The Children of Spinalunga 159

take all sweetness out of the temper of a
man, but in this you are not doing well.
There is no child in Spinalunga but would
readily forego all his happy-play to give you
ease and solace, but in this way they cannot
help you. By sending them away you do
but cloud their innocent lives, and you are
yourself none the better for their absence.
Were it not wiser for you to seek to distract
yourself in their harmless merry-making? I
may well think that you have never watched
them at their sports; but if you will bid
them come back to-day, and will but walk a
little way with me, you shall see that which
shall give you content and delight so great,
that never again will you wish to banish
them, but will rather pray to have their com-
panionship at all times.”

Now the Frate so prevailed on the Syn-
dic that he gave consent and bade all the
children, lass and lad, babe and prattler,
come to the square for their games as they
used to do. And leaning with one hand on
his staff, and with the other on the shoulder
of Brother Agnolo, he moved slowly through
the fruit-trees in the great Jars to the steps
of the Cathedral.