bonsiin1261.Hencethedistich,“POGGIBONIZZI,FAUIINLA,CHEMONTERIANOSIFACITTA!”tillrecentlyenscribedovertheSienagate.Itremainedindependenttill1530,whenitwassackedbythePapaltroopsandbecamepartoftheGrandDuchyofTuscany.Itisnowofsmallimportance,andseatofthedistrictprison.Theinhabitantsarestillnotedfortheiragreeablemanners.
ThetravellerwillproceeddirectfromtheSienagatetotheCollegiateChurchofSantaDeodata,andinspect(5thchapelonright)thecharmingFrescoes....
Mrs.Herritondidnotproceed.ShewasnotonetodetectthehiddencharmsofBaedeker.Someoftheinformationseemedtoherunnecessary,allofitwasdull.WhereasPhilipcouldneverread“TheviewfromtheRocca(smallgratuity)isfinestatsunset”withoutacatchingattheheart.Restoringthebooktoitsplace,shewentdownstairs,andlookedupanddowntheasphaltpathsforherdaughter.Shesawheratlast,twoturningsaway,vainlytryingtoshakeoffMr.Abbott,MissCarolineAbbott’sfather.Harrietwasalwaysunfortunate.Atlastshereturned,hot,agitated,cracklingwithbank-notes,andIrmabouncedtogreether,andtrodheavilyonhercorn.
“Yourfeetgrowlargereveryday,”saidtheagonizedHarriet,andgavehernieceaviolentpush.ThenIrmacried,andMrs.HerritonwasannoyedwithHarrietforbetrayingirritation.Lunchwasnastyandduringpuddingnewsarrivedthatthecook,bysheerdexterity,hadbrokenaveryvitalknoboffthekitchen-range.“Itistoobad,”saidMrs.Herriton.Irmasaiditwasthreebad,andwastoldnottoberude.AfterlunchHarrietwouldgetoutBaedeker,andreadininjuredtonesaboutMonteriano,theMonsRianusofAntiquity,tillhermotherstoppedher.
“It’sridiculoustoread,dear.She’snottryingtomarryanyoneintheplace.Sometourist,obviously,who’sstoppinginthehotel.Theplacehasnothingtodowithitatall.”
“Butwhataplacetogoto!Whatniceperson,too,doyoumeetinahotel?”
“Niceornasty,asIhavetoldyouseveraltimesbefore,isnotthepoint.Liliahasinsultedourfamily,andsheshallsufferforit.Andwhenyouspeakagainsthotels,IthinkyouforgetthatImetyourfatheratChamounix.Youcancontributenothing,dear,atpresent,andIthinkyouhadbetterholdyourtongue.Iamgoingtothekitchen,tospeakabouttherange.”
Shespokejusttoomuch,andthecooksaidthatifshecouldnotgivesatisfaction—shehadbetterleave.Asmallthingathandisgreaterthanagreatthingremote,andLilia,misconductingherselfuponamountaininCentralItaly,wasimmediatelyhidden.Mrs.Herritonflewtoaregistryoffice,failedflewtoanother,failedagaincamehome,was