g, and that it would answer to set out at any time before noon, fixed
the hour for departure at eleven o'clock. Vittorio said he would be at
the door half an hour before, in order to have time to load the baggage.

[Illustration: READING THE ARTICLES.]

CHAPTER III.

THE JOURNEY.

The journey from Florence to Naples, as planned and provided for by the
contracts and agreements described in the last chapter, was prosecuted
from day to day, until its completion, in a very successful and
prosperous manner. The various contingencies likely to occur having been
foreseen and provided for by the contract and the rules, every thing
worked smoothly and well, and none of those discussions, disagreements,
and misunderstandings occurred, which so often mar the pleasure of
parties travelling together in one company for many days.

Mrs. Gray was fined for not being ready for breakfast at the time
appointed, on the very first morning after leaving Florence. It was at a
place called Arezzo. The time appointed for the breakfast was at seven
o'clock. Mr. George knocked at all the doors a little before quarter
past six. About quarter before seven the two boys came into the
breakfast room, and soon afterwards Mr. George and Rosie came. The
breakfast was brought in and set upon the table by the waiter a few
minutes before seven. The boys immediately began to set the chairs
round.

"Quick! quick!" said Josie. "Let us sit down quick, and mother will be
tardy, and have to pay a fine."

"Ah, but it does not go by our sitting down," said Rollo. "It goes by
Mrs. Gray's watch."

"Yes," said Rosie; "I have got the watch. It wants a minute of the time
now."

"I _hope_ she won't come," said Josie.

"She will come," said Rosie. "She has been almost ready for some time."

The children all took their seats at the table. Rosie had the watch
before her, and was closely observing the minute hand. Mr. George, who
thought it not polite that he should take his seat before Mrs. Gray
came, stood waiting by the fire. It was a cool morning, and so Mr.
George had made a little fire when he first got up.

Notwithstanding Rosie's prediction, Mrs. Gray did not come. Rosie
watched the second hand, and as soon as it passed the mark she said,--

"There! it is seven o'clock; now mother is tardy."

Josie clapped his hands, and even Rollo looked quite pleased. In about
two minutes the door of Mrs. Gray's bedroom opened, and Mrs. Gray
appeared.

"