A CHANGE OF DRESS.

77

I first saw Beppa, standing in the doorway, and inviting us to come in for shelter.

Glad enough

we were to accept her smiling invitation, and in we went. She piled up in the vast fireplace a heap of dry fascines and broken boughs, and in a few minutes broad quivering sheets of flame flashed and roared up the chimney, and we all gathered about it to dry ourselves. But you were too thoroughly drenched to be dried in this way, and cried out to Beppa, who was bustling about, and laughing with us, and finding us chairs and benches, and helping the ladies- Beppa, I say, I must take off these clothes to be dried. Is there nothing you can give me to put on while they are drying-no old coat or cloak of the babbo's?· no matter what.'

'Nothing, signor, nothing—unless you will

put on one of my dresses,' laughed Beppa.

If

that will do, it is quite at your service; but I

am afraid that will not do.'

"And why not?' you cried.

'It will do

capitally, if you will lend it to me. Presto! presto! let me have it!'

ing.'

'Davvero,' said Beppa,' really you are jok

"Not a bit of it,' you cried; 'not a bit of it! Let me have it. Via!'

Beppa entered into the joke at once, and off you and she went; and then she returned, shrugging her shoulders and laughing. After a short time, in you came. Madonna mia, what a figure you were, dressed in one of her gowns! I never shall forget it. We welcomed you with shouts, and laughed till we could laugh no longer for very pain; and Beppa clapped her hands, and bent herself down to the ground with laughing, and spread herself against the wall, utterly overcome with the joke. What a mad company we were! Per Bacco! these were glorious days! Then we put some chestnuts in the ashes to roast, and talked and chattered while the storm passed by. What a picture it

was worthy the brush of Rembrandt in its effects! The fire darting its quivering tongues

up the chimney, redly illuminating our faces and figures, and gleaming on the black rafters overhead; the shadows on the old walls, wavering about as we moved; the faint light of the day, peering through the small iron - barred windows; and then the peals of thunder, echoing along the hills as the storm wore away! It was a scene not to forget. first acquaintance with Beppa.

That was my

Where is she

now ? What has become of her?"

"Ah!" said our hostess, "I am afraid the after-acts of the play do not quite correspond to the first bright scenes. Poor Beppa! all that gay spirit has been quenched out of her life. She laughs very little, I am afraid, now."

"I am sorry to hear it," said the Marquis.

Pray tell me what has happened to her." "She had her love-story-and a pretty one enough it was-and all seemed to go with her

merry as a marriage - bell.' Her lover and husband was a strong handsome fellow, with no means except his stout arms; and with these he managed to support her-not well, of course, but sufficiently-for their wants were small, and they were fairly happy and contented. But, somehow or other, he did not get on well with the guards of the forest; and there was bad blood between them. So they tracked and watched him to catch him in some violation of the forest-laws, so as to put the hand of the law on him. Unfortunately, whether by mistake or not I cannot say, he took away some brushwood and dead branches of no sort of value, but which were within prohibited limits. He did not, however, take them for himself—he brought them to us, supposing that they were thrown away and useless; and this proves that he had no intention at least of stealing. But here was a chance for his enemies; and he was at once arrested and thrown into prison on an accusa

tion of theft. My husband, on being informed of it, what did you do? You know better than I."

"I went down to Figline, where the poor fellow was imprisoned, and did all that I could to free him from the imputation - declaring that I had known him and employed him even in matters of trust, and had found him scrupulously honest as far as I knew, and urged that the very fact of his not having taken the wood for himself was a clear proof that he did not intend to steal. I was fortunate enough to prevail, and he was set free."

Her

"And not an hour too soon," said our hostess. "Poor Beppa, who was then close on her confinement, had wept her heart away during the month that he was in prison. She was alone with scarcely any means of subsistence. husband could earn nothing for her, and was besides under accusation of a crime which would probably be fatal to his and her future. She had four children to look after and support.

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