CHAPTER IX.
THE BURIED CITY
"We should like to take your little daughter with us on a journey," said Mr. Gray to Tessa's father.
The two men were standing in the doorway of the artist's home on the Monday after the carnival. Tessa had not forgotten to tell her father that Mr. Gray wished to see him.
"We shall be gone only a few days. We are going to take a short trip to Naples," the artist went on. "But Lucy wishes Tessa's company very much, and I think your little girl would enjoy it. What do you say?"
The peasant was greatly pleased. His face beamed, as he replied:
"You are a good friend to us, Mr. Gray. We can never forget it. What shall we do when you go back to America?"
"That time will not come for two years yet. In the meanwhile, talk with your wife. If she is willing, bring Tessa here Tuesday morning. We shall leave on the afternoon of that day."
You can imagine how excited our little Italian cousin was, when she found herself riding on a train for the first time. The cars were much smaller than we use here in America. It would have seemed odd to you to have the conductor (or the guard, as he is called in Europe) lock the doors when the train is about to start.
"We are prisoners," laughed Lucy. "We can't get out now, even if we should wish to do so ever so much."