Benevaldo thought. “If you ever go to the country,” he said, “look for me there. For I shall come to meet you.”
The early wagons began to jangle through the streets, and Benevaldo sprang hastily over the house-tops to his free river. Luigi listened until his great splashing steps were gone.
Rosa yawned and bounced sleepily out of bed. It was to be a great day for her. For a rich lady was to take her with all the neighborhood children on a picnic up the river. She sang as she got ready, but her face fell when she called Luigi to breakfast.
“Oh, brother,” she said, “I wish you were going on the picnic too!”
Luigi smiled bravely. “I wish I could go,” he said.
Rosa gazed at him. “Why, Luigi,” she cried, “how well you look, and how fast you walk!”
Luigi beamed. “The ache is all out of my back,” he explained happily.
“Mother! Mother!” cried Rosa. “Just look at Luigi. The ache is out of his back; and see how well he walks! Can’t he go on the picnic too? I will take good care of him.”
So Luigi went with the other children up the river, where Benevaldo had waded with him the night before. All day long he sat quietly on the steamer, gazing eagerly over the green hills.