o reply.

"She must be _that_ high now!" said Jackeymo, putting his hand on some
imaginary line a little above the balustrade. Riccabocca's eyes, raised
over the spectacles, followed the hand.

"If the Padrone could but see her here--"

"I thought I did!" muttered the Italian.

"He would never let her go from his side till she went to a husband's,"
continued Jackeymo.

"But this climate--she could never stand it," said Riccabocca, drawing his
cloak round him, as a north wind took him in the rear.

"The orange trees blossom even here with care," said Jackeymo, turning
back to draw down an awning where the orange trees faced the north. "See!"
he added, as he returned with a sprig in full bud.

Dr. Riccabocca bent over the blossom, and then placed it in his bosom.

"The _other_ one should be there, too," said Jackeymo.

"To die--as this does already!" answered Riccabocca. "Say no more."

Jackeymo shrugged his shoulders; and then, glancing at his master, drew
his hand over his eyes.

There was a pause. Jackeymo was the first to break it.

"But, whether here or there, beauty without money is the orange tree
without shelter. If a lad could be got cheap, I would hire the land, and
trust for the crop to the Madonna."

"I think I know of such a lad," said Riccabocca, recovering himself, and
with his sardonic smile once more lurking about the corner of his mouth--"a
lad made for us!"

"Diavolo!"

"No, not the Diavolo! Friend, I have this day seen a boy who--refused
sixpence!"

"_Cosa stupenda!_"--(Stupendous thing!) exclaimed Jackeymo, opening his
eyes, and letting fall the water-pot.

"It is true, my friend."

"Take him, Padrone, in Heaven's name, and the fields will grow gold."

"I will think of it, for it must require management to catch such a boy,"
said Riccabocca. "Meanwhile, light a candle in the parlor, and bring from
my bedroom--that great folio of Machiavelli."

THE TWO GUIDES OF THE CHILD. (FROM DICKENS'S HOUSEHOLD WORDS.)

A spirit near me said, "Look forth upon the Land of Life. What do you
see?"

"Steep mountains, covered by a mighty plain, a table-land of many-colored
beauty. Beauty, nay, it seems all beautiful at first, but now I see that
there are some parts barren."

"Are they quite barren?--look more closely still!"

"No, in the wildest deserts, now, I see some gum-dropping acacias, and the
crimson blossom of the cactus. But there are regions that rejoice
abundantly in f