But she could not know just what Nino is to me, nor how I look on him as my own boy.

These peasants are quick-witted and foolish; they guess a great many things better than I could, and then reason on them like idiots.
Nino himself was glad to go.

I could see his face grow brighter as the time approached; and though he appeared to be more successful than ever in his singing, I am sure that he cared nothing for the applause he got, and thought only of singing as well as he could for the love of it.

But when it came to the parting we were left alone.
"Messer Cornelio," he said, looking at me affectionately, "I have something to say to you to-night before I go away." "Speak, then, my dear boy," I answered, "for no one hears us." "You have been very good to me.

A father could not have loved me better, and such a father as I had could not have done a thousandth part what you have done for me.