Stella, he said, should see the eternal city and Florence before
settling down in the autumn to her new existence.

Miss Rawson actually jumped with joy--and the knowledge that
Eustace Medlicott would be unable to accompany them, but might
join them later on, did not damp her enthusiasm.

Every bit of the journey was a pleasure, from the moment they
landed on French soil. They had come straight through to Rome from
Paris, where they had spent a week at a small hotel; because of
the lateness of the year they must get to their southern point
first of all and return northward in a more leisurely manner.

And now anyone who is reading this story can picture this
respectable English family and understand their status and
antecedents, so we can very well get back to them seated in the
agreeable restaurant of the Grand Hotel at Rome--beginning to
partake of a modest dinner.

Mrs. Ebley (I had almost written the Reverend Mrs. Ebley!) was
secretly enjoying herself--she had that feeling that she was in a
place where she ought not to be--through no fault of her own--and
so was free to make the most of it, and certainly these well-
dressed people were very interesting to glance at between
mouthfuls of a particularly well-cooked fish.

Stella was thrilling all over and her soft brown eyes were
sparkling and her dazzlingly pink and white complexion glowing
with health and excitement, so that even in the Exminster