"Why, there is nothing at all to see," said Mrs. Beekman. "It is only a small, steep face of a rock in a bank. On the Hudson River Railroad you see rocks and precipices forty times as picturesque, all along the way."
Still Rollo and Charles were very desirous to go. The truth was, it was not so much what they expected to see at the end of the excursion, which made it so alluring to them, as the interest and excitement of the various adventures which they thought they would meet with on the way. Finally Mrs. Beekman said that she had not the least objection in the world to their going to see the rock, only she was herself perfectly convinced that they would not find any thing worth seeing.
"I wish Allie could go too," said Rollo.
"Yes, mother," said Allie, clapping her hands.
"Why, do you care about seeing the Tarpeian Rock?" asked her mother.
"Yes, mother," said Allie, "I wish to see it very much, though I don't know what it is. What is it, Rollo?"
"I'll tell you all about it on the way," said Rollo, "if you can only go with us."
"But she cannot walk there," said Mrs. Beekman. "No lady ever walks in Rome."
"I will take a carriage," said Rollo.
"I am afraid you don't know how to manage about a carriage," said Mrs. Beekman.