else I shall be
angry."

"But I have never been into the Piazza without leave," said Tessa, in a
frightened, pleading tone, "since the Holy Saturday, and I think Nofri
is dead, for you know the poor _madre_ died; and I shall never forget
the Carnival I saw once; it was so pretty--all roses and a king and
queen under them--and singing. I liked it better than the San
Giovanni."

"But there's nothing like that now, my Tessa. They are going to make a
bonfire in the Piazza--that's all. But I cannot let you go out by
yourself in the evening."

"Oh no, no! I don't want to go in the evening. I only want to go and
see the procession by daylight. There _will_ be a procession--is it not
true?"

"Yes, after a sort," said Tito, "as lively as a flight of cranes. You
must not expect roses and glittering kings and queens, my Tessa.
However, I suppose any string of people to be called a procession will
please your blue eyes. And there's a thing they have raised in the
Piazza de' Signori for the bonfire. You may like to see that. But come
home early, and look like a grave little old woman; and if you see any
men with feathers and swords, keep out of their way: they are very
fierce, and like to cut old women's heads off."

"Santa Madonna! where do they come from? Ah! you are laughing; it is
not so bad. But I will keep away from them. Only," Tessa went on in a
whisper, putting her lips near Naldo's ear, "if I might take Lillo with
me! He is very sensible."

"But who will thump Monna Lisa then, if she doesn't hear?" said Tito,
finding it difficult not to laugh, but thinking it necessary to look
serious. "No, Tessa, you could not take care of Lillo if you got into a
crowd, and he's too heavy for you to carry him."

"It is true," said Tessa, rather sadly, "and he likes to run away. I
forgot that. Then I will go alone. But now look at Ninna--you have not
looked at her enough."

Ninna was a blue-eyed thing, at the tottering, tumbling age--a fair
solid, which, like a loaded die, found its base with a constancy that
warranted prediction. Tessa went to snatch her up, and when Babbo was
paying due attention to the recent teeth and other marvels, she said, in
a whisper, "And shall I buy some confetti for the children?"

Tito drew some small coins from his scarsella, and poured them into her
palm.

"That will buy no end," said Tessa, delighted at this abundance. "I
shall not mind going without Lillo so much, if I bri