se physical
reminiscences, however, disappeared next day, and I was prepared to
enjoy Naples.

I did enjoy it; and I hope all my readers may live to enjoy it too. I
know this is wishing a tremendously long life to some of them; but such
a wish will offend nobody. During one of my strolls--this time I was
alone--I came to the foot of that vast flight of steps shaded by trees
which leads up toward the castle of St. Elmo. It was just past mid-day;
and I suppose every body was beginning the siesta; for not a single
living soul could I see in any direction. I sat down on one of the
steps, under the shadow of a huge elm, and looked upward toward the sky
along the broken avenue of trees that led aloft. There was something
singularly beautiful to me in the scene. The trees here and there met,
and huddled their heads together, and threw down a thick black shadow:
beyond was a bright patch of sunshine; and then some thinly-sprinkled
branches bent across, and fluttered their green and gold leaves between
me and the patch of blue sky that glanced at the top, seeming to be the
only destination of this lofty staircase.

I was gazing upward, as if in expectation, but in reality admiring this
curious effect, when a small dark form intercepted my view of the sky. I
had almost imagined myself at the foot of Jacob's ladder; but the spell
was at once broken, and I was about to rise and go away, when the
singular motions of the person who had disturbed me drew my attention.
It was evidently a girl with naked feet, but neat garments; her head was
laden with flowers; and she skipped down with all the lightness of the
gazelle for some space; then came to a halt, possibly on seeing a
stranger; then continued her progress--now showing brightly in the sun,
now dimly in the shade, until she came, and, after a sidelong glance at
me, sat down on the opposite end of the same step, where there was no
protection from the heat. I now noticed that she carried a basket in her
hand, from which she produced a variety of objects, evidently
manufactured from lava. These she arranged by her side, and examined
with care, every now and then casting an impatient look toward me. There
was a wildness in her eye, and a quaintness in her whole demeanor that
pleased me, especially as her features were almost without a fault. So I
remained where I was, studying her movements; and the idea suddenly
struck me that I was occupying her usual place, and that shyness
preve