160 The Children of Spinalunga

Suddenly the joy-bells began to ring, and
the little people came laughing and singing
and shouting from the steep streets and
staircases and alleys, and they raced and
danced into the piazza like Springtime let
loose, and they chased each other, and
caught hands and played in rings, and
swarmed among the jars, as many and
noisy as swallows when they gather for
their flight over sea in the autumn-tide.

“Look well, Messer Gianni,’ said the
Frate, “and perceive who it is that shares
their frolics.”

As the Brother spoke the eyes of the
Syndic were opened; and there, with each
little child, was his Angel, clothed in white,
and white-winged; and as the little folk
contended together, their Angels contended
with each other; and as they ran and danced
and sang, so ran and danced and sang their
Angels. Which was the laughter of the
children, and which that of the Angels, the
Syndic could not tell; and when the plump
two-year-olds tottered and tumbled, their
Angels caught them and saved them from
hurt; and even if they did weep and make
a great outcry, it was because they were