"Stop it," said Aunt Porredda. "There now, will you leave off, you naughty children?"
"Mamma Porru, she's cursing me; she said: 'Go to the devil who gave you birth.'"
"Minnia! what a way to talk!"
"Well, he stole my purse, the one with the picture of the Pope, that Uncle Paolo brought me——"
"It's not so, I didn't!" shouted the boy. "You'd better not be talking about stealing, Minnia," he added with a meaning look.
The girl became suddenly quiet, as though a spell had been cast over her, but presently her tormentor, seizing a long stick, tried to hook the curved handle around her legs. Minnia began to cry, and the grandmother faced about, ladle in hand.
"I declare, I'll beat you with this ladle, you wretched children! Just you wait a moment!" she cried, running at them. The children made a dash for the courtyard, and collided violently with Giovanna and her mother.
"What's all this? What's all this?"
"Oh, those children, they'll drive me wild! I believe the devil is in them," said Aunt Porredda from the doorway.