And you will
come again to-morrow, and every day, will you not, Rico?"
"Yes," he said; and looked at Stineli with a most melancholy expression.
"Yes; and every evening, when it is most beautiful, I must be off and
away, because I belong to nobody."
"Oh! do not think in that way, Rico," said his friend encouragingly.
"Have we not always belonged to each other, and have not I often rejoiced
over that thought all these three years that are past? And when things
were almost unsupportable, and I longed to get away, have not I always
said to myself, 'If I could only be with Rico again, I would bear any
thing?' And now it has come about as we wished, and, indeed, far better
than I had imagined; and will you not be happy with me, Rico?"
"Yes; that I will," said the lad; and his countenance cleared a little.
He did belong to somebody, after all; and Stineli's words had restored
his tranquility. They shook hands again; and Rico went through the
garden-gate, and away.
When Stineli returned to the room, and, by Mrs. Menotti's directions,
was about to say good-night to Silvio, the child began to dispute
again, and declared that he would not be separated from his newly-found
friend even for a few hours; but would have her sit by his bedside all
night long, and say funny words to him, and look at him with her
laughing eyes.
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