Stefani said suddenly, "nor will my
poor mother. But I will tell you the story. I meant to steal your bag,
and sell the gold things and all the valuables that were in it. It was
a great temptation, for we had scarce a penny left, and there was no
work anywhere. I was tired, tired all through to my heart, Signor,
that night on the Pass, and then I found the bag. I brought it home,
and charged Emilia and my mother to say nothing to anyone outside. The
children were at school, so they did not see, or they might have
lisped out something, and set people talking. The two women begged me
to give up the bag, and try for a reward in case one should be
offered, but I was desperate. I said that the gold was worth more than
anything that would be offered--the gold, and some jewelry in a little
box. I knew a man who would buy of me, and I had gone out to find him
yesterday, when, as if Heaven had sent a curse upon us for my sin, the
_bambina_ was struck down with this illness--a terrible aching of her
little head, and a fever. When I came home to take away the things out
of the bag, my wife begged me on her knees, for the child's sake, to
change my mind; and at last I did, for who can hold out against the
prayers of those he loves?

"Quickly, lest I should repent, I carried the bag to our priest, and
told him all. He thought as a penance for the sin which had been in my
heart, I should take no reward if it were offered, though he did not
lay this upon me as a command. Emilia was with him, for, said she, Our
Lady will save the baby if we make this great sacrifice. Now you know
all the truth."

"And I know that you are good people--better than I would have been in
your places--better than anyone I know. There's no credit in keeping
straight if one's not tempted to go wrong, is there? I won't offend
you by begging that you'll take the reward. I offer you no reward, but
I am going to give your children a present, and you are to use it for
the comfort of your family. I have enough with me, because, you see, I
had to get something ready to-day, in case the reward had to be paid.
Now, it isn't needed for that, so I can use it in this other way. And
you have done all that is right, and you would hurt me very much if
you refused to let me do what I wish. It is always wrong to hurt
people, you know. And you must send me word early to-morrow morning
before I go, whether the baby is better. I feel sure, somehow, that
she will be."

Then a