John of the Woods | Page 7

children," she warned. "Gigi is saved for now.
But we may be able to do little more for him. Your father is master in
the house, remember. Your father may not be pleased with what we
have done. Never promise what you may not be able to give, my
Beppo." And she fell to musing again rather uneasily.
The boys were all suddenly silent, and Gigi, who had warmed to their
kindness, felt a sudden chill. He had not thought of anything beyond
the safety of the moment. He had made no plans, he had only hoped
vaguely that these good people might help him. But now, what was to
happen next? Was there still something more to fear?
Suddenly the flash of a lantern lighted the road ahead. A man's voice
hailed them loudly. "Hello! Hello! Will you never be coming home?"
"Father! It is father!" cried the three boys in an answering shout. Then
with a common thought they all stopped short, and Gigi felt them
looking at him in the darkness.
"What will he think of Gigi?" he heard Beppo whisper to his brothers.
"Sh!" warned Mother Margherita. And the man's voice sounded nearer.
"Hello, old woman!" it called gruffly. "Well, you did come back, didn't
you? I began to believe that you had all run away."
"Run away!" There was a little pause before any one answered. And
Gigi felt the elbows of the boys nudging him in the side.
"Father's angry!" they whispered. "Father is terrible when he is angry.
You had better look out!"
Then Gigi knew that there was something else to fear that night. And
his heart sank. Was there to be no end of his troubles?

VI
THE SILVER PIECE
The team stopped in front of a stone cottage, from the window of which
the light shone hospitably. They all jumped down from the cart, and
under cover of the darkness Mother Margherita hustled Gigi with the
other boys into the house, while Giuseppe, the father, cared for the
oxen.
The mother busied herself in preparing supper, and the boys scattered
about on various errands. But Gigi sat in a corner by the fire, too tired

to move or speak. He had thrown off his long cloak, and the fire
glanced brightly upon the green and gold costume of this quaint little
figure, so out of place in the simple cottage. Presently Giuseppe entered
with a heavy tread, and paused in amazement at what he saw on his
hearthstone.
"Hello!" he cried gruffly. "What's this?"
Mother Margherita came forward quickly. "It is a little tumbler," she
said. "We saw him do his tricks at the market to-day. The Gypsies beat
him, and he has run away. Let us give him at least supper and a shelter
for the night, Giuseppe?" Her tone was beseeching.
"Hum!" grumbled Giuseppe doubtfully. "A runaway! A tumbler! A
thief, I dare say, as well. A pretty fellow to bring into an honest man's
house! His master will be after him, and then we shall all get into
trouble for sheltering a runaway. Margherita, you were always a foolish
woman! Is this all you have to show for market-day? Where is the
money?"
"Here it is, Giuseppe," said the mother, handing him the bag of silver,
which he thrust into his pocket. "Now let us have supper. You can
count the silver afterward, and we will tell you about everything when
that is over."
With a very bad grace the father watched the little stranger timidly take
his place at the board between Paolo and Giovanni, Beppo crying
because he could not have the tumbler next to him also.
There was much to talk about at that meal. They had to describe the
holiday at market, which was a great event for the little family. Then
there were the Tumblers; and the adventure of Gigi and the
Hunchback,--that was the most exciting of all. And how near they came
to losing the bag of silver which they had earned by selling their
vegetables at the market! Giuseppe asked Gigi many questions, not
unkindly, but with a bluntness that made the boy wince. And often
Mother Margherita spoke up for him, with a kind answer. Gigi grew
paler and paler, and his food lay almost untouched on his plate. He was
too tired to eat.
At last, when supper was finished. Mother Margherita rose and lighted
a candle. "Come with me, Gigi," she said, "and I will show you where
you are to sleep this night."
Gigi followed her readily, glad to escape further questioning, and eager

to rest his aching head. The little boys called after him a hearty
good-night. But Giuseppe saw him go without a word, casting sidewise
looks after the retreating figures, and grunting sourly.