tle hamlet far up
the sloping mountain-side; again some mouldering tower would appear,
perched upon some commanding and almost inaccessible eminence--the
remains of a feudal castle, the monument of lawless power overthrown
forever. Sometimes they would pass through the street of a town,
and have a fresh opportunity of contrasting the lazy and easy-going
life of Italy with the busy, energetic, restless, and stirring life
of their own far-distant America.

On to Rome!

This day was to land them in the "Eternal City;" and though they
enjoyed the drive, still they were eager to have it over, and to
find themselves in that place which was once the centre of the
world's rule, and continued to be so for so many ages. Their
impatience to reach their destination was not, however, excessive,
and did not at all prevent them from enjoying to the utmost the
journey so long as it lasted. Uncle Moses was the only exception.
He was most eager to have it over, and reach some place of rest.
True, no accident had happened; but he had gone through enough
tribulation, both in body and in mind, to furnish the working,
material for a dozen very serious accidents indeed; and the general
effect produced upon him was precisely what might have resulted
from a really perilous journey.

At length they arrived at the town of Albano, where they intended
to remain two hours, and afterwards resume their journey. The town
stood on the side of a hill, and the hotel at which they drew up
was so situated that it commanded a boundless view.

Few places cherish a stronger local pride than Albano. Tradition
identifies this town with no less a place than Alba Longa, so famous
in early Roman legends; for though, according to the old accounts,
Tullus Hostilius destroyed the city proper of Alba Longa, yet
afterwards another town grew on its site, and all around rose up
the splendid villas of the Roman nobility. Here, too, Tiberius and
Domitian had palaces, where they sought relaxation from the cares
of empire in a characteristic way.

On reaching this place, their first care was to order dinner, and
then, as there would be some time taken up in preparation for that
meal, they looked about for some mode of pastime. The landlord
recommended to them a visit to a convent at the top of the hill.
He informed them that it stood on the site of a famous temple, and
that it was visited every day by large numbers of travellers. On,
referring to their guide-book, the