Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. II.djvu/237

Rh ready to weep, and the splendid suns and scenery of the fireworks could not prevent my feeling the effect of the anxiety through which I had just passed. But then I had suffered anxiety for two.

The fireworks were amongst the most splendid I had ever seen, and succeeded in all respects, except in the illumination of the great cross erected on Monte Pincio, above the church, with the Pope's tiara and arms. This cross was only partially lit up, and the burning portions soon went out, and sparks fell down like ashes. It then looked dark, and, as it were, threatening above the church, blazing with the Pontifical insignia, around which swarmed innumerable comets, suns, and rushing dragons, with long tails of fire and—ashes. The people of the Piazza del Popolo behaved, as they always do in Home, quietly and peacefully. Neither were they Italians who pressed so rudely forward in the passage of the gallery, their educazione would have prevented their doing so they were for the most part foreigners, and as I believe, young Englishmen, with their ladies senza educazione. When the fireworks were over the crowd dispersed, like the waters of a quiet stream.

How pleasant it is again to find one's self at peace in a tranquil home, and it was pleasant also that Monsignor Laschiavo came and helped to dissipate the effect of the afternoon's disagreeable adventure, by his descriptions of Calabria and its earthquakes. He sympathized however very warmly in our misadventures; he had in vain looked out for us in the gallery with the intention of securing for us a good place.

That was yesterday, and to-day (April 6th) I am