where they could take breath. They sat down on one of the stone benches which were frequent against the walls of old Florentine houses.
“Holy Virgin!” said Tessa; “I am glad we have got away from those women and boys; but I was not frightened, because you could take care of me.”
“Pretty little Tessa!” said Tito, smiling at her. “What makes you feel so safe with me?”
“Because you are so beautiful—like the people going into Paradise: they are all good.”
“It is a long while since you had your breakfast, Tessa,” said Tito, seeing some stalls near, with fruit and sweetmeats upon them. “Are you hungry?”
“Yes, I think I am—if you will have some too.”
Tito bought some apricots, and cakes, and comfits, and put them into her apron.
“Come,” he said, “let us walk on to the Prato, and then perhaps you will not be afraid to go the rest of the way alone.”
“But you will have some of the apricots and things,” said Tessa, rising obediently and gathering up her apron as a bag for her store.
“We will see,” said Tito aloud; and to himself he said, > “Here is a little contadina who might inspire a better idyl than Lorenzo de’ Medici’s Nencia da Barberino , that Nello’s friends rave about; if I were only a Theocritus,