. Thistledown . sting after your days labor. The old man stood up and made a reluctant reverence. Thepriest lingered, and looked around for a seat. Costanzo pushed arude bench toward him, and then sat down on his door-step with avery inhospitable air. Pere Bonneval took the bench, and, drawing it near to the oldman, he removed his hat and wiped his forehead slowly; then heleaned forward and said in a casual tone: My friend, you looktired. How old are you ? Costanzo raised his eyes and looked at the priest suspiciously. Why do you want to know my age ? he asked gruffly. I dontknow; I dont remem
. Thistledown . sting after your days labor. The old man stood up and made a reluctant reverence. Thepriest lingered, and looked around for a seat. Costanzo pushed arude bench toward him, and then sat down on his door-step with avery inhospitable air. Pere Bonneval took the bench, and, drawing it near to the oldman, he removed his hat and wiped his forehead slowly; then heleaned forward and said in a casual tone: My friend, you looktired. How old are you ? Costanzo raised his eyes and looked at the priest suspiciously. Why do you want to know my age ? he asked gruffly. I dontknow; I dont remember. I only know that I am too old to workas I do. Yes; you work very hard, my poor friend, returned Pere Bon-neval, blandly; but now that you are so successful with Beppo,you will be able to take your ease. Is it not so ? No, no; it is not so! he returned angrily. I am not suc-cessful. That little miserable disgraces me. He fails when heshould do his best. And I am poor — very poor, he added in awhining VDU vc conic here to rob inc. PERE BONNEVAL 81 But Beppo is growing up. Soon he will be old enough to takecare of you. He will never take care of me ! He is bad; he is ungrateful!cried the old man, excitedly. I work and starve to feed andclothe him, and now he steals what he earns, and runs away tospend it in folly. Would you be willing to have Beppo leave you altogether? Ithink I could place him where he would be educated and cared for,and- But Pere Bonneval did not finish his sentence, for Costanzosprang at him like an enraged tiger. I see what you want:you Ve come here to rob me — to steal all I have! Gently, gently, my friend, interposed the priest. He paid no attention to the mild injunction, but went on sav-agely : I Ve worked like a galley-slave for that boy. I Ve taughthim all he knows; and now, when he is old enough to earn money,you want to take him away. Never ! never ! I 11 — I 11 — andhe shook his clenched fist threateningly. Sit down, my friend, sai
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