ignorina, "because," said he, "it is well
to respect women." "But Henrighetta is only a little girl," said
Barnaba. "Pshaw, she'll be a woman some day," laughed Guido, and twirled
on his toes, "and I'll be a man." And he pulled away at some very
make-believe moustaches, and raised his eyebrows until even his grave
father laughed. For at this time Guido was only eleven and Barnaba
seven. Pietro, the eldest--he was seventeen--very aged indeed, the lads
thought. So Henrighetta became their playmate.

Shortly before she left the villa they had a great play. It was the best
they had ever had. There was a prologue and an epilogue, written and
spoken by Pietro, and ever so much shouting, and a very bloody scene in
which Guido rescued Henrighetta from the ruffians, who were being led by
a traitor page (Barnaba, of course) to kill her for her jewels. "Luigi,"
said Barnaba, "I hate to be mean, even in a play. I wish you would be
the page and let me be a ruffian." Then Luigi laughed hard, and told his
brothers. And they said, "Fancy Barnaba a ruffian," and laughed until
poor Barnaba looked sadder than ever. "Oh, you'll make a real good page,
and you know you have to kiss Henrighetta's long dress," said Guido, as
he whittled a little gun. "So I will," said Barnaba, and was quite
happy.

Now, really Henrighetta was a good deal like other girls, not very
pretty or very wise, but fresh and happy. But with the eight boys she
was a queen indeed--dared even to speak threateningly to Pietro, though
she was but ten years old, and stamped her foot one day at Guido. Oh,
how vexed he was! Yet she was always kind to Barnaba, and on the night
of the play bade him kiss her hand instead of her dress, if he wished.
It was very inappropriate, but Barnaba thought it angelic, and imprinted
just the most serious and tender kiss on Henrighetta's chubby fingers at
the moment when Guido carried her off from her terrible fate. They had
quite an audience that night. Henrighetta's friends were many, and they
all said how beautifully she looked when she was married to Guido at the
close of the play, as she was, of course, with Pietro for a cardinal and
Barnaba as page, to hold up my lady's train.

Well, the boys grew up, and though they wandered off to see the world
and study, they found their way home often and often. Barnaba alone
stayed there all the while. He grew of use to his father in writing,
became his private secretary, and seemed to be as much a