CHAPTER XIX
A YOUTHFUL GUIDE
AS the days passed Mr. Pinckney seemed to have forgotten entirely hisoriginal intention of deserting his friends in Venice, and of bearingMiss Dolores away beyond the attentions of Harold Kirk. He was hisold jolly, generous self, so that every one had the best of times inconsequence of his enthusiasm and eagerness for fun. Sometimes he wouldtake the twins off for a frolic leaving the others to follow some fancyof their own; again he would have the whole party to dinner at somepleasant outdoor restaurant, where queer Italian dishes were served.There were excursions to Murano to see the glass-works, to Burano tosee the lace-makers, to Torcello, to Chioggia on a feast day, andoftener than anywhere to the Lido, a place which the younger girlsadored.
There seemed to be good feeling on the part of Mr. Pinckney towardboth Carter and his cousin, and there were no more frowns, though onceor twice when Mr. Pinckney caught Jack looking at him speculatively,he gave her a quizzical glance in return, but he never allowed thesubject they had discussed at the breakfast table to be brought upagain.
At last came a day when Miss Helen and Mrs. Corner decided that theymust leave Venice if they were to see anything of other places. Soagain they packed up in order to start for Florence. This decision oftheirs was the signal for the rest to make a move and all traveled incompany.
"If I only had my motor car here we could get another, and go throughItaly in that way," said Carter. "What jolly good times we had inCalifornia traveling around together."
"We'll do it again some time," Miss Helen assured him. "It is toodelightful a thing not to make a separate and distinct tour of. Now youhave started, Carter, no doubt you will come over often."
"Maybe," he said, "though one mustn't do too much junketing, once heis settled down to the real business of life. Dad thought I had beenpretty diligent in some ways, and he said I deserved a bit of a change,though if Mr. and Mrs. Roberts hadn't made up their minds to have ahouseful of company this summer, I doubt if I should have left them."
"But you did want to see us, didn't you, Carter?" asked Jack who wasnever far away when Carter was on hand.
"Of course I did, and that is precisely why I came, though underdifferent circumstances I might have felt that I ought to stay behind.We often can't do the things we want to, Jack, my honey, and often wemust do things we don't like to."
Jack did not apply this quite as it was intended as was apparent bywhat followed, for she nodded to Mr. Pinckney and said: "Do you hearthat, Mr. St. Nick?"
"What's that?" he asked looking up from his time-table.
Jack repeated what Carter had said, and Mr. Pinckney's jolly laughfollowed. "Oh, but you are a rogue," he said. "Come over here." Jackobeyed. "Look over there," said Mr. Pinckney, "and say if I am not adevoted and long-suffering grandfather."
Jack looked to see Miss Dolores and Mr. Kirk slowly walking together,evidently absorbed in a deeply interesting conversation. They were allat the moment making a last visit to the Lido and the next day wouldstart for Florence.
To this city Nan had looked forward with great expectancy, and thoughat first she was disappointed, after being possessed with the beautyof Venice, in a day or two she was quite satisfied that Florence heldits own delights which were even more satisfying to her than thoseof Venice. Its galleries, its churches, its history, its environsopened, one after another, a series of interests which appealed to thegirl strongly. She did not despise its lighter charms either, for shereveled in the gay shops along the Lungarno, and the displays of thegoldsmiths on the Ponte Vecchio. The Cascine, the Boboli Gardens andthe gardens of San Miniato were places for which the twins clamoredto be taken often, and there was generally some one in the party toindulge them; if not Miss Helen or Mrs. Corner, then Mr. Pinckney orCarter would offer escort. So while the others prowled around picturegalleries and discussed churches the twins were off on some excursionwhich better pleased their youthful tastes.
All this while Miss Dolores seemed unconscious of the interest herlove affair was exciting. She knew very well, however, that hergrandfather did not approve of it in the beginning, but feeling thatshe owed everything to him she had docilely accepted his decisions. Sherealized that it would be hard to part from Mr. Kirk, and she knew theseparation might mean the giving up of her lover entirely, but whatevershe felt she kept within her own heart. So it was a surprise to herwhen her grandfather suddenly accepted Mr. Kirk as a member of thehappy party and included him in invitations and plans which she shared.
It was intended to spend Easter at Rome, but at the last moment thegrown-ups decided to remain in Florence because Rome was so crowdedthat good rooms for so large a number of persons would be difficult toget, and because the children would enjoy _Lo Scoppio del Carro_ quiteas much as anything they might see in Rome where the Carnival had lostmany of its pleasant features.
"You don't want our girls in that rabble on the Corso," said Mr.Pinckney. "We'd better stay here and see the Columbina."
So stay they did, and on the Saturday before Easter gathered with therest of the crowd before the cathedral, their carriages joining theline of others, to watch for the great car filled with fireworks.Hundreds of country people had assembled, for this was a great occasionto them, much depending, in their superstitious minds, upon the voyageof the dove.
Jack and Jean, as interested as the Italian spectators, craned theirnecks to see the famous Columbina. "What does it look like?" askedJean. "Is it a real dove?"
"No," her Aunt Helen told her, "it is only a contrivance in the shapeof one."
"How does it get here?"
"It is lighted at the high altar during the Gloria and is run along astring or wire to the car."
This was not so very mysterious, but was sufficiently interesting tobe looked for eagerly, and its progress to and from the altar became amore exciting thing to watch than the fireworks themselves.
At last the fireworks ceased. There was a movement in the crowd.Something else was to follow. "Oh, see the white oxen," cried Jack.
Every one looked to see the mild-eyed creatures who, with slow tread,dragged the car to the Via del Proconsolo.
The Corner party followed, their driver taking a short cut so theywould be in time to see the arrival of the car, and to watch theremainder of the fireworks which were set off at the Canto de' Pazzi.
As they drove home they stopped at the flower market in the arcades ofthe Uffizi, and bore home their Easter flowers. "Such a lot of them andso cheap," said Mary Lee. "No wonder they call the city Florence, forwhat could be more flowery at this time of year?"
The carriages were dismissed at the flower market and all walked alongthe Lungarno to their hotel, stopping once in a while to look in theshop-windows or to interchange remarks.
"We shall go to the Boboli Garden to-morrow," announced the twins. "Mr.St. Nick is going to take us. We think it is the prettiest thing inFlorence."
"What do you like best, Nan?" Jack asked.
"Oh, the galleries, the Uffizi and the Pitti, of course."
"What do you like best, Jo?" Jack continued her inquiries.
Jo confessed to a weakness for the shops on the Ponte Vecchio; MaryLee liked the Foundling Hospital with its medallions by Della Robbia;Carter admired the cathedral. What Mr. Kirk and Miss Dolores likedbest in Florence Jack did not ask. She whispered to Nan to know if sheshould put the question to them.
Nan glanced at the two who were standing absorbed in something ofmutual interest. "I can tell you what they like," she whispered back.
"What?" again in a whisper.
"Each other," returned Nan. Jack's giggle showed that she appreciatedthe answer.
Easter Sunday with all the pomp and ceremony of a celebration at thecathedral. Easter Monday, a last visit to the gardens, to the shops,and they were off again, this time for Rome.
Nan and Carter sat poring over the latter's Baedeker during thejourney. "Dear me, it would take a lifetime, wouldn't it, Carter?"said Nan. "How can we see it all?"
/> "We can't," he replied. "We shall have to begin by picking out the mostimportant things. I say the Forum first."
"Oh, dear, yes, and then St. Peter's."
"Of course again--and----"
"St. Peter's includes the Vatican."
"Which means days of looking if we are to see all."
"We must drive out the Appian way."
"And see the Catacombs."
"Yes, that comes in with the drive. We must go up the Capitoline hillto the Museum."
"And the Pincio."
"And, oh, Carter, of all things, we have forgotten the Coliseum."
"So we have, and naturally that is one of the most important things."
"I am quite dizzy over it already. Don't let's write down any more tillafter we have seen these. Isn't it overpowering? London is nowhere.Paris is a mere nothing. I am perfectly wild with anticipation. It'sRome we are to see, that wonderful, wonderful city. The more I readabout it the more enthusiastically bewildered I get. Hallo, Jo, what doyou think of it? Do you know where we are going?"
"Don't speak to me," said Jo from the other end of the seat. "I amgoose-flesh from top to toe. From this time out I expect to go aboutwith my mouth agape and my eyes popping out. Oh, Nan, what wouldFrances Powers give to have this chance?"
"Poor Frances," returned Nan with a sigh.
"You always say that, and yet you are the one who has least reason tobe sorry for her."
"Maybe that is just it," replied Nan. "I have so much reason to feelthe other way that the pendulum has swung back. She has the worst ofit."
"The girls are all home for the Easter holidays now," said Joreflectively. "I think it will be rather good fun to go back thereafter all, and after this year's travel. Think what a sensation I shallmake and what an authority I shall be, yet it will be rather hard toget into the traces again, and to subsist on the everlasting bakedapples and baked beans."
"Our holiday has been a tremendously long one," said Nan, "for thoughwe have done some studying, there is much of the time we have taken ourmental nourishment in other ways than from books. I am glad Miss Barnesagreed that travel would count as study and that we should not loseby giving up school-books for part of the time. Who was Caracalla,Carter? I see something about the Thermae of Caracalla here in the book."
"He was a Roman emperor of about 212 B. C."
"That's enough," cried Jo. "Anything B. C. gets beyond my assimilation.I can't digest it till I have taken a course of treatment, fish orbrain food of some kind. I think while I am in Rome I must consult aphysician and get him to recommend a diet that will increase my supplyof gray matter."
"You certainly do talk funny, Jo Keyes," said Mary Lee. "You are alwaystrying to make out that you haven't any brains, and yet you are alwaysthe one who rises to the occasion and who comes up smiling whateverthe rest of us do. When Nan and I get completely snowed under by datesand chronological events you glibly reel them off and tell us thatso-and-so was the daughter of King This-and-That, and that Emperor XYZmarried Princess Tutti-Frutti. Why even that mixy up Bavarian historyyou had all smoothed out fine before we came away."
Jo blew Mary Lee a kiss from the tips of her fingers. "Thanks for thebouquets," she said. "Just because I know a little arithmetic you thinkI am smart. When it comes to real literature I am floored." She beganto gather up her traps for they were approaching the station and soontheir feet would be treading the streets of the Eternal City.
A few moments in the station, a swift drive to their hotel and theywere established in Rome.
There was such a variety of wishes displayed the next morning that theparty split up into three sections. Mr. Pinckney, Miss Dolores, MaryLee and Mr. Kirk, as a matter of course, yearned to see St. Peter's.Nan, Carter and Jo voted for the Forum, so Miss Helen agreed to jointhem. This left Mrs. Corner and the twins to decide upon what theyshould see. Jack was divided between a desire to be of the party withCarter and to go to the Coliseum, a place upon which Jean had set herheart. At last Jean's references to the early martyrs and to the densand chambers for the wild beasts so fired Jack's imagination that sheconcluded to go with her mother and Jean.
"It is too large a party anyhow," declared Miss Helen. "We shall allget along much more comfortably this way."
"Of course Mary Lee would go with Miss Dolores," remarked Nan, "andof course Jean and Jack wanted to be harrowed by a view of the spotwhere the early Christians were martyred. I suppose Jack will be intears over it while Jean will be interested in seeing where they usedto keep the lions and tigers, and will placidly tell Jack that itall happened so long ago that there is no use in one's feeling badlyabout it." This described the temperaments of the two so well that alllaughed.
"Will there be a moon?" asked Nan abruptly just before they reached thecar which would take them to their destination.
Miss Helen laughed. "Are you dreaming, Nan? It isn't night."
Nan laughed, too. "I was thinking of the Coliseum. The guide-book saysit is best seen at moonlight, and I was wondering if we would have achance to do that."
"I think we shall, but not till the latter part of our stay."
"As long as we get it in, that will be all right."
Arriving at the point from which the Forum could be best viewed fromabove, the four stood looking toward it silently, each impressed by thesight of the historic columns, the triumphal arches, the ruined temples.
"To think," murmured Miss Helen, "that it is comparatively but ashort time ago that all this was buried under rubbish, that it was aspot which for a long time was practically hidden from view until thenineteenth century."
"Why was that, Miss Helen?" asked Jo.
"Because in warring against paganism the temples were destroyed, thestones were carried away to build into churches and castles, and thevery name Forum was forgotten. You can read all about it in Baedeker,my dear," said Miss Helen with a smile at Jo's look of admiration ather knowledge.
"Let's read up, Nan, as soon as we get home," said Jo enthusiastically.
Their talk was at this moment broken in upon by a queer little figurewhich approached. A little fellow of about twelve or thirteen wastaking as long strides as he was capable of toward them. He was dressedin manly attire, long trousers, sack coat and Derby hat. "Want aguide?" he asked. "I show you alla, evrasing, verra sheep."
The four looked at one another and grinned. His was such a comicalappearance, for he was small for his age, and had such a serious air.Even Miss Helen smiled.
"I spika Engglis," continued the boy. He struck an attitude. "FriendaRoma, contra-manna. I coma bury Caesar," he began.
The three younger ones of the party turned away their heads, and brokeinto suppressed giggles. The boy was so ridiculous with his littlepompous manner.
Miss Helen bit her lip, but managed to ask, "What do you know aboutbeing a guide, a little boy like you?"
"I know alla as big manna. He sharge molto, mucha, me, no. Me, verraclever." He smote his breast with an air of assured self-importance.
"Do let's have him," whispered Nan to her aunt. "Even if he isn't anygood he is so funny."
"What is your charge?" asked Miss Helen, turning to the boy.
He named a moderate enough price with all the gravity possible.
"It's worth it," murmured Carter, "just to see the little rat and hisairs."
"Very well," agreed Miss Helen, "you may come with us. I don't supposehe knows a thing or will do anything right," she said to the others,"but I have my Baedeker with me, and he is funny."
The boy strode ahead, taking as mighty steps as his short legs wouldpermit, and presently began his lecture, waving a small hand in thedirection of the Temple of Saturn, and naming the buildings correctlyenough. When he thought his party had exhausted the resources abovehe turned abruptly. "Come along," he said peremptorily, and with longstrides marched ahead.
"He takes the Cook guides for his pattern," laughed Miss Helen. The boydid not hear, but with the same air of importance led his party overthe gr
ound. At the slightest word of appreciation, he would smite hisbreast and say, "Me verra clever." Before he had finished with them hehad taken them to the Capitoline Hill, had procured them post-cards ata figure less than that usually charged, had marched them to the churchof Santa Maria in Arcoeli that they might view the wonder-workingbambino laden with jewels, and in his queer jargon of broken Englishtold them many things with such an air of gravity as convulsed them. Joonce in a while managed to reach the boy in him, and his merry laugh,in strong contrast to his costume and his general manner, was the morecontagious.
He had really fulfilled his promise so well, and as Carter said, was"such an amusing little rat" that the others of the party employed himlater and as a matter of course Jack brought him out wonderfully, andwas able to learn more from him than any one else.
At the close of the first day, each was so enthusiastic about what heor she had seen that the different parties followed the example of oneanother the next day, a sort of ladies' change, Jo said, though afterthis they divided up in various ways. Sometimes it was Mr. Pinckneywho carried off all four Corners; again it would be two of these whowould go in one direction and two in another. At another time the wholecompany of eleven would take carriages for an afternoon's drive orsightseeing, finally having supper at some out-of-door restaurant, andcoming home through the lighted streets, happy though tired.
Nan had her sight of the Coliseum by moonlight, and was stirred to thedepths by the grandeur and solemnity of the scene. It was an eveningnot to be forgotten by any of them, and it may be remarked in passingthat it was a specially happy one to Miss Dolores and Mr. Kirk.
So day after day passed until one morning Mrs. Corner remarked, "If weexpect to reach Naples before it is too hot, we shall have to think ofgetting there, for May is passing."
"Leave Rome?" exclaimed the girls.
"Don't you want to see Naples?"
"Of course, but why can't we----" began Mary Lee.
"Do what?"
"I don't know. Make time stand still, I suppose."
"Rome will remain, dear child, and you can come back some day."
"I know, and of course we have been here over two weeks now. Well,mother, I suppose we shall have to go."
"Don't say it so mournfully, my child. You will be delighted withNaples, with Sorrento, Amalfi, Capri, Pompeii."
"Oh, I know it. This earth has more in it than one can well see in ashort lifetime. I can't understand how people can ever be bored."
"Like that awful Mrs. Ritchie on the steamer," said Nan; "she didn'tknow what places there were left to visit for she and her daughter hadbeen everywhere. Shall you ever forget her blase look and set smile?"
"Her name just suited her," declared Jo. "She was just rich and nothingelse. I was so pleased when Miss Helen drew her out, and found that shehad been only to the big cities and that she didn't know anything butshops, theatres and restaurants."
"There is no danger of this crowd ever getting bored," remarked Nan."The trouble is we are too enthusiastic, for we like the littlesimple things as much as the big ones, and when we have exhausted ourvocabularies over some small matter we have no words left to expresswhat we feel for the great ones. Is go the word, mother?"
"Yes, I think it must be if we are to see anything of southern Italybefore we sail for----"
"Home, home, sweet home," broke in a chorus of voices.
"And that is another thing to be enthusiastic about," said Nan at theclose of the outburst. "There is the getting back and the seeing allthe dear old places and the darling people."
CHAPTER XX
TOWARD THE TOE]