n.
He, however, only reserved it for the time when he should come again to
see the ruins, in company with his uncle.

After concluding the visit to the Temple of Serapis, Rollo paid the boy
whom he had taken for the guide when he first arrived at Pozzuoli, and
then the party drove home.

Mrs. Gray insisted on paying the whole expense of this excursion; and
she was so much pleased with Rollo's management of it, that she said she
wished that he would plan another excursion as soon as possible.

CHAPTER XII.

THE ORANGE GARDENS.

The last excursion which Rollo made in the environs of Naples, was to a
beautiful valley which was situated some miles to the south of the city,
on the shores of the bay, which was full of groves of lemons and
oranges. The place was called _Sorrento_. The town of Sorrento and its
environs occupy a broad plain, which is elevated somewhat from the sea,
and yet, being surrounded, on all sides towards the land, with ranges of
very elevated land, it is really a valley. The reason why the oranges
and lemons grow so well there is, partly because the soil is very rich,
and partly because the valley opens towards the south, and is sheltered
by the mountains towards the north, and this makes the climate of the
spot very warm.

Rollo himself formed the plan of this excursion. One evening his uncle
came home from the museum looking very tired. He laid his note book upon
the table, threw himself down upon the sofa, and said,--

"Rollo, I am tired out."

"What makes you so tired?" asked Rollo.

"Hard work in the museum," said Mr. George; "but I have got through.
To-morrow I mean to rest, and I wish you would take me off to-morrow,
somewhere on an excursion. I don't care where it is, provided I have
nothing to think or to say about it. I don't want even to know where I
am going."

"Shall I invite Mrs. Gray and Rosie to go too?" asked Rollo.

"I don't care whether you do or not," said Mr. George. "Do as you
please, provided I have nothing to say about it. Make all the
arrangements, and call me to-morrow morning when you are ready."

Accordingly, the next morning, about half an hour after breakfast, Rollo
went into Mr. George's room, and told him that he was ready. So Mr.
George followed Rollo down stairs. He found a carriage at the door, with
Mrs. Gray and Rosie sitting in it. Josie was there, too, on the box with
the driver.

Mr. George got in, and Rollo directed the coachman to go on.