"Yes; and uncle, I remember you spoke of the leaning towers of Bologna
when we were at Pisa; what about them?"

"I think I simply said that since I had seen these towers, I have
believed that the one at Pisa had been intentionally built in the way it
now stands. My reason is that in all probability one of these was
purposely so built."

"Which was erected first?"

"This, about two hundred and fifty years."

"Let us go and see them at once!" exclaimed Malcom. "There is time to
give a good long look at the city before dinner."

"That is a good plan," said his mother, "and we will not go to the
picture-gallery until to-morrow morning. Then Barbara will be fresh, and
can enjoy it with the rest of us."

Mr. Sumner turned solicitously toward Barbara, with a movement as if to
go to her, but her hastily averted eyes checked him, and with an inward
sigh, he went to order carriages for the proposed drive. He had grown to
believe during the past week or two that Barbara had divined his love
for her, and that the knowledge was very painful.

"I must have thoughtlessly disclosed it," said he to himself. "It has
become so much a part of my every thought. The best thing I can do now
is to convince her that it shall never cause her the slightest
annoyance; that it shall not change the frankly affectionate relations
that have heretofore existed between us. She is so young she will forget