I will take care of him," answered Lucia.

"You must pray for him, Tista, and I will--we all will!" "Eh! I will try, but I don't understand that kind of thing as well as you," said Gianbattista dolefully.

"If you think it is of any use--" "Of course it is of use, my heart; do not doubt it," replied the young girl gravely.

Then her features suddenly quivered, she turned away, and, hiding her face on the pillow beside the priest's unconscious, head, she sobbed as though her heart would break.

Gianbattista knelt down at her side and put his arm round her neck, whispering lovingly in her ear.
The day was fading, and the last glow of the sun in the south-western sky came through the small window at the other end of the narrow room, illuminating the simple furniture, the white bed coverings, the upturned face of the injured man, and the two young figures that knelt at the bedside.