ide him with her
hand on his back, and Beppina could do nothing but follow.

For some time they trailed the van in this way, together with a small
army of boys and girls, who were consumed with envy for Beppo and hoped
they too might be allowed a turn at leading the bear. One by one they
had dropped away and returned to their homes before the Twins realised
that the afternoon was nearly spent and night was approaching.

"We must go home now, please," said Beppina politely to the woman.

"Si, si," said the woman, nodding her head and smiling more than ever.
"We shall soon see the river."

This assurance quieted Beppina for a time, and she trudged patiently
along until they reached the very outskirts of the city, and still no
bridge and no river had appeared. Not Beppina only, but Beppo too now
began to be alarmed. Where were they going? Oh, if only the grey walls
of the Grifoni palace would rise before them! Beppo even began to
modify his opinion about Teresina. Her ruff and streamers would have
been as welcome a sight to him just then as an oasis to travellers in
the desert. But alas! Teresina was at that moment many miles away, and
distracted with anxiety and grief. The bewildered Beppina now began to
cry.

"Come, my pretty," said the woman in a wheedling tone, "you are tired,
is it not so? You shall rest the weary legs." Her voice was soft, but
she seized Beppina with a grip of steel, and swung her up into the back
of the moving van. "You too, my brave one," she went on, taking the
bear's rope from Beppo's hand, and tying it to a ring in the back of the
cart. "Up you go." She gave him a shove as he scrambled up beside
Beppina, and then, tossing the monkey in after him, swung herself up
beside the children.

The road now began to ascend, and the Twins with growing terror watched
the sun sink lower and lower behind the dome of the Cathedral, which
they could see in the distance. Beppina shook with sobs, and Beppo sat
pale and frightened as the tower and the dome, the only landmarks they
knew in Florence, grew darker and darker against the sunset sky.

"Do not cry, madonna mia," said the woman, giving Beppina a little
shake. "You have missed your way, but what of that? You are safe with
us. If you have money in your pockets you might possibly find your way
home even yet, though it is nearly dark, and it is very dangerous for
children to go about alone."

"But we haven't any money," said Beppo.