Her voice grew steady as she went on; but when she has finished, her mother was crying.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
AT THE VILLA.
The place inhabited by the Thayers was a regular Italian villa. It had not been at all in order that suited English notions of comfort, or American either, when they moved in; but they had painted and matted and furnished, and filled the rooms with pretty things, pictures and statues and vases and flowers; till it looked now quite beautiful and festive. Its situation was perfect. The house stood high, on the shore overlooking the sea, with a full view of Vesuvius, and it was surrounded with a paradise of orange-trees, fig-trees, pomegranates, olives, oaks and oleanders, with roses and a multitude of other flowers; in a wealth of sweetness and luxuriance of growth that northern climes know nothing of. The reception the visitors met with was joyous.
"I am so glad you are come!" cried Christina, as she carried off Dolly through the hall to her particular room. "That bad boy, Sandie, has not reported yet; but he will come; and then we will go everywhere. Have you been everywhere already?"
"I have been nowhere. I have staid with mother, and she wanted to be quiet."
"Well, she can be quiet now with my mother; they can take care of each other. And you have not been to Capri?"
"No."
"Just think of it! How delightful! You have not seen the Grotta azzurra?"