ess, when
Dolly found herself in the streets of Rome, or in presence of its
wonders of art or marvels of antiquity, she and trouble parted company.
She forgot all but the present; or even if she did not forget, she
disregarded. Her spirit took a momentary leap above all that ordinarily
held it down, and revelled, and rejoiced, and expanded, and rose into a
region of pure exquisite life. Rupert, who always accompanied her, was
rather opening the eyes of his mind, and opening them very wide indeed,
and as is the case with eyes newly opened, not seeing very clearly; yet
taking great pleasure in what he did see. St. Leger, her other
companion, had a certain delight in seeing Dolly's enjoyment; for
himself, alas! it was too plain that art said little to him, and
antiquity nothing.

One afternoon, when they had been perhaps a week in Rome, Dolly
declared her intention of taking Rupert to the Museo Capitolino.

"You were there the day before yesterday," St. Leger remarked, rousing
himself from a comfortable position and a magazine.

"Yes, thank you; and now I am going to do for Mr. Babbage what you did
for me; introduce him to a scene of delights. You know, one should
always pass on a good thing that one has received."

"Don't you want me?"

"No, indeed! I wouldn't bore you to that extent."

"But you will allow me, for my own pleasure," said Lawrence, getting up.

"No, I will not. You have done your part, as far as that museum is
concerned; and besides, I have heard that a lady must not dance too
many dances with one gentleman. It is Mr. Babbage's turn."

And with a merry little nod of her head, and smile at the irresolute
St. Leger, Dolly went off. Rupert was generally of the party when they
went sight-seeing, but it had happened that it was not the case when
the visit to the Capitoline Museum had been made.

"You are not going to this place for my sake?" Rupert said as Dolly
hurried along.

"For your sake, and for my sake," she answered. "I was there for about
two minutes, and I should like two days. O Rome, Rome! I _never_ saw
anything like Rome."

"Why?" said Rupert. "It hasn't got hold of me so."

"Wait, and it will. I seem to be touching the history of the world
here, till I don't know whereabouts in the ages I am. Is this the
nineteenth century?--Here we are."

Half an hour later, the two found themselves in the Hall of the
Emperors.

"Do you know Roman history, Rupert?"

"A little. Not much. Not far