Maria raised her head and her face became radiant. "Missipipì!" she cried, and slipping down from Barborin's lap, ran to meet Uncle Piero who was coming in. Signora Pasotti rose also, astonished and smiling, and stretched out her arms towards this old and unexpected friend. "Behold, behold, behold!" she exclaimed, and hastened to greet him. Maria was calling so loudly for "Missipipì, Missipipì!" and clinging so tight to Uncle Piero's legs, that, although he did not seem inclined to do so, he was obliged to sit down on the sofa, take the child on his knees, and repeat the old story to her.
Proud shade of the river——
After four or five "Missipipìs" Signora Pasotti went home, fearing her husband might return. Veronica wished to put the child to bed, but the little one rebelled, and Uncle Piero interfered, saying: "Oh, leave her here a little while longer," and he took her out to the terrace to see if Papa and Mamma were coming.
No boat could be seen coming from Casarico. The little one ordered her uncle to sit down, and then she climbed upon his knee.
"Why did you come?" said she. "There isn't any dinner for you, you know."
"Then you must cook some for me. I came to stay with you."
"Always?"
"Always."
"But really always, always, always?"
"Really always."