about, around the Hermitage?"

"Yes, madam; it is a _very_ pleasant place," replied Philippe. "You have
an exceedingly fine view of the bay, and of Naples, and of the islands,
and of the whole Campagna. Then the observatory is near, and that is a
very pleasant place, with gardens and plantations of trees all around
it. Perhaps the beggars might be a little troublesome if you walked out,
but I think I could manage about that."

"What _is_ the observatory that you speak of?" asked Mr. George.

"It is a government establishment that is kept there for making
observations on the state of the mountain," replied Philippe. "It is a
fine building, and it has very pretty gardens and grounds around it."

"I should think it would be a very pleasant place," said Mrs. Gray.
"Indeed, it looks like a pleasant place seen from this hotel with
Rollo's opera glass."

"Well, now for the next stage of the journey," said Mr. George; "that
is, from the Hermitage to the foot of the cone. How far is that, and how
do we go?"

"It is about three quarters of an hour's walk," replied Philippe. "There
is no carriage road, but only a mule path, and in some places the road
is very rough."

"Is it steep?" asked Mr. George.

"No, sir," said Philippe; "the steep part comes afterwards. The mule
path is nearly on a level, but it is rough and rocky. There are three
ways of going. You can walk, you can ride upon a mule or a donkey, or
finally, you can be carried in a chair. Ladies that do not like to walk
so far usually ride on a donkey, or else are carried. It is easier to be
carried, but it costs a little more."

"How much more?" asked Mr. George.

"A dollar," said Philippe.

"I think I should rather be carried if I were to go," said Mrs. Gray.

"I'd rather ride on a donkey," said Rosie.

"And I on a mule," said Josie.

"You and I might walk, Rollo," said Mr. George.

"Yes," said Rollo, "I would rather walk."

Rollo always preferred to go on foot when on any of these mountain
excursions, because then he could ramble about this way and that,
wherever he pleased, and climb up upon the rocks, and gather plants and
specimens.

"Very well," said Mr. George; "and this brings us to the foot of the
steep part of the mountain. How far is it up this last steep part?"

"About an hour's work, hard climbing," said Philippe.

"Is it very hard climbing?" asked Mr. George.

"Yes, sir," said Philippe; "it is right up a steep slope of rocks."

"Is