CHAPTER XVIII
TWO HAPPY TRAVELERS
The return trip had been fully explained to Rico, and he knew thatthey must leave Sils in the evening. Sam was going with Stineli andRico as far as Sils; the rest of the family gathered about the doorand waved farewell to them until they were lost to view.
"If grandmother could only see us!" said Stineli, as they neared thelittle church. "Let us go over to her grave for a moment." This theydid, for Stineli knew exactly where it was.
"Are the two children here who are to go to Lake Garda?" they heardthe coachman say as soon as he arrived.
Rico and Stineli stepped forward. "All right," said the man. "I haveinstructions to look after you. The coach happens to be full inside,but I am thinking that you are young enough to like it up here withme." He helped them up, tucked a large blanket around them because thenight was cool, and then the stage rolled on.
This was the first time that Rico and Stineli had been alone since hecame back, and they were both glad of the opportunity to sit socozily in the starry night and feel again the sweet companionship thatthey had given up long ago. They had so much to say that they sleptbut little during the night. They reached Lake Como in the morning,and arrived in Peschiera on the same train that had carried Rico whenhe came before. He led Stineli by a roundabout way in order to keepthe view of the lake hidden by the trees until they came to hisfavorite place on the bridge.
Suddenly it burst upon them in all its beauty, as Rico had oftenwished to describe it, only it seemed much more beautiful to Rico nowthat Stineli was seeing it, too. He rejoiced to hear her saypresently, "Oh, it _is_ prettier than Lake Sils--ever so muchprettier."
They sat down on the bridge, and for the first time Rico spoke toStineli about his mother. He told her how well he remembered her, andhow often they had been together on this bridge, and how much they hadcared for each other.
"Then your home must have been here," said Stineli. "Where did you gowhen you left the bridge? Can't you remember that?"
"Yes, I know just where we went, but I can't find the house.Everything is just as it used to be until I get to the station; Inever saw that until I came here by myself, and I think they musthave taken the house away."
The sun was low in the heavens before they left the bridge. Rico wassecretly rejoicing over the fact that their coming would be asurprise, for they were not expected for a week and here they were atthe garden!
"What a lovely place!" exclaimed Stineli. "What gorgeous flowers!"
Silvio's sharp ears heard this exclamation. He pulled himself up inbed and called to his mother, "I do believe that Rico has come withStineli."
Mrs. Menotti hastily ran to her son, fearing that he was ill, but justat that moment Rico appeared. How glad she was to see him safely back!Her surprise and warm welcome were more than Rico had anticipated.Before Rico had time to present Stineli the girl had gone directly toSilvio's bed, speaking to him so kindly that he put his arms aroundher neck and gave her the greatest hug his little arms were capable ofgiving. Mrs. Menotti told Rico that she was more than satisfied withthe girl's appearance, and he had no fears about her conduct.
Although she spoke no Italian, Stineli found various ways in which shecould immediately make herself useful. The Latin words she had learnedin school helped her, and she tactfully used motions when Rico didnot explain for her. She carried the tray with Silvio's supper to hisbed and cut the food for him, propping him up comfortably with pillowsbefore she joined the mother and Rico in the dining room. After supperStineli made the others go to Silvio until she had finished the work,and then she joined them.
She began to amuse Silvio with a little gift that she had brought inher pocket so that it might be convenient when she wished to give itto him. It was simply a number of wooden figures, with faces anddresses gaily painted on them, and put together on a central piece sothat they would dance comically when shaken out. This was Peter'shandiwork, and it afforded Silvio unceasing amusement. Stineli alsomade the shapes of animals with her hands, and let Silvio watch theshadows on the wall. The mother could hear him say, "A rabbit! Ananimal with horns! A long-legged spider!"
The clock struck ten before they thought it could possibly be so late.Rico immediately arose, for it was his usual time to leave, but a darkcloud seemed to settle on his face as he said good night and went out.
Stineli noticed that something was wrong with Rico, so she followedhim to the garden. She took his hand impulsively and said: "You havebeen so good to bring me here, Rico, that I shall be very sorry ifyou are not going to be happy. You can come over every day; don't youthink we can be happy?"
"Yes, and every night, no matter how happy we are here, I have to goaway and remember that I don't belong to anybody."
"But you must not think that, because you and I have always belongedto each other. If you only knew how I missed you all those long yearsthat you were away! Many times I had to work so hard that I wouldrather not have lived at all, but I used to think that I would gladlybear it if I could just see you once more. Now that everything hasturned out so beautifully, I am sure that we ought to be happy."
"Really, Stineli, I will try," said Rico, and the cloud vanished asthey stood with clasped hands for a moment before he left the garden.
Stineli bade Silvio good night when she returned to the house, but hegrasped her hand and begged her to stay with him.
"Very well," said the mother, "Stineli may stay, but to-morrow shewill be ill, and you will have to do without her."
"Then go to sleep now, but come early in the morning," said the boy.
Mrs. Menotti had prepared a cozy room upstairs for Stineli. Itoverlooked the garden, and the outdoor fragrance greeted them as theyentered. The girl went to sleep feeling assured that her new homewould prove to be a happy one.
At first Stineli was handicapped in her new surroundings by herignorance of Italian, but it was remarkable how well she and Silvioentertained each other. He was always obedient and cheerful in herpresence, and complained of loneliness whenever she was gone. Mrs.Menotti noticed with gratitude how rapidly her son was gaining instrength. He enjoyed his meals more than ever before, for Stineliliked to arrange things prettily, and to plan surprises for him on histray. Then, too, he slept better and longer than had been his custom.
Stineli was tireless in her efforts to please the sick child. Sheadapted everything at hand to his entertainment. Having always livedwith children, she understood how to amuse them. In a remarkably shorttime she had learned all the Italian that Silvio used. She soon beganto tell him stories, although some words failed her and others camewith painful slowness for a time.
Now that Mrs. Menotti was freed from the care of Silvio, she formedthe habit of going to meet Rico when she saw him coming. She wasalways eager to express her appreciation of Stineli.
"I hadn't supposed that a young girl could be so thoughtful," she saidat one time. "She does things for Silvio from morning until night asif it were a real pleasure to her, and she knows as much abouthousekeeping as a woman. I feel as if it were Sunday every day." Riconever tired of hearing Stineli praised.
Any one seeing the group sitting so cozily together when Rico wasthere would have taken them to be a very happy family, and so theywere until the hour arrived for Rico to leave them. His face darkenedevery night so that Stineli was worried, but Mrs. Menotti was too muchabsorbed in Silvio's happiness to notice it.