arge cities; but the gentlemen were very cross, and exclaimed
that it was a disgrace to Milan. Our poor automobile had to go bumping
and grinding along through heaps of sharp stones, more like the dry bed
of a mountain torrent than a road; and my nerves were on edge when Mr.
Barrymore told us not to be frightened if we heard an explosion like a
shot, because it would only be one of the tyres bursting. No pretty
little ladylike automobile, said he, could possibly hope to come through
without breaking her bones; only fine, manly motor-cars, with noble
masculine tyres, could wisely attempt the feat; but ours would be all
right, even if a tyre did go, for the damage could be repaired inside
half an hour.

Still, the thought of the possible explosion that might go off right
under my ears at any instant kept me in a state of suspense for a long
distance--about thirty kilometres, Mr. Barrymore said; and then the way
improved so much that I settled down again. Even the scenery had been
ugly up to that time, as if to match the road, but it began to change
for the better at precisely the same moment.

The only interesting things we had seen so far were peasants playing
bowls in the villages through which we passed (for it was a fete day)
and the curious carts with wooden frames for awnings arched over them,
which gave an effect as if the passengers were crowding inside the white
ribs of some skeleton monster. Such pretty women and children were in
the carts, too; the women like beautiful, dark madonnas with their soft
eyes looking out from under graceful head-draperies of black cashmere,
or blue or yellow silk, glorious in colour as the sun touched it.

They didn't seem to mind the bumping over the stones, though the carts
were springless, but then, they had no hats lolloping over to one side,
or stays to pinch in their waists and make them uncomfortable as I had,
though--as Beechy says--my daytime motoring waist is _inches_ bigger
round than my evening waist.

I was glad when I could put my hat straight again, once for all, and
have time to enjoy the scenery through which, as I told myself, the
Prince must lately have passed on his car, perhaps thinking of me, as he
had promised.

Behind us was the great plain in which Milan lies, and before us soared
into the air a blue chain of mountains, looking mysterious and
inaccessible in the far distance, though we were sweeping on towards
them, charging down hill after hill into a