All the Pierno family were within the poor home. They looked at one another and grew still. Pietro, the father, went to the door and opened it.
"It's the Punchinello man!" exclaimed Filippo.
"I am Guiseppe Capasso, signor," said the dark–browed man, bowing and stepping inside the doorway, "and if you are the father of yonder little girl I have business with you."
The children whispered together and drew away from Pappina, who ran to her mother.
Guiseppe Capasso began at once to bargain for the little girl.
In spite of his poverty and his desire for money, Pietro was loath to part with his child. He sat with bowed head, looking neither to right nor to left, apparently uninterested.
Guiseppe leaned forward and touched Pietro on the shoulder.
"Come, come," he said, "can you keep so beautiful a child a prisoner in this dingy San Lucia when—"
"Vieni, bambina [come, baby]," Pietro interrupted him, holding out his arms to Pappina. She ran to him and climbed upon his knee.
"Si [yes], signor," Pietro began, as he took one of Pappina's curls in his hand, "bella, bella [Beautiful, beautiful], but she has a temper of her own at times. She ain't always sweet and gentle as she looks; are you, bambina? You, signor, don't know her or her ways. She ain't like any of the others. We love her best of all. No, signor, we can't give up Pappina." He looked at the child with love and pride.