"Fridoline doesn't think that's a very nice way to treat company," laughed Miss Billy. "He's like Horatius.
"'And see,' he cried, 'the welcome,
Fair guests, that waits you here!'"
"What's Hurashus?" asked Ginevra shyly.
"Oh, he's a man in a story," responded Miss Billy. "The man who fought so bravely."
Launcelot pricked up his ears at the word "fought." "Who did he fight? Tell us about him," he commanded.
"Yes, please do," begged Ginevra.
"As soon as I get your work started for you," promised Miss Billy.
Her nimble fingers wove the bright reeds in and out for a few minutes. The children gathered near; Ginevra settled The Baby on her lap, and pulled the Other Baby close to her side. Then slowly and carefully, as if to find words suitable for her childish audience, Miss Billy began:
"It happened many years ago when Rome was the biggest and the finest and the richest city in the world, that there was a brave soldier and gallant knight named Lars Porsena."