about it if you don't want Dominica clattering at your
heels," added Delia.

So they clambered up the steep iron stairway, and, passing by the door
that led to the servants' apartments, they climbed on till they reached
the roof. This part of the Villa Camellia was _terra incognita_ to the
school. They decided hastily, however, that it would be a very desirable
acquisition. It was a large flat expanse covered with lead, and edged
with a low battlement. It was evidently used by the maids, for a
clothes-line was stretched between two chimneys, and a row of towels
hung out to dry. The view was adorable. It was like being on the top of
a mountain. They could see the town of Fossato, and a wide expanse of
water, and Vesuvius, and the distant outline of Naples all spread in a
panorama before them, besides having an excellent bird's-eye prospect of
the garden below. Peachy, who was ready to do anything wild, went
dancing about like a will-o'-the-wisp.

"Light and airy--light and airy,
Sure, I feel a sort of fairy,"

she extemporized. "Renie Beverley, you're not mad enough! Give me your
hand. I tell you you've got to dance. We're witches who've flown over on
our broomsticks and alighted here, and we'll have a frolic before we go
back to--wherever we came from. Hello, what's this business? It looks
like a water-tank. Give me a boost, somebody, for I'm going up to see."

It was rather a scramble even for Peachy's agile limbs, but she was
resolved thoroughly to explore the capacities of the roof, and the
cistern must not be left unvisited. She clung on to its slippery side
and peered down at her own reflection in the water below.

"No idea I looked so nice," she perked. "The blue sky makes a charming
background. Really, a pool is quite a becoming mirror. Does anybody else
want to come up and peep? It's like looking at the view-finder of a
camera. Rather painful hanging on, though. I think I'll drop if you're
neither of you coming. Oh, botheration! I've lost my hair ribbon. It's
gone right down inside the cistern. Well! It's done for now. I can't
possibly fish it out."

"It wasn't your best!" consoled Delia.

"No, but the only scarlet one I possess, and just at present I've a
wild fad for scarlet. I get crazes for various colors. Last term I'd
look at nothing but pale blue, till Bertha Ford got that new blue
chiffon dress, and that, of course, set me against it forevermore. I'd a
rage for tartan once, o