"I know you meant it all for the best.

But I had a heavy presentiment of evil when you first told me they were left.

This news makes it hard for me to keep up my heart for the efforts of the evening.

You know I was induced to enter upon this operatic career mainly by the hope of educating that poor child, and providing well for the old age of you and Papa Balbino, as I have learned to call my good friend, the Signor.

And poor Tulee, too,--how much I intended to do for her! No mortal can ever know what she was to me in the darkest hours of my life." "Well, poor Tulee's troubles are all over," rejoined Madame, with a sigh; "and _bambinos_ escape a great deal of suffering by going out of this wicked world.