Chapter XV: Exciting News

"Lucia, Lucia, such exciting news, come here at once!" Maria ran up the stairs excitedly.

Lucia, who was busy helping Sister Francesca put away the clean sheets, dropped what she was doing and ran down the corridor.

"What is it!" she demanded. "Have the Austrians surrendered?"

"No," Maria stopped, breathless from her haste, "that is, not yet, though Roderigo says--"

"Oh, oh, oh!" Lucia protested. "Don't start on what Roderigo says, or we will never learn the news."

Maria pouted. "For that I have a good mind not to tell you," she threatened.

"Then I shall go downstairs myself and find out," Lucia replied, not one whit disturbed.

"Then I may as well tell you," Maria laughed, "for the ward hums with it. The King is coming--think of it--he is coming to Cellino to-morrow, and he is to go through the hospital and see all the wounded. Only fancy, our King!"

"Who told you?" Lucia's eyes flashed excitedly. Her loyal little Italian heart beat with eager anticipation.

"Do you suppose I can see him?" she demanded, "but of course, I must, even if I have to hide under the Captain's bed. He is sure to stop and speak to my Captain," she added with pride.

"Oh, Roderigo says that he always stops and speaks to all the wounded and shakes their hands, and is very kind and so sorry always when they are badly hurt. Roderigo says he has talked to soldiers who have won decorations, and the King himself pins them on--just think of it!"

Lucia gave a profound sigh.

"If he ever spoke to me," she said solemnly, "I would die of joy."

It was several days after Lucia and the Captain had talked in the garden, and Lucia was beginning to grow accustomed to the wonderful idea. Her dreams were coming true at last, and she had to admit to herself that she always believed that they would. Captain Riccardi was truly a fairy godfather in her eyes, and she proved her gratitude for his kindness in a hundred little ways a day. It never seemed to enter her mind that all he was offering, wonderful as it was, could not pay her for her courage in saving his life.

She insisted upon laying all the credit on his shoulders, and with a smile and a shrug the Captain accepted the double share, and determined in his big heart to be worthy of it.

When Lucia and Maria went down to the ward a little later, the patients were indeed humming with the news. Every face wore a smile of keen joy, and the nurses hurried about to be sure everything was in perfect order.

Lucia was well enough now to go wherever she pleased, and after she had talked for a few minutes with Captain Riccardi, and made sure that Maria had not exaggerated, she went out of the convent with the intention of going into town. Some of the refugees had returned, but so far there had been no news of Señora Rudini, Nana, or Beppi, and she was growing anxious.

As she walked down the broad steps, she saw Lathrop coming towards her. Lucia was particularly fond of the big American, and she smiled as she saw him.

"Hello!" he greeted.

Lucia returned the salutation.

"Do you know that the King is coming?" she demanded.

Lathrop understood the word King, and as the town was talking of nothing else he guessed what she meant.

"Yes," he replied in Italian, "nice--glad--you."

Lucia laughed.

"Oh, but you are so funny. How I wish you could speak so that I could understand you!" she said.

Lathrop shook his head. "There she goes again, I didn't get even one word this time."

He put his hand in his pocket and drew out a letter.

"See," he said, pointing to it.

Lucia nodded. Lathrop scratched his head.

"You--in--letter," he said painstakingly, "Girl, American."

"Oh, you have put me in your letter? How nice!" Lucia said. "What did you say?"

"I get you, but I'm blest if I can tell you, and it's a shame, too. You're such a little winner, you and your Mrs. Garibaldi, that I'd like to be able to tell you so. But I guess it's hopeless."

All of which Lucia listened to politely, but without the first idea of its meaning.

She nodded towards the gate and they walked towards it together. Lathrop mailed his letter, and they stopped to look at the ruins. Lucia questioned some soldiers who were clearing the streets as best they could.

The town hall, at the end of the market-place, was still standing, and to-day it was draped in Italian flags. It looked older and more dignified than ever, amid the ruins, and the flag floated bravely in the crisp fall breeze. Lucia and Lathrop stopped to look at it. Lucia's eyes sparkled and she threw an impulsive kiss towards it. Lathrop saluted respectfully.

As they turned to go back they noticed a crowd of soldiers and some of the townspeople gathered about the gate.

"What can the matter be?" Lucia exclaimed, hurrying forward. "Perhaps it is the King."

They ran to the gate and questioned some of the soldiers.

"More refugees returning," one of them explained. "See there's a whole line of them, it is a good sight, and a good time that they have chosen. Now we will not look so like a deserted place when the King comes."

"Oh, perhaps some of them can give me news of Beppino," Lucia exclaimed, forcing her way through the crowd.

Almost the first person she saw as she ran down the road was Maria's mother. She was walking along beside several other women, and with a start Lucia realized that she looked thin and wan.

"Aunt Rudini!" she called excitedly, "you are back at last. Oh, Maria will be so glad!"

Señora Rudini looked up, fear and hope in her eyes.

"Maria!" she exclaimed, "where is she?"

"At the convent. She is helping to nurse the soldiers," Lucia replied.

"Oh, and I thought she was dead or a prisoner. She lay down beside me one night, and the next morning she was gone; I have been terrified." The old woman was wringing her hands.

"But she is safe, go and see," Lucia protested, "I have just left her."

Maria's mother needed no urging, she ran as fast as her stiff joints would allow towards the hospital. But she had not gone very far when she returned.

"I am a selfish old woman," she said, "thinking first of myself, when of course you want news of Nana. Well, look yonder in that farm wagon."

Lucia did not wait to hear more. She darted off and met the wagon before it reached the turn in the road.

"Beppi! Nana!" she called.

The man who was driving stopped, and Nana slid down from the straw, right into Lucia's waiting arms. She was so glad to see her, that she could only babble foolishly. All during her long journey, and her stay in strange villages, she had thought of nothing but Lucia in the hands of the enemy, and she was nearly crazy with relief and joy to find her safe again.

At last Lucia quieted her. "Where is Beppino?" she asked, "surely he is with you?"

Something in the straw of the wagon moved, and the old driver pointed his whip at a mop of black hair, and laughed.

Beppi was asleep of course. Lucia's strong young arms lifted his little body out, and hugged and kissed him. Beppi woke up, and at sight of her he shouted with joy.

It was a happy and excited family that walked through the town and down to the little white cottage.

Lucia had so much to say, and Nana would not listen nor believe all the wonderful things she tried to tell her, but at last, from lack of breath, she stopped exclaiming and crying, and Lucia pushed her gently onto the green bed, took Beppi on her lap, and began the recital of her wonderful news in earnest.