but also another
one was stopping in the hat very large with the colomba, too large, I am
not certain that the bridegroom was able to take all the photograph."

Whereupon Brancaccia interposed, producing the result, and I exclaimed:

"Why, it is Brancaccia herself! I did not know you meant that this
happened to you. I thought you were telling me about other sposi, not
about yourselves."

Then they laughed together, and I saw that Brancaccia, by showing me the
photograph, had let out more than was intended, unless perhaps it was all
intended; either way, no harm was done, and I was allowed to put the
picture in my pocket.

Carmelo came to clear away the tea, and I said:

"It seems to me, Peppino, that you have a new waiter. What has become of
Letterio?"

"Ah! you do not know about Letterio. Now I shall tell you."

At this point it became necessary for Brancaccia to disappear somewhat
suddenly with the baby.

"It was festa," said Peppino, "and Letterio was drinking and his friends
were telling to drink some more, and he was drinking plenty much. Then
was he going out in a very hurry and was telling that he would be married
very directly and was meeting a girl and was telling: 'Please, you, marry
me this day.' And the girl was telling: 'Go away, Letterio, you are a
drunk man.' And he was finding another girl and they was telling the
same things--plenty girls--all that day. Afterwards many weeks are
passing and Letterio don't be asking to be married, he was telling always
that he would not be married never, never, never; also with the suspicion
that no girl would take him. Excuse me, it is like the man who was fell
down from the horse and was telling that he was go down--was not fell
down. And it was festa again and Letterio was drinking plenty much again
and was going on the street again and was meeting a girl again and was
telling: 'Please, you, marry me very directly.' And the girl was
replying: 'Yes.'"

"But surely," I exclaimed, "surely they were not so silly as to get
married when he was sober, were they?"

It seemed, however, that they were. To save the expense and avoid the
chaff that would have attended a marriage in Castellinaria, they went to
the next village for a couple of days and returned married.

"But when the man," said Peppino, "must be finding the courage in the
bottle, this is not a good thing. The courage for the happy marriage
must be in the heart. We know that good wine it