ough
the trees, making the broad polished leaves rustle and the little green
oranges rock on the boughs.

As soon as San Miniato caught sight of Teresina he put his note-book
into his pocket and rose to his feet. His face betrayed neither
pleasure nor surprise as he sauntered along the path, until he was close
to her. Then both stopped, and he smiled, bending down and looking into
her eyes.

"For charity's sake, Signor Conte!" cried the girl, drawing back,
blushing and looking behind her quickly. "I ought never to have come
here. Why did you make me come?"

"What an idea, Teresina!" laughed San Miniato softly. "And if you ask me
why I wanted you to come, here is the reason. Now tell me, Teresinella,
is it a good reason or not?"

Thereupon San Miniato produced from his waistcoat pocket a little limp
parcel wrapped in white tissue paper and laid it in Teresina's hand. It
was heavy, and she guessed that it contained something of gold.

"What is it?" she asked quickly. "Am I to give it to the Signorina?"

"To the Signorina!" San Miniato laughed softly again and laid his hand
very gently on the girl's arm. "Yes," he whispered, bending down to her.
"To the Signorina Teresinella, who can have all she asks for if she will
only care a little for me."

"Heavens, Signor Conte!" cried Teresina. "Was it to say this that you
made me come?"

"This and a great deal more, Teresina bella. Open your little parcel
while I tell you the rest. Who made you so pretty, carissima? Nature
knew what she was doing when she made those eyes of yours and those
bright cheeks, and those little hands and this small waist--per Dio--if
some one I know were as pretty as Teresinella, all Naples would be at
her feet!"

He slipped his arm round her, there in the shade. Still she held the
package unopened in her hand. She grew a little pale, as he touched her,
and shrank away as though to avoid him, but evidently uncertain and
deeply disturbed. The poor girl's good and evil angels were busy
deciding her fate for her at that moment.

"Open your little gift and see whether you like the reason I give you
for coming here," said San Miniato, who was pleased with the turn of the
phrase and thought it as well to repeat it. "Open it, Teresinella,
bella, bella--the first of as many as you like--and come and sit beside
me on the bench there and let me talk a little. I have so much to say to
you, all pretty things which you will like, and the hour is short, y