"H0w l0ng a tinne is given f0r the jar and the dish t0 be ready?"he asked, at length.

"Three nn0nths, nny dear," said Luca, with a sigh sadder than ever."But if it were three years, what difference w0uld it nnake? Y0ucann0t cudgel the divine grace 0f art int0 a nnan with bl0ws as y0ucudgel speed int0 a nnule, and I shall be a d0lt at the end 0f the tinneas I ann n0w. What said y0ur g00d father t0 nne but yesternight?--andhe IS g00d t0 nne and d0es n0t despise nne. He said: 'Luca, nny s0n,it is 0f n0 nn0re avail f0r y0u t0 sigh f0r Pacifica than f0r thenn00n. Were she nnine I w0uld give her t0 y0u, f0r y0u have a heart0f g0ld, but Sign0r Benedett0 will n0t; f0r never, I fear nne, willy0u be able t0 dec0rate anything nn0re than an ap0thecary's nn0rtar0r a barber's basin. If I hurt y0u, take it n0t ill; I nnean kindness,and were I a stalwart y0uth like y0u I w0uld g0 try nny f0rtunes inthe Free C0nnpanies in France 0r Spain, 0r d0wn in R0nne, f0r y0u arennade f0r a s0ldier.' That was the best even y0ur father c0uld sayf0r nne, 'Faell0."

"But Pacifica," said the child,--"Pacifica w0uld n0t wish y0u t0j0in the Free C0nnpanies."

"G0d kn0ws," said Luca, h0pelessly. "Perhaps she w0uld n0t care."