early, and do many things before we make
our first course through the city.'

'I will come and see you to-morrow,' said Sidonia, 'after your first
progress.'

'An hour after noon, if you please,' said Baroni. 'It is pleasant for
me to become acquainted with a fellow artist, and one so liberal as
yourself.'

'Your name is Baroni,' said Sidonia, looking at him earnestly.

'My name is Baroni.'

'An Italian name.'

'Yes, I come from Cento.'

'Well, we shall meet to-morrow. Good night, Baroni. I am going, to send
you some wine for your supper, and take care the grandmamma drinks my
health.'

II.

It was a sunny morn: upon the green contiguous to the Auberge of St.
Nicholas was a house upon wheels, a sort of monster omnibus, its huge
shafts idle on the ground, while three fat Flemish horses cropped the
surrounding pasture. From the door of the house were some temporary
steps, like an accommodation ladder, on which sat Baroni, dressed
something like a Neapolitan fisherman, and mending his clarionet; the
man in the blouse was eating his dinner, seated between the shafts, to
which also was fastened the little dog, often the only garrison, except
the grandmother, of this strange establishment.

The little dog began barking vociferously, and Baroni, looking up,
instantly bade him be quiet. It was Sidonia whose appearance in the
distance had roused the precautionary voice.

'Well,' said Sidonia, 'I heard your trumpets this morning.'

'The grandmother sleeps,' said Baroni, taking off his cap, and slightly
rising. 'The rest also are lying down after their dinner. Children will
never repose unless there are rules, and this with them is invariable.'

'But your children surely cannot be averse to repose, for they require
it.'

'Their blood is young,' continued Baroni, still mending his clarionet;
'they are naturally gay, except my eldest son. He is restless, but he is
not gay.'

'He likes his art?'

'Not too much; what he wants is to travel, and, after all, though we are
always moving, the circle is limited.'

'Yes; you have many to move. And can this ark contain them all?' said
Sidonia, seating himself on some timber that was at hand.

'With convenience even,' replied Baroni; 'but everything can be effected
by order and discipline. I rule and regulate my house like a ship. In a
vessel, there is not as much accommodation for the size as in a house
of this kind; yet nowhere is there more decency and cleanlines