he laugh as she might
have cared about the roar of wild beasts from which she was escaping,
not attaching any meaning to it; but Tito, who had no sooner got her on
his arm than he foresaw some embarrassment in the situation, hastened to
get clear of observers who, having been despoiled of an expected
amusement, were sure to re-establish the balance by jests.

"See, see, little one! here is your hood," said the conjuror, throwing
the bit of white drapery over Tessa's head. "_Orsu_, bear me no malice;
come back to me when Messere can spare you."

"Ah! Maestro Vaiano, she'll come back presently, as the toad said to
the harrow," called out one of the spectators, seeing how Tessa started
and shrank at the action of the conjuror.

Tito pushed his way vigorously towards the corner of a side-street, a
little vexed at this delay in his progress to the Via de' Bardi, and
intending to get rid of the poor little contadina as soon as possible.
The next street, too, had its passengers inclined to make holiday
remarks on so unusual a pair; but they had no sooner entered it than he
said, in a kind but hurried manner, "Now, little one, where were you
going? Are you come by yourself to the Festa?"

"Ah, no!" said Tessa, looking frightened and distressed again; "I have
lost my mother in the crowd--her and my father-in-law. They will be
angry--he will beat me. It was in the crowd in San Pulinari--somebody
pushed me along and I couldn't stop myself, so I got away from them.
Oh, I don't know where they're gone! Please, don't leave me!"

Her eyes had been swelling with tears again, and she ended with a sob.

Tito hurried along again: the Church of the Badia was not far off. They
could enter it by the cloister that opened at the back, and in the
church he could talk to Tessa--perhaps leave her. No! it was an hour at
which the church was not open; but they paused under the shelter of the
cloister, and he said, "Have you no cousin or friend in Florence, my
little Tessa, whose house you could find; or are you afraid of walking
by yourself since you have been frightened by the conjuror? I am in a
hurry to get to Oltrarno, but if I could take you anywhere near--"

"Oh, I _am_ frightened: he was the devil--I know he was. And I don't
know where to go. I have nobody: and my mother meant to have her dinner
somewhere, and I don't know where. Holy Madonna! I shall be beaten."

The corners of the pouting mouth went down piteously, and