or Venice.

It was a most lovely day. The sun shone richly on the thousands of
grape-bunches that hung on the vines, and on the wild-flowers that
grew at their feet; and then the beautiful languid way in which the
vines grow added another charm to the scene: apparently overcome by
heat and lassitude, they throw themselves from one tree to another for
their support, and hang between them in graceful festoons. We were not
long, however, in the region of the green, and now slightly
autumn-tinted leaves; our steam-engine seemed suddenly to have
conceived the idea of drowning us, for we darted into the sea, and
with nothing but water on either side, we appeared to be hurried on by
some gigantic rope-dancer, so light was the bridge over which we were
carried. Involuntarily, I seized hold of Claudia's arm; but gradually
I saw in the distance so beautiful a thing--such a silent, white,
fairy-like city, under such a brilliant sky, that I lost all earthly
fear, and, in spite of the tangible railway carriage in which I was, I
felt as if, like King Arthur, I was being borne by fairies to their
fairy home.

At last we arrived, and entered by a long dusty passage the Dogana, in
order to be examined. All romantic visions had now faded away:
ordinary mortals were in attendance to look over our boxes; and it
being the middle of a hot day, I began to feel both thirsty and tired,
and most anxious to arrive quickly at the hotel, in order to secure
comfortable apartments. Claudia stood for some time with the keys in
her hand, vainly endeavouring to induce one of the custom-house
officers to look at our boxes. The examination did not appear very
strict, and we observed many of our fellow-passengers had their boxes
just opened, and then were allowed to depart, with scarcely any delay.
At last, one of the men approached us, and Claudia pointed to her open
box, and asked him to examine it. The man looked up into her face--I
thought, in a very scrutinising manner--then at the name on the box,
and then retired, and whispered to one of his companions, who came
back with him, and asked in Italian for our passport. This I
immediately produced. They examined it, and said something to each
other in German; upon which Claudia, who was more familiar with that
language than with Italian, asked them in it to be kind enough to
examine our boxes quickly, as her aunt was much tired. I saw the men
exchange glances, and then they came forward to examine us.