the house quietly. In an hour the
train for Naples was to start, but Lisetta wanted to say her prayers in
Rome on this Ash Wednesday. They wandered into a little church, one of
the many Roman churches, and knelt side by side, Lisetta with her beads
and her penance, and Mae with her thoughts, which grew dreary enough
before the peasant was ready to go. Mae had already entrusted her money
to Lisetta's keeping--some one hundred and fifty dollars, which she
had gotten the day before from Albert to buy clothes with--and with her
money she had also resigned all care. She did not know therefore, until
the train started, that their seats were in a third-class carriage.
Every one was hurrying on board, so Mae was obliged to jump in without
a word, and accept her fate as best she could. It was no very pleasant
fate. The van was dirty, crowded, garlic-scented. Mae was plucky,
however, and knew she was to find dirt and dreadful odors everywhere.
Two months of Rome had taught her that. But it grew very dreadful in the
close travelling-carriage. There was an old woman at her side, with a
deformed hand, and two soldiers opposite, who stared rudely at her,
and made loud, unpleasant remarks; and having no books, and nothing to
entertain herself with, she was forced to curl up in a corner, and try
to sleep, which she could not do.

Poor child! it was a hard day. Dull and dreary outside, and within, the
sickening odors and people. Back in Rome, what were they doing? Had they
found out that she had gone? And Eric, how was he feeling? No, no, she
must not think of all this. It belonged to the past. Before her lay
Sorrento, the bay of Naples, oranges, white clouds, and the children of
the sun. Mamma was south, too--if she were only going to her. So the day
dragged on, until with the evening they reached Naples. They spent the
night with a friend of Lisetta, who rented apartments to English and
Americans. Mae was fortunate, therefore, in securing an unlet bedroom
that was comfortably furnished. She enjoyed listening to Lisetta's
stories of Rome and the Carnival; and after a quiet night in a clean
bed, awoke tolerably happy and very eager for her first sight of the
bay. They took an early train out to Castellamare, and as they left the
city, Mae wondered if Bero were just entering it. But she soon forgot
him and every one in the blue glories of the bay.

At Castellamare, Gaetano, Lisetta's husband, was awaiting them, with a
malicious little