They listened for a moment to the appalling sounds which rolled forth from the room where Teresina, the nurse, slept. Then Beppo said: “If the baby can sleep through that noise, she can sleep through anything. It sounds like a thunder-storm in the mountains.”
At that moment a wicked idea popped into his head. “I know what I’m going to do,” he whispered, grinning with delight. “I’m going to creep into her room like a cat and drop something into her mouth. She sleeps with it open, and I have a piece of soap just the right size!”
“Beppo!” gasped Beppina. “Don’t you dare! Teresina would then refuse to take us to the piazza, and you know very well there is no one else to go with us, for the governess had a headache last night and went to bed looking as yellow as saffron.”
“Oh, but just think how funny Teresina would look, choking and sputtering like a volcano pouring forth fire, smoke, and lava,” chuckled Beppo, who was studying geography and liked it much better than Beppina did.
“If you do it you’ll just have to spend Easter Saturday in the house and miss all the fun,” warned Beppina. “Mammina would not let us go with any of the other servants.”
“I don’t see why she won’t let us go alone,” said Beppo crossly. “I hate to go out on the street with Teresina all dressed up in her ruff and streamers so people will know she’s a baby nurse. I’m big enough to go by myself!”
Beppina looked despairingly at her brother. “Oh, dear!” she said, “I wish Mammina had taken us with her to the villa instead of leaving us to go later with Teresina and the governess, when she has everything ready for us. I wouldn’t mind missing Easter Saturday here if only we could be up at the villa.”
“Or if only our dear Babbo had not had to go away to Rome,” added Beppo gloomily. “He would have taken us with him to see all the Easter sights, and no thanks to Teresina either!”
“But they did go, both of them,” sighed Beppina. “So it’s Teresina or stay at home for us, and I’m sure I don’t want to stay at home!”
Beppo thrust his hands into his pockets, hunched up his shoulders, and looked so gloomy and obstinate that Beppina saw something must be done at once. “Oh, pazienza, Beppo mio!” she said, giving him a little shake. “It might be worse surely. Come, let’s go down to the garden and feed the pigeons. You get the crumbs while I dress.”