Tessa; only one of the saints," and had not chosen to say more. So that
in the dreamlike combination of small experience which made up Tessa's
thought, Romola had remained confusedly associated with the pictures in
the churches, and when she reappeared, the grateful remembrance of her
protection was slightly tinctured with religious awe--not deeply, for
Tessa's dread was chiefly of ugly and evil beings. It seemed unlikely
that good beings would be angry and punish her, as it was the nature of
Nofri and the devil to do. And now that Monna Lisa had spoken freely
about Lillo's legs and Romola had laughed, Tessa was more at her ease.

"Ninna's in the cradle," she said. "_She's_ pretty too."

Romola went to look at the sleeping Ninna, and Monna Lisa, one of the
exceptionally meek deaf, who never expect to be spoken to, returned to
her salad.

"Ah! she is waking: she has opened her blue eyes," said Romola. "You
must take her up, and I will sit down in this chair--may I?--and nurse
Lillo. Come, Lillo!"

She sat down in Tito's chair, and put out her arms towards the lad,
whose eyes had followed her. He hesitated: and, pointing his small
fingers at her with a half-puzzled, half-angry feeling, said, "That's
Babbo's chair," not seeing his way out of the difficulty if Babbo came
and found Romola in his place.

"But Babbo is not here, and I shall go soon. Come, let me nurse you as
he does," said Romola, wondering to herself for the first time what sort
of Babbo he was whose wife was dressed in contadina fashion, but had a
certain daintiness about her person that indicated idleness and plenty.
Lillo consented to be lifted up, and, finding the lap exceedingly
comfortable, began to explore her dress and hands, to see if there were
any ornaments beside the rosary.

Tessa, who had hitherto been occupied in coaxing Ninna out of her waking
peevishness, now sat down in her low chair, near Romola's knee,
arranging Ninna's tiny person to advantage, jealous that the strange
lady too seemed to notice the boy most, as Naldo did.

"Lillo was going to be angry with me, because I sat in Babbo's chair,"
said Romola, as she bent forward to kiss Ninna's little foot. "Will he
come soon and want it?"

"Ah, no!" said Tessa, "you can sit in it a long while. I shall be sorry
when you go. When you first came to take care of me at the Carnival, I
thought it was wonderful; you came and went away again so fast. And
Naldo said, perhaps you