-tears in those sweet eyes? What's the matter now?"

"Matter enough for me!" said Elsie. "It's a weary world we live in. A body
can't turn any way and not meet with trouble. If a body brings up a girl
one way, why, every fellow is after her, and one has no peace; and if a
body brings her up another way, she gets her head in the clouds, and
there's no good of her in this world. Now look at that girl,--doesn't
everybody say it's time she were married?--but no marrying for her!
Nothing will do but we must off to Rome on a pilgrimage,--and what's the
good of that, I want to know? If it's praying that's to be done, the dear
saints know she's at it from morning till night,--and lately she's up and
down three or four times a night with some prayer or other."

"Well, well," said Jocunda, "who started this idea?"

"Oh, Father Francesco and she got it up between them,--and nothing will do
but I must go, too."

"Well, now, after all, my dear," said Jocunda, "do you know, I made a
pilgrimage once, and it isn't so bad. One gets a good deal by it, first
and last. Everybody drops something into your hand as you go, and one gets
treated as if one were somebody a little above the common; and then in
Rome one has a princess or a duchess or some noble lady who washes one's
feet, and gives one a good supper, and perhaps a new suit of clothes, and
all that,--and ten to one there comes a pretty little sum of money to
boot, if one plays one's cards well. A pilgrimage isn't bad, after
all;--one sees a world of fine things, and something new every day."

"But who is to look after our garden and dress our trees?"

"Ah, now, there's Antonio, and old Meta his mother," said Jocunda, with a
knowing wink at Agnes. "I fancy there are friends there that would lend a
hand to keep things together against the little one comes borne. If one is
going to be married, a pilgrimage brings good luck in the family. All the
saints take it kindly that one comes so far to see them, and are more
ready to do a good turn for one when one needs it. The blessed saints are
like other folks,--they like to be treated with proper attention."

This view of pilgrimages from the material stand-point had more effect on
the mind of Elsie than the most elaborate appeals of Father Francesco. She
began to acquiesce, though with a reluctant air.

Jocunda, seeing her words had made some impression, pursued her advantage
on the spiritual ground.

"To be sure," she added, "I don