CHAPTER XIX
CLOUDS AT LAKE GARDA
One evening when Rico came, he said that he could not be with themagain for two days, as he must go to Riva to play for a dance. Thiswas a disappointment to them all, and especially to Stineli. "I hopethe weather will be good," she said; "then you will have such a finesail on the lake. It will be beautiful, too, coming back in themoonlight."
Everything Rico played that night was sad, and he failed, in spite ofhis efforts, to shake off his wretchedness. Long before it was teno'clock he put up his violin and rose to go. Mrs. Menotti urged him tostay, but she did not notice his unhappy face.
"I will go with Rico for a little way," said Stineli.
"No, no; don't go away, Stineli!" cried Silvio.
"Stay with him, Stineli; never mind me," said Rico, with the samefinality with which he had said, "There is no use to think of it,"after his interview with the teacher, when he had found out the priceof a violin.
Stineli whispered to Silvio, "Be a brave little boy, dearie, and don'tcry for me; then I will tell you ever so many stories to-morrow." Asusual he obeyed her.
When Rico and Stineli came to the garden gate he said: "Go back,Stineli; you belong there and I belong to the street. I am only apoor, homeless orphan, so just let me go and don't worry."
"No, no, you shall not leave me while you feel in this way. Where canwe go to talk a little while?"
"To the bridge," answered Rico, eagerly.
They walked on in silence, and after reaching their favorite place onthe bridge, stood listening to the splash of the waves below themuntil Rico said, "Really, Stineli, if it were not for you, I wouldn'tstay here any longer. I would go ever so far away, it would makelittle difference where, since there is no one that cares for me and Ishall always have to live in hotels, and sleep in storerooms, and playfor dances where people act as if they were crazy. Since I have seenyou living with these good people, I have wished that my mother hadthrown me into the lake before she died, so that I need not have cometo be what I am."
"O Rico, how dare you think such wicked thoughts, much less expressthem! It must be that you have been neglecting the Lord's Prayer oryou would not be so unhappy," said Stineli.
"It is true," said Rico; "I have not said it, and I am sure I haveforgotten it altogether by this time."
"But how dare you live so?" asked Stineli. "Just think howgrandmother would worry about you if she knew that! You must rememberhow she said to us, 'The one that forgets to pray will have a hardtime.' You must learn the prayer again. Let us sit down here and Iwill teach it to you."
After Stineli had repeated the prayer twice she said, "You can seefrom this that the whole kingdom belongs to God, and you can trust Himto find a home for you, because it also says that the power is His."
"If He has a home for me in His kingdom and has the power to give it,He clearly doesn't want to," retorted Rico.
"Have you asked Him to give it to you?"
"No."
"Grandmother said that we must ask for things we want. It is verylikely that He thinks you can ask Him if you really want anything."
After a moment's silence Rico said, "Say the prayer once more; I willlearn it."
In a short time they were walking back to the garden, where theyparted for the night. On the way to the hotel Rico thought of thekingdom and the power. He felt convinced that he had neglected asacred duty, and that night, in his cheerless attic room, he knelt byhis bed and prayed.
Stineli meant to go in as soon as Rico left her, and tell Mrs.Menotti of his unhappiness, hoping that she might help the boy to findsome more suitable employment, since he so disliked playing fordances, but this intention was not carried out, for Silvio had beentaken suddenly ill while she was gone, and was lying exhausted on hispillow, flushed and breathing heavily. The mother sat crying softlybeside him. Stineli had never seen him ill before, and she stoodwondering what she should do.
Mrs. Menotti soon noticed her presence and said: "Sit down, Stineli;he is better now, and I should like to tell you about something thattroubles me greatly. You are young, but I feel sure it will do me goodto have you know about it.
"When Mr. Menotti and I were first married, he brought me here fromRiva, where my father is still living. An old friend of my husband'slived here, but he wished to go away for a few years, because his wifehad died and he found it too hard to live here without her; he wantedus to live on his place while he was away. He had a little house and alarge farm of not especially good land, but since Mr. Menottiunderstood perfectly how to manage a farm, it was agreed between them,as intimate friends, that there was to be no rent; we were simply tokeep everything in good condition so that he would find his place inorder when he returned.
"A few years later the railway officials decided to build on the land,and paid much more than it was worth to get it. Mr. Menotti took themoney, and being able to buy much better land, including this garden,he built this house. There was money enough to pay for it all. Theland brought rich returns, and we prospered to such an extent that Iwas worried, for it did not belong to us. Mr. Menotti was happy overit because he had such a pleasant surprise for his friend, to whom hemeant to turn it all over as soon as he returned; but he never came.
"As Silvio grew older, and I saw how weak he was, I feared that hisillness might be sent as a punishment to us for living upon theprofits of another's money, and I have felt the same to-night. Mr.Menotti died four years ago. I am sure I would gladly give things overto the rightful owner, if I could, but I don't know where to find him.The man may be sick somewhere, or in need, and it worries me beyondmeasure."
"I think you have no reason to worry, since you have done the best youcould," said Stineli. "My grandmother taught me to ask God to makethings right, if it was beyond my own power.
"_I_ am worried about Rico," Stineli continued, "and I can do nothingfor him, so I have asked God to help him, and Rico has promised thathe will do his part. I feel sure that this burden can be lifted fromyou in the same way, if you will only ask Him to make it right in Hissight. My grandmother has taught me that we are all governed inharmony by the Creator so long as we seek the divine will. It is likea great chorus in which every member sings in tune because he isgoverned by the harmony of music, and so I always try to put myselfback where I belong, when I feel any discord. I have never beendisappointed in trusting God with the results."
"You are a wise girl, Stineli, and you have truly comforted me," saidMrs. Menotti, as she kissed Stineli and bade her good night.