"Back to Guiseppe," Pappina repeated slowly, "back to Guiseppe." She grew thoughtful. "Marta, must we go back to Guiseppe? May we not run a way?"
"Oh, my sweet baby, we must—we must go back to Guiseppe!"
They met him walking to meet them. He smiled kindly as they approached him. He even held out his hand to Pappina, but she paid no attention to his overture for friendship and forgiveness.
"Have you already said your prayers?" he asked, looking at Marta.
"Our prayers were short," she replied. "We thought you would not like to be kept waiting."
"And Pappina! She has no use for Guiseppe this morning." He took one of her curls in his hand as he spoke.
"You were bad yesterday, Guiseppe," Pappina answered with a jerk of her head that snatched the curl from his hand.
"You are right, bambina, you are right. Forgive me. Guiseppe was a regular brute yesterday; wasn't he?" he asked in a tone that seemed to crave denial from the child.
"You were, Guiseppe," she replied with a sunny smile as she took hold of his hand, "you really were; but if you are sorry, I'll forgive you."