onsiders that he has won his four soldi and has put them
by. In this way he has accumulated several money-boxes full, and if ever
his numbers come out he intends to break his boxes and distribute the
contents among the deserving poor.

As a way of making money Peppino prefers the course of always doing
whatever there is to be done in the house and in the vineyard. A few
years ago his father's vines were suffering from disease; he made
inquiries, studied the subject, ascertained the best course to pursue
and, with his own hands and some little assistance, rooted up all the
plants and laid down American vines, with the result that the yield is
now more than double what it ever was before. And this he thinks was a
great deal better than losing money week after week in the lottery, not
only because of the result, but because of the interest he took in the
work. In fact, he attends to his own business and finds every moment of
the day occupied. He says--

"Always to begin one thing before to finish some other thing, this is the
good life."

Certainly it seems to agree with him. There is not much the matter with
Peppino's health nor with his banking account nor with his conscience, so
far as I can judge. Every one in the town is fond of him and he is
always happy and ready to do any one a good turn. Indeed, his popularity
is the only thing that causes me any uneasiness about him. There is
generally something wrong about a man who has no enemies--but there are
exceptions to every rule.

The poor professor, on the other hand, has at least one enemy and that
the worst a man can have, namely himself. The evening before he went
away he took me into his confidence and consulted me about his future and
his prospects. He is married, but his wife is out of her mind, and he
has three sons, all doing badly, one of them very badly. He told me he
was not at the moment employed as professor, he was living on his
patrimony which consisted of a few acres of vines; he was gradually
selling his land and spending the proceeds, and he thought this the best
plan because the vines were all diseased and did not bring him in enough
money to keep himself and his family. Should I recommend him to come to
England, learn English and try to keep himself by the exercise of his
profession? It was like Vanni's idea of bringing his wine to England. I
could only say I was afraid we already had enough professors. Then he
thought he might wr