Irma in Italy

Caroline did. She had more than a suspicion that her aunt seldom turned the leaves of her book, and that left to herself s

u need perch on the arm of your chair. Lean back; I will fix your cushio

osed Aunt Caroline. "We see him only at meals, a

nded Uncle Jim. "Come, my dear

Caroline. "You don't know what fr

Irma to a spot where she could look down at the stee

o Europe at this season. Most of those you see have a free pass

w h

e better food and quarters her

many sick a

e doctors told her she could not live long, she was sure the air of the Western Islands would cure her. So her friends had a raffle,

rio

erage. I dare say he knows those three fer

pera

appearance. Most men returning at this season-and not a few of the women,

ins why so many wear strange clot

f them have probably

t he could tell her what she wished to know. But as the days passed Marion did not thaw out. It is true he usually reported the day's run to Irma, a little ahead of the time when it was marked on the ship's chart, and if she

regions of the ship, where he had seen the inner workings of things. She listened eagerly to his description of the stoking hole with the flames

rion is very selfish, never to think of me. If there were more girls of my

t her wistfully, not venturing to leave her governess, who talked French endlessly, as they paced the deck. But now, as Irma was watching a game of shuffleb

"We go every year, but this time it may not

together, separating only to finish the lett

il steward sat at a table with a scale before him, receiving m

e in Irma's ear, and turning, she recognized the little

ting, and he went up w

hat my aunt said I might sit outs

s not moon enough to show an outline.

ntry. Except when we sailed from New Yor

" and the old gentleman sighed, as he added, "yet in the fifty y

know the Azores

old days. The interior, they tell me, has chan

tie

s the third largest in Portugal. But there, young ladies of yo

half an hour her new friend talked deligh

med, as she saw her uncle approachi

inding you out here a

ng to introduce her new friend. B

" said Uncle Jim dryly. But Irma gave no explanations. How could sh

e in sight." Thus Marion's voice and repe

ight?" she as

res, of

cular morning to oversleep?" Dressing at lightning speed, after a hurried repast she was soon on deck. Then, to

their first glimpse of St. Michael's toward noon, and the warmth of the sun was modified by the thin veil of mist. Gradually the mist dissolved, and not far away was t

opped, when still some distance from land. Large rowboats were push

officers. We can't land until they have ma

hen we shall have so l

n those dreadfu

sea; we'll get th

ooks decide

d her most was the fact that she must descend the steep steps that t

Any one is foolish who remains on the shi

teps cautiously. When she had taken her seat in the large rowboat, she found herself near Muriel and her gove

ful to-day," said Muriel,

that moment Marion, rising to be of assistance to the ladies on lan

the kind I don't like." And in this mood Marion jumped hastily off when the boat pulled up, and ru

mischievously, as he helped Irma ashore. "I wonder if

at the wharf, however, they saw Marion standing ne

e best carriages have been taken. Yo

e of good automobiles l

im hastily. "I had forgotten. That wouldn't do. These horses may prov

selle Potin had found a vehicle. Already they were seated in a carriage much

mpression of clean pavements and small houses, many of them painted in bright colors. After they had left the little crowd near the wharf, the streets seemed deserted. Here and there an old man hobbled along, or a woman with a shawl over her head, or a girl wi

t many important things to see in Ponta Delgada. We shall be obliged

umbus and his sailors gave thanks, wh

Miles away!"

ace, it is interesting to remember that some of these islands h

ey walked through the great iron gates opened by a respectful servitor, at once Irma felt she was in a reg

ered with ferns. Far below was a little stream, and here and there the ravine was span

ere; let us hurry on,

ted Irma. "It i

is rather mu

whether or not Mar

soms that neither she nor her companions could name. But there were other favorites-f

of California

er that belonged to José de Cantos. The owner died a few years ago and left it to the public, with enough money to keep it up. It has bamboo trees and palm trees and mammoth fer

when they were ready to go back they had to turn to a group of old men and women

n the men sweeping leaves from the paths wi

ng probably emigrat

ll where they had a lovely view of land and water. Far, far as they cou

that a good many people are very well off, and ye

. They rejoined Uncle Jim at the Cathedral door, but a glance at its tawdry interior contented them. Uncle Jim filled Irma's arms with flowers bought from one of the young flower sellers, and when at last they reached the wharf, the

s did not seem perfectly under the control of the stalwart oarsmen. This at least was Irma's opinion, as she sat there trembling. Even Muriel, the

as they drew near the Ariadne, a great bla

reat, black thing should tip over some night! How cou

passengers aboard. Looking to the decks so far above, Irma recognized Aunt Caroline waving

e least danger. I will stay on the boat until

m, to help Irma. The men had difficulty in steadying the boat. But one of them held Irma firmly, until her feet were on a dry step. Then, as Marion extended his hand to her, she

et by the dashing waves, but there was no further damage. They had had a great fright, though Marion seemed to suffer the most. When Irma relaxed her hold, she could

must go to her room to change her wet shoes. This she did quickly, as

from the depths of her chair, "wa

you shouldn't

so changed. I am told they have electric lights, not only in Ponta Delgada, but in the villages near by, and I do

miling, "I met them on some p

e to her, and placed himself in Aunt Caroline's vacant chair. He entered into a long conversati

ans of bonfires. Some of them have mails to Portugal only once in two or three months. Ponta Delgada is much better off, with boats at least twice a month to Lisbon, and fairly good

they?" asked

nety miles off. But St. Michael's, the largest of them all, is only thirty-seven miles long by nine broad, and Corvo, the smallest, you could

the men are so ready

barely enough for the tenants, who have to deal with exacting landlords. But some of the large landowners, especially those who raise pineapples, grow rich. The oranges and

igh and rugged aspect of the coast they were then passing, when he continued, "St. Michael's, I believe, has made a good beginning with ca

th that veil of mist around the tops of th

an kindly, and though he was neither uncle nor aunt, and no real authority, Irma