for he would not have dared to intrust it to any oneelse. Rico could not spend the evening with them, because he wasexpected to go to bed early. Mrs. Menotti's motherly farewell made hisheart go out to her in gratitude, and Silvio's "Come back soon" rangin his ears again and again as he walked through the darkness to thehotel.