t is a splendid offer! Think, dear child, a
comfortable home and no anxieties," Mimo said. "Truly your sister is an
angel, and you must not be so ungrateful. Your cough will get quite
well; perhaps I can come and lodge in the town, and we could walk
together."

But Mirko pouted. Zara sighed and clasped her hands.

"If you only knew how hard it has been to obtain this much," she said,
with despair in her voice. "Oh, Mirko, if you love me you will accept
it! Can't you trust me that I would not ask you to go where they are
hard or cruel? I am going down to the place to-morrow, to see it and
judge for myself. Won't you be good and try to please me?"

Then the little cripple fell to sobbing and kissing her, nestling in her
arms with his curly head against her neck.

But in the end she comforted him, the never varying gentleness toward
him which she showed would have soothed the most peevish invalid.

So at last she was able to feel that her sacrifice, of which they must
always remain ignorant, would not be all in vain; Mirko appeared
reconciled to his fate, and would certainly benefit by more healthy
surroundings. Instinct told her there would be no use even suggesting to
her uncle that the child should stay with Mimo, the situation would have
become an _impasse_ if the boy had held out, and between them they would
have had only this forty pounds until Christmas--and then very little
more--and the life of hand-to-mouth poverty would have gone on and on,
while here were comfort and probable health, with a certainty of
welfare, and education, and a competence in the future. And who knows
but Mirko might grow into a great artist one day!

This possible picture she painted in glowing colors until the child's
pathetic, dark eyes glistened with pleasure.

Then she became practical; they must change their lodging and find a
better one. But here Mimo interfered. They were really very comfortable
where they were, he urged, humble though it looked, and changing was
unpleasant. If they were able to buy some linen sheets and a new suit of
clothes for each it would be much better to stay for the present, until
Mirko's going to Bournemouth should be completely settled. "And even
then," Count Sykypri said, "it will do for me. No one cooks garlic here,
and there is no canary!"

CHAPTER VII

Neither Lord Tancred nor Francis Markrute was late at the appointment in
the city restaurant where they were to lunch, and they were soo