'But you do not like it? You do not think it is beautiful?'
'Of course, it is not Palermo,' said the young girl, quite naturally. 'It has not the sea; it has not the mountains—'
'No mountains?' interrupted Orsino smiling. 'But there are mountains all round Rome.'
'Not like Palermo,' replied Vittoria, soberly. 'And then it has not the beautiful streets.'
'Poor Rome!' Orsino laughed a little. 'Not even fine streets! Have you seen nothing that pleases you here!'
'Oh yes,—there are fine houses, and I have seen the Tiber, and the Queen, and—' she stopped short.
'And what else?' inquired Orsino, very much amused.
Vittoria turned her brown eyes full upon him, and paused a moment before she answered.
'You are making me say things which seem foolish to you, though they seem sensible to me,' she said quietly.
'They seem original, not foolish. It is quite true that Palermo is a beautiful city, but we Romans forget it. And if you have never seen another river, the Tiber is interesting, I suppose. That is what you mean. No, it is quite reasonable.'