er whether she will honour and
obey me, because of course she will, seeing that she loves me with all
her good heart. Such as we are--very young, quite poor, but much thy
servants--thou knowest whether thou canst be happy in this mating. I
believe that thou canst. Now, therefore, since she is mine, she shall
say with me three _Aves_ and a _Paternoster_, likewise the _Credo_, or
so much of it as she can remember. And, O Madonna, trust me to cherish
her, and do thou intercede for us. _Per Christum Dominum
nostrum_--AMEN."

"Bellaroba, my wife, look at me," he said, and the girl looked up
wondering. He took her happy face between his hands, and kissed her two
eyes, her forehead, and her mouth. Then they said the appointed prayers,
and rose to their feet to return; nor did they forget the candles, but
purchased them at the door of an old lady, who had a basketful to sell.

Coming out of the church into the sun again, they encountered the
scrutiny of Olimpia. Captain Mosca, slapping his booted leg, was holding
the horse.

"Where have you two children been?" said Olimpia. "Mischief in a corner,
eh? You have missed the sight of Duke Borso and a gilded company."

"We have been saying our prayers to Madonna of the Greeks," said
Bellaroba meekly.

"There are red flames in your cheeks, child, and a ring on your finger.
Did you find those in the church?"

"Madonna gave them to me, Olimpia."

"So, so, so! Do you begin by robbing a shrine, pray?"

"Ah, Madama Olimpia," said Angioletto, "we have only taken from the
shrine what is our due."

Not the least of the minstrel's parts was that of speaking as though he
had something weighty in reserve. Olimpia, though by nature dull, was
also sly. She had a suspicion about Angioletto now; but a
quick-shifting glance from one to the other of the pair before her
revealed nothing but serenity in the boy, and little but soft happiness
in the girl. She opened her lips to speak, snapped them to again, and
turned to the Captain and affairs more urgent than the love-making of
babies. It was the hour of supper; the question was of a lodging.
Captain Mosca knew an inn--the "Golden Sword"--where decent
entertainment could be had for the night. As no one could deny what
nobody knew anything about, it was decided. They sought and found the
"Golden Sword," and put up with it, and in it. The supper party was, at
least, merry, for Angioletto led it. He sang, he joked, made love, spent
money, was