“Of course you can,” said Homer, who, with young Van Winkle, came just then within hearing of the two girls. “Pardon my interruption, Madame Julia, but I’ve brought a Roman Senator to call on you. Allow me to present Augustus Van Winkleinus, from the ancient City of Philadelphia.”
“Ha,” said Patty, “methinks we have met aforetime. Art not Lankius the Rotund?”
“I art not!” declared Lank, “I art but a stripling youth.”
“A good-natured one, forsooth,” said Patty, laughing.
“Good nature, but bad art,” said Violet. “Peterus Homerus, what is the noble building next us, with its three columns left standing?”
“I know,” cried Patty, “it’s the Temple of Castor and Pollux.”
“Don’t call it that,” said Mr. Homer. “Just say the Temple of Castor. It sounds better to trained ears.”
“All right, I will,” said Patty. “What was it for, anyway?”
“For various commercial uses. Indeed, it was a sort of an office building at one time. It contained the testing-office for weights and measures. But that doesn’t add to its interest. Just look at the blue sky between those perfect columns, and let that be your only memory of the Temple of Castor.”
“Isn’t it strange,” said Patty, reminiscently, “you said you wished you could show me Italy in your own way, and here you are doing it!”