BACK TO NAPLES, AND "HOMEWARD BOUND."
WELL, after they had seen Pompeii, and looked at the curiosities in the
little museum of the office and station building near by, our little
couple felt very tired, and begged Papa to take them home.
Polly's little golden head ached, and Teddy's stocking had gotten into a
wrinkle on his heel, and it hurt him to walk, and they both agreed that
they didn't care one bit if "_Vesulivus_" did cover old "Pompawy" all
over with ashes and dirt. They wanted to go home and rest Polly's head
and Teddy's lame heel, and so Papa and Mamma confessed to being pretty
tired also, and soon they were in the train, speeding rapidly towards
Naples, having had two days of "round trip excursion," and a "jolly good
time," as the children expressed it.
I would like to tell you about all the little couple did and all they
saw while there for four happy weeks, but I must leave it all to your
lively imagination, dear little readers, and whatever beautiful times
you imagine for the children you may be sure they had.
[Illustration: "I have almost kept my promise to my Mamma and tried to
be a good boy."]
Papa was obliged to return to his business at home after a month of good
times abroad, and so the day came when the trunks were packed again, and
the clock was being watched, and the hotel "bus" being listened for,
etc., and our little couple again in haste to go on board the steamship,
for, much as they had enjoyed themselves, they confided secretly to each
other the grand truth that--"After all, they liked their own gardens and
playtimes at home lots better'n European things, and that Bridgie and
Ann made things taste nicer to eat than the queer cooks in Naples; and
'sides all that, they hadn't seen any tree at all that was half so
nice as their own apple-tree where they could sit in amongst the leaves
together, and--and--they guessed 'Merican things were nicer for little
boys and girls, _any_ way!"
Teddy had put into a snug corner of his small trunk a few little gifts
for "dear own Mamma and Papa," and a nice present for his Bridget and
Polly's Ann.
And Polly had carefully stowed away in Mamma's trunk also some pretty
gifts for "Auntie Terry and Uncle Terry," and a present each for her Ann
and Teddy's Bridgie; and the things they planned to do and the good
times they planned to have when once more at their own pretty cottage
homes, where the _old apple-tree_ and the much-loved _gap in the fence_
near it were waiting for them I can't begin to tell you.
We see them now--as they stand together with Teddy's loving arm about
Polly, and her soft cheek pressed close to his--at the railing in the
stern of the ocean liner, taking a farewell look at sunny Naples and
Italian shores, and waving handkerchiefs to the men, women, and children
in the small row-boats which were skipping about in the bay in the wake
of the steamship, while shrill Italian voices were shouting: "_Addio!
addio!_"
"We've had the beautifullest time that ever could be, and we've liked
being European travelers ever so much, haven't we, Teddy Terry?"
remarked Polly at last, as the children followed Mr. Darling to their
steamer chairs; "and I must say," she added quite proudly, "that I think
we've been such good children that some day maybe Papa'll take us to
some other places. Won't that be fun?"
Teddy thought it would, but he could not be so conscientiously sure of
having been as "good" as Polly fancied, for he had a distinct
remembrance of certain occasions (of which I haven't had the heart to
tell my little readers) when Mamma Darling had had to scold pretty
severely, and he had been more humiliated about it than Polly, on
account of his promise to his own Mamma. Thinking it all over now, as he
sat in his chair beside Mrs. Darling on deck, he suddenly drew her head
down to him and earnestly whispered: "Say, Auntie, I have almost kept my
promise to my Mamma and tried to be a good boy, haven't I? You see, I
wouldn't like her to say I broke my word after she'd been and trusted
me, you know, Auntie!"
Mrs. Darling put a tender kiss on the soft little tanned forehead, and
whispered back: "I'm going to tell Mamma Terry that her boy was the
best-behaved little traveler I ever saw, so cheer up, Teddy boy!"
It was a very happy little laddie who settled back in that big steamer
chair and slipped his hand into Polly's after "Auntie" had made her
whispered speech.
And now we must say good-bye to them, as the steamship speeds on towards
America's shores, and I hope this story of _more_ of the doings of our
dear little couple will have given as much pleasure as your first
account of them. The world is full of "Dear Little Couples," isn't it?
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes:
Page 16, "city" changed to "City" (York City)
Page 21, repeated line of text was deleted. Original read:
blew its summons for luncheon the little couple had explored the
steamer, under Papa's guidance, pretty thoroughly. You know
the steamer, under Papa's guidance, pretty thoroughly. You know
children like to explore, and go scampering about to see all that can