Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/373

Rh to be conveyed across; the screaming and shouting of the drivers, and the merciless flogging of the poor beasts, which are ready to sink in the clay and sand, make the passage across in the highest degree difficult and noisy—and La Tosa the while rolls along so heavily and dark! But the broad ferry-boat glides safely by its strong rope, across the swollen river, and carriages, animals, and men arrive happily on the other side. The omnibus passengers creep up again into their places, I in mine, in the coupée, between the two gentleman, who do not seem to have easy consciences in the presence of the traveling lady, who has been so unexpectedly conveyed hither by an English baronet. She felt somewhat inclined to pray them for the future to bear in mind the command, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,” but she did not, satisfying herself merely by a reproach to the conductor. He threw the blame on the gentlemen; “You should have heard how they went on with me!”

The gentlemen said nothing, but looked a little ashamed of themselves; and again we trotted on.

But the clouds cleared off; then the stars shone out, and in their light we caught glimpses of Lago Maggiore, along the banks of which we drove for a full hour before we arrived at the “Hotel de l'Univers,” at Palanza.

The whole traveling world seems to have streamed this evening into the Hotel de l'Univers, which is full to overflowing, and the waiters have so many calling voices to attend upon, that the traveler who is bashful must wait to the last. That is my lot; but what does it matter? I have, after all, obtained some