hi on a Lenten morning five years before, not
having yet given any hostages to deceit, never returned so nearly as in
the person of Naldo, seated in that straight-backed, carved arm-chair
which he had provided for his comfort when he came to see Tessa and the
children. Tito himself was surprised at the growing sense of relief
which he felt in these moments. No guile was needed towards Tessa: she
was too ignorant and too innocent to suspect him of anything. And the
little voices calling him "Babbo" were very sweet in his ears for the
short while that he heard them. When he thought of leaving Florence, he
never thought of leaving Tessa and the little ones behind. He was very
fond of these round-cheeked, wide-eyed human things that clung about him
and knew no evil of him. And wherever affection can spring, it is like
the green leaf and the blossom--pure, and breathing purity, whatever
soil it may grow in. Poor Romola, with all her self-sacrificing effort,
was really helping to harden Tito's nature by chilling it with a
positive dislike which had beforehand seemed impossible in him; but
Tessa kept open the fountains of kindness.

"Ninna is very good without me now," began Tessa, feeling her request
rising very high in her throat, and letting Ninna seat herself on the
floor. "I can leave her with Monna Lisa any time, and if she is in the
cradle and cries, Lillo is as sensible as can be--he goes and thumps
Monna Lisa."

Lillo, whose great dark eyes looked all the darker because his curls
were of a light-brown like his mother's, jumped off Babbo's knee, and
went forthwith to attest his intelligence by thumping Monna Lisa, who
was shaking her head slowly over her spinning at the other end of the
room. "A wonderful boy!" said Tito, laughing. "Isn't he?" said Tessa,
eagerly, getting a little closer to him; "and I might go and see the
Carnival to-morrow, just for an hour or two, mightn't I?"

"Oh, you wicked pigeon!" said Tito, pinching her cheek; "those are your
longings, are they? What have you to do with carnivals now you are an
old woman with two children?"

"But old women like to see things," said Tessa, her lower lip hanging a
little. "Monna Lisa said she should like to go, only she's so deaf she
can't hear what is behind her, and she thinks we couldn't take care of
both the children."

"No, indeed, Tessa," said Tito, looking rather grave, "you must not
think of taking the children into the crowded streets,