ds should be aired, and charcoal and
oil provided before your arrival, just as you directed.

_Mrs W._ Thank you; pretty well; but, as usual with all Italians, the
owners are most disobliging. I wanted a cot put in for baby, but they
say they have none, and that it was not stipulated for in the
agreement. Now, surely (_impressively_), surely a person of your
experience would never take a house for a lady and young children
without such an indispensable thing as a cot?

_Banker._ You did not mention it in your letter, my good lady, and
having four other friends' lodgings to fix that same day, it has, I
fear, escaped me. (_Good-humouredly._) But we'll try and arrange
matters. I'll come down and talk to the Padrone di Casa--

_Mrs W._ (_Taking a memorandum out of her reticule._) Let me see. Ah,
yes! butter, milk, eggs. Could you favour me with the exact prices of
all these necessaries? for I am certain the people of the house have
cheated in what they have procured for us.

_Banker._ Certainly. One of my clerks shall procure you every
information.

_Mrs W._ Ah, yes! and if you will come this afternoon to the Villa,
you can also insist on their white-washing my English servant's room.
It overlooks the garden, and a scorpion was found on the window this
morning. Now, white-washing the walls is the only safeguard; it would
really annoy me if he were stung.

_Banker._ I will see about that too. Ahem! I must write at once about
the arrow-root, or the post will have left. Can I supply you with any
money?

_Mrs W._ You are very kind. I must think--(_putting her hand to her
head_)--a few more things I wished to ask. Do you remember them,
Freddy dear?

_Boy._ (_Huskily, and blushing._) Club, church, pony.

_Mrs W._ Very right, love. What is the subscription to the club and
reading-room?

_Banker._ Three napoleons for the season.

_Mrs W._ Will you enter my name? They give parties there sometimes, I
believe. Ah, then the church! how much is that?

_Banker._ Three sittings for you and your two children will not amount
to quite so much as the club.

_Mrs W._ Of course not. But even so it is a bad system. The church
ought not to be made a medium of traffic--paying for church-seats
always gives me a headache. I think, do you know, two sittings will be
sufficient; yes, put me down for two. I will take Freddy in the
morning, and his sister in the afternoon. That is all, I believe.

_Boy._ (_In an agitated manner, whispe