A Voyage of Consolation

that we should make the rest of our Continental trip as

e trying to the constitution. Why this desire for the

n see that she is full of insular prejudice against ou

r did," I

tial-meeting relatives abroad in this way," momma c

ing to?" I

ne of them is your poppa's Aunt Caroline. The Senator smoothed it over. He said he was sure we we

nless Dicky has persuaded her that poppa i

nceiving an attachment for her Isabel, whose affections lay quite in another direction; but now her mind was entirely at res

eded-as far as tha

ll her that, though Dicky was a lovely fellow and we were all v

sked, "was her

s hopes and fears were. They seem to take a very low view," added momma au

sent-mindedly. "Dicky hasn't m

ha

dict Mrs. Portheris again upon that point, if I were you. She wil

I felt so deeply for them both, reflecting upon the situation, that I experienced quite a glow of virtue at the thought of my promise to Dicky to stay in Rom

there-"we'll find our work cut out for us. Think of the objects of

s before I begin," sai

nator impressively, "and every year you may

t, Senator?" I asked,

ty well scattered too-nothing like the convenience of Pisa. I expect we shall have to allow at least four days for it. That Piazza del Duomo," continued po

ics of the past on the bosom of dusky Pisa. It reminded

le. And they are like an old maid's pearls in connection with that middle-aged, one-horse little city. Or I should say a widow

to be. Although I warn you, poppa, that in case of any critic being able to arise and indicat

, provocative. The sky that bends over Tuscany is the very soul of blue, deep, soft, intense, impenetrable-the sky that one sees in those little casual bits of landscape behind the shoulders of pre-Raphaelite Saints and Madonnas; and here and there a lake, giving it back with delight, and now and then the long slope of a hill, with an old yellow-walled town creeping up, castle crowned, and raggedly trimmed with olives; and so many ruins that the Senator, summoned by momma to look at the last in view, regarded it with disparagement, which h

I were not the only person in this f

l names, even in the mouths of the railway guards, who sang every one of them with a high note and a full octave on the syllable of stress-"Rosignano!" "Carmiglia!" The Senator was fascinated with the spectacle of a railw

k uniform and a soft felt hat with cocks' feathers drooping over it, and a sword and a ridiculously amiable expression for a man. I don't think he was five feet high, but his moustache and his feathers and his sword were out of all proportion. There was a gentle trustful exuberance about him which suggested that, although it was possibly twenty-five years since he was born, his age

h gratified. "I see you spikkum

ned some-a few of them. But

oppa kindly. "But that's not an English pa

eyes shone with feeling. "In Italy," he added with an impulsive gesture, "we love the Americ

you. But what's your reason now, f

ged, more sentimental than French ones. In this c

ated to us." He seemed to be unaware of me, but his eye reste

ally, "are always charmed to

progress. Scraps of conversation floated through my waking moments when the train stopped-I heard momma ask him if his parents were both living and where his home was. I also understood her to inquire whether the Italians were domestic in their tastes or whether they were like the French, who, she believed, had no home life at all. I saw the Senator put a card in his pocket-book and restore it to his breast, and heard hi

my misf

Southern Europe last year, s

stupid

a kind of kitchen revolution. We began by making a hundred pounds a week-and couldn't always get rid of it. Now-wh

What splendid revenu

e to brag," he said, but anyone could see from the absence of a diamond r

duce Count Filgiatti. Count, my daughter. What a pity you went to sl

. His pleasure was quite ingratiating, or would have been if he had been a little taller. As it was, it was amusing, and I recognised an oppor

ding the New York W

they are also amusing, the avertissimi." His voice was c

Count Filgiatti," put in poppa, "you and she could talk more comf

e Count responded, beaming. And I said, "Dear me, no; ho

but it is nevertheless true that about an hour later, while the landscape turned itself into a soft, warm chromo in the fading sunset, and both my parents soundl

aven," I said, "what difference can it ma

nd signora th

a have got their own opinions

hink as they!

ed them. But I've got my own thinker, you know." I searched

udice is dead for y

I divined that he was a Roman Catholic. How, I don't know. So I ad

you never met, Senorita-may I say this?

r of you," I said. "

but I did not allow this impression to appear. I looked indi

you have no brothers or sisters, Mees Wick.

been any secret

" Count Filgiatti's eyes wer

t in a matter of that kind, momma's w

ou believe of eleven? And the father with the

aid, "what a r

you understand the-t

not Rome, "appears to have an eternal railway to match. There seems to be a feeding counter here though-we might have another try at those slices of veal boiled in tomatoes and

said in my ear, "Mistra and Madame Wick have kindly consented to receive

d, "Why,