Rollo in Rome
igence
ich is a species of stage coach. There are different kinds of public coaches that ply on the gre
r, or at least in the one in which Mr. George and Rollo travelled to Rome, there were only three. First there was the interior, or the body of the coach proper. Directly before this was a compartment, with a gl
banquette, would not be quite safe; for though it was covered above with a sort of chaise top, still it was open in front, and thus more exposed to the night air. In ordinary cases he would not have been at all afraid of the night air, but the country between Naples and Rome, and in
ht line and on a dead level for about twenty miles. It so happened that in going to Rome by the diligence, it would be necessary to cross
on the back of it, all the rules and regulations of the service. The different seats in the several compartments of the coach are numbered, and the prices of them are different. Rollo went so early to engage the passage for himself and Mr. George that he had his choice of all the seats. He took Nos. 1 and 2 of the cou
e starts, we lose our money, uncle George," said h
Mr. George. "It will be our
said Rollo; "somethin
ever it might be, would be our misfortune, and no
olos, we must pay extra for it," continued
we have so little baggage that I am
the time for the diligence to set out," continued
t for?" aske
e to load it on the carria
ge, "you can take it to th
r at least they don't guarantee it, they say, against una
is burned up," replied Mr. George, "or in case it is attacked by r
they won't pay damages to the amount of more than nine do
now," said
a smash-up,
ly," said
paper, "is responsible, personally, for all violations
right," said
lo, "that the travellers cannot smoke
no dogs, and we don't wish to smoke, ei
Rollo; and so saying, he folded up the
is own and his uncle's clothes, and went with it in a carriage to the office. Mr. George offered to accompany him, but Ro
y lofty buildings. There was a piazza, with columns, all around the court. Along this piazza, on the four sides of the build
, "we have got to find o
ve the carriage directly to the door of the office for Rome. Rollo
, in Italian, "For Rome to-morrow morning." The man said, "Very well," and taking the valise out of t
o'clock. While they were eating their breakfast, the waiter came in wi
ge, "that is for us
stop somewhere for us
be out all night, I thought perhaps that we might want a supper towards morning. Be
ep awake?"
y you are more likely to catch the fever wh
hy we should b
," said M
or understand a thing, he never
very prevailing one, at any rate; so I thought it would b
e bread and butte
two, and after spreading the inside surfaces well with butter, they put the parts together again. The waiter brought them a quantit
ollo, "what are w
me oranges," sugg
o. "I will go out into
quivalent to three cents of American money he bought six oranges
pitcher of hot milk, which had still a considerable quantity of hot milk remaining in it, and then, after putt
G FOR TH
Mr. George, "as well as the oranges. W
o got into a carriage which the waiter had sent for to come to the door, and set off for the diligence office. It was only half past seven when
ly by half an h
new ground we must always plan to be too ear
here before the time, for now I can go around and
,-no matter under what circumstances,-they should experience an almost uninterrupted succession of pleasing sensations. But the truth is, that travelling in Europe, like every other earthly source of pleasure, is very far from being sufficient of itself to confer happiness. Indeed, under almost all the ordinary circumstances in which parties of travellers are placed, the question whether they are to enjoy themselves
. One of the ladies was his young wife, and the other lady was her sister. The sister's name was Louise. Mr. Howland intended to have taken the whole coupé for his party;
e three seats, and it won't do for us to be shut up in t
be best to do. "We cannot have three seats togethe
possibly ride on the banquette. She co
ave convenient step ladders for the use of the passengers in getting up and down. The real reason was, she thought it was not genteel to ride there. And in fa
o ride in the interi
e, "that is worse t
l another day,"
us, I am sure, when he knows that it is to oblige a lady. You can engage the two seats in the coupé, and one more, either on the banquette o
He has taken pains to go a day or two beforehand to engage his seat, so as to make sure of a
would as lief change as not. And if he won'
od season. He was very unwilling to ask the gentleman to give up his seat; but his wife, who was a good deal accustomed to have her own way, and who, besides
Mr. Howland, "I
he pillars of the portico, smoking a cigar. He looked at Mr. Howland with an expression of some surprise upon his countenance on hearing the pro
land, who had come up with her husband, and stood near. "We are three, and we want v
sed by Mrs. Howland, took the cigar out of his
her lady the gentlem
" said Mrs
ot a bear, as I should very justly be considered, if I were to leave a compartment in the coach when two such beautiful ladies a
le to take offence at it, though Mr. Howland felt, that by making the request a
culably, and so I cannot think of going up upon the banquette. But if the gentleman will go up the
a proposal. She said she should not like very well to go in there among so many strangers, and in a place, too, where she could not see the scenery at all. Besides, Louise thought that it would have been more generous in Angelina, if she thought it necessary for
he other two seats there would of course be willing to change for the coupé; or at least, sinc
this proposal. She never could cli
ged to take their seats as the conductor called off the names from his way bill. The two ladies entered the coupé in company with the Russian, while Mr. Howland ascended by th
ease in being shut up with two ladies, who he knew were displeased with him for not giving it up. The bride was vexed with the Russian for insisting on his place in the coupé, and with her sister for not being willing to go into the interior, so that she might ride with her husband. Miss Louise was offended at having been asked to sit in the interior, which request, she said to herself, was only part of a systematic plan, whic
ly on along the smooth and beautiful road which traverses the rich campagna of Naples,
as come, and the enjoyment is before them, there is some internal source of disquiet, some mental vexation or annoyance, some secret resentment or heart-burning, arising out of the circumstances in which they are placed, or the relations which they sustain to one another, which destroys thei
es and feelings of others, than travellers usually do. Most of the disquietudes and heart-burnings which arise to mar the happiness of parties travelling, come from the selfishness of our hearts, which seems, in some way or other, to bring itself out more into view when we are on a long journey together than at any other time. In the ordinary intercourse of life, this selfishness is covered and concealed by the veil of politeness pre
ee from any such uneasiness. They both felt very light-hearted and happy. They rambled about the court yard till they had seen
e Nos. 1 and
window, and the other is in the middle. You may
Rollo, "you had better ha
hat seat," said Mr. Georg
as always full of enthusiasm and excitement; and that, consequently, he would enjoy riding at the window much more at first than at a later pe
about the postilions and the horses,