"Yes," said Pietro. "He writes letters for people who cannot write for themselves. He is writing a letter now for the woman who stands beside him. She tells him what she wants to say and he writes it down for her. A great many of our people cannot read or write, so the public letter writers do a very good business."
"Oh! oh! oh! May we have them?" they cried all together
"I should rather sell flowers than write letters," said Tessa.
"So should I!" exclaimed May. "Look at the beautiful roses that man has to sell. He wants us to buy some. Please stop, Pietro!"
But before Pietro could stop his horses, the man had sprung up onto the low step of the carriage and was holding a big bunch of beautiful roses right in front of the three happy children.
"Oh! oh! oh! May we have them? How much are they?" they cried all together.
"Una lira, signorine, una lira," said the man, smiling and lifting his cap.
"O father!" cried May. "He will sell us a big bouquet of beautiful roses for one lira. That is only a few cents, isn't it? Please buy some for us."
In a moment one bunch of the lovely roses was in Molly's hands and another bunch was in May's hands and another in Tessa's hands, while the happy flower man hurried back to his stand with three whole lire in his pocket.