CHAPTER XXVIII
DREAMS AND DRESS-MAKING
Tato was now one of the family. They left Taormina the next day, andFrascatti drove all the girls in his victoria to the station.
"You must come again, signorini," said he, looking regretful at theirdeparture. "Next year the fountain of the ice cream soda will be inoperation, like those you have in Chicago, which is America. Our cultureincreases with our civilization. It is even hinted that Il Duca is toabandon our island forever. He has been interesting to us, but notpopular, and you will not miss him when you come again to find he is nothere. If this time he has caused you an inconvenience, I am sorry. It isregrettable, but,--"
"But it is so!" said Patsy, laughing.
Tato was again transformed. Patricia, who was the smallest of the threenieces, though not especially slim, had quickly altered one of her ownpretty white gowns to fit the child, and as she was deft with her needleand the others had enthusiastically assisted her, Tato now looked morelike a fairy than ever.
It was really wonderful what a suitable dress could do for the tinySicilian maid. She had lost her free and boyish manner and become shyand retiring with strangers, although when in the society of the threenieces she was as sweet and frank as ever. She wore her new gowngracefully, too, as if well accustomed to feminine attire all her life.The only thing now needed, as Patsy said, was time in which to grow herhair, which had always been cut short, in boyish fashion.
They were a merry party when they boarded the train for Syracuse, andUncle John arranged with the guard to secure two adjoining compartmentsall to themselves, that they might have plenty of room.
"Where did you put the money, Uncle John?" Beth whispered, when at lastthey were whirling along and skirting the base of Mt. Etna toward theCatania side.
"I've hidden it in my trunk," he replied, in the same confidential tone."There is no bank in this neighborhood to receive it, so I decided tocarry it with us."
"But will it be safe in the trunk?" she enquired.
"Of course, my dear. Who would think of looking there for fifty thousanddollars? And no one knows we happen to have so much money with us."
"What did the Count--I mean, Mr. Weldon--do with his ransom?"
"Carries it in his satchel, so he can keep it with him and have an eyeon it. It's a great mistake, Beth, to do such a thing as that. It'llmake him uneasy every minute, and he won't dare to let a _facchino_handle his grip. But in my case, on the other hand, I know it'ssomewhere in the baggage car, so I don't have to worry."
The journey was a delightful one. The road skirted the coast through theoldest and most picturesque part of Sicily, and it amazed them toobserve that however far they travelled Etna was always apparently nextdoor, and within reaching distance.
At Aci Castello they were pointed out the seven Isles of the Cyclops,which the blind Polyphemus once hurled after the crafty Ulysses. Thenthey came to Catania, which is the second largest city in Sicily, buthas little of historic interest. Here they were really at the nearestpoint to the mighty volcano, but did not realize it because it alwaysseemed to be near them. Eighteen miles farther they passed Leontinoi,which in ancient days dared to rival Siracusa itself, and an hour laterthe train skirted the bay and Capo Santa Panagia and slowly came to ahalt in that city which for centuries dominated all the known world andwas more powerful and magnificent in its prime than Athensitself--Syracuse.
The day had become cloudy and gray and the wind whistled around themwith a chill sweep as they left their coach at the station and waitedfor Kenneth to find carriages. Afterward they had a mile to drive totheir hotel; for instead of stopping in the modern town Uncle John hadtelegraphed for rooms at the Villa Politi, which is located in theancient Achradina, at the edge of the Latomia de Cappuccini. By the timethey arrived there they were blue with cold, and were glad to seek thewarm rooms prepared for them and pass the remainder of the afternoonunpacking and "getting settled."
"I'm afraid," said Patsy, dolefully, "that we shall miss the brightsunshine and warmth of Taormina, Tato."
"Oh, it is not always warm there, nor is it always cold here," repliedthe child. "Indeed, signorina, I have heard that the climate of Siracusais very delightful."
"It doesn't look it," returned Patsy; "but it may improve."
The interior of the hotel was comfortable, though, however bleak theweather might be outside. A good dinner put them all in a better humorand they passed the evening watching the strangers assembled in theparlors and wondering where they had come from and who they were.
"That money," whispered Uncle John to Beth, as he kissed her goodnight, "is still as safe as can be. I've lost the key to my trunk, andnow I can't even get at it myself."
"Lost it!" she exclaimed.
"Yes; but that won't matter. It's the big trunk that holds the things Idon't often use, and if I can't unlock it no one else can, that'scertain. So I shall rest easy until I need something out of it, and thenI'll get a locksmith to pick the lock."
"But I wish you hadn't lost the key," said the girl, thoughtfully.
"Strikes me it's good luck. Pleasant dreams, my dear. I can fancy ArthurWeldon lying awake all night with his dreadful thirty thousand tuckedunder his pillow. It's a great mistake to carry so much money with you,Beth, for you're sure to worry about it."
The next morning when they came down to breakfast they were all amazedat the gorgeous sunshine and the genial temperature that had followedthe dreary afternoon of their arrival. Syracuse was transformed, andfrom every window of the hotel the brilliant glow of countless flowersinvited one to wander in the gardens, which are surpassed by few if anyin the known world.
The Villa Politi stood so near the edge of a monstrous quarry that itseemed as if it might topple into the abyss at any moment. Our friendswere on historic ground, indeed, for these quarries--or latomia, as theyare called--supplied all the stone of which the five cities of ancientSyracuse were built--cities which in our age have nearly, if not quite,passed out of existence. The walls of the quarry are a hundred feet indepth, and at the bottom are now acres upon acres of the most delightfulgardens, whose luxuriance is attributable to the fact that they areshielded from the winds while the sun reaches them nearly all the day.There are gardens on the level above, and beautiful ones, too; but thesein the deep latomia are the most fascinating.
The girls could scarcely wait to finish breakfast before rushing out todescend the flights of iron steps that lead to the bottom of the vastexcavation. And presently they were standing on the ground below andlooking up at the vine covered cliffs that shut out all of the upperworld.
It was peaceful here, and soothing to tired nerves. Through bloomingshrubbery and along quiet paths they might wander for hours, and atevery step find something new to marvel at and to delight the senses.
Here were ancient tombs cut from the solid rock--one of them that of anAmerican midshipman who died in Syracuse and selected this impressiveand lovely vault for his burial place. And there stood the famous statueof Archimedes, who used in life to wander in this very latomia.
"Once," said Mr. Watson, musingly, "there were seven thousand Athenianprisoners confined in this very place, and allowed to perish throughstarvation and disease. The citizens of Syracuse--even the fine ladiesand the little children--used to stand on the heights above and mock atthe victims of their king's cruelty."
"Couldn't they climb out?" asked Patsy, shuddering at the thought thatsome of the poor prisoners might have died on the very spot her feetnow trod.
"No, dear. And it is said the guards constantly patrolled the edge toslay any who might venture to make the attempt."
"Wasn't it dreadful!" she exclaimed. "But I'm glad they have made aflower garden of it now. Somehow, it reminds me of a cemetery."
But there were other interesting sights to be seen at Syracuse, and theylaid out a systematic programme of the places they would visit eachmorning while they remained there. The afternoons were supposed to bereserved for rest, but the girls were
so eager to supply Tato with afitting wardrobe that they at once began to devote the afternoons toshopping and dress-making.
The child had placed in Uncle John's keeping a liberally supplied purse,which the Duke wished to be applied to the purchase of whatever hisdaughter might need or desire.
"He wants me to dress as you do," said Tato, simply; "and because youwill know what is fitting my station and will be required in my futurelife, he has burdened you with my society. It was selfish in my father,was it not? But but--I wanted so much to be with you--because you aregood to me!"
"And we're mighty glad to have you with us," answered Patsy. "It's noend of fun getting a girl a whole new outfit, from top to toe; and,aside from that, we already love you as if you were our little sister."
Beth and Louise equally endorsed this statement; and indeed the childwas so sweet and pretty and so grateful for the least kindness bestowedupon her that it was a pleasure to assist and counsel her.
Tato looked even smaller in girls' clothing than in boys', and sheimproved so rapidly in her manners by constantly watching the niecesthat it was hard to imagine she had until now been all unused to politesociety. Already they began to dread the day when her father would cometo claim her, and the girls and Uncle John had conceived a clever planto induce the Duke to let his daughter travel with them on the continentand then go for a brief visit to them in America.
"By that time," declared Louise, "Tato's education will beaccomplished, and she will be as refined and ladylike as any girl of herage we know. Blood will tell, they say, and the monk who taught her musthave been an intelligent and careful man."
"She knows more of history and languages than all the rest of us puttogether," added Beth.
"And, having adopted her, we mustn't do the thing by halves," concludedPatsy; "so our darling little brigandess must tease her papa to let herstay with us as long as possible."
Tato smiled and blushed with pleasure. It was very delightful to knowshe had such enthusiastic friends. But she was afraid the Duke would notlike to spare her for so long a time as a visit to America wouldrequire.
"You leave him to me," said Uncle John. "I'll argue the case clearly andlogically, and after that he will have to cave in gracefully."
Meantime the dainty gowns and pretty costumes were one by one finishedand sent to the hotel, and the girls ransacked the rather inadequateshops of Syracuse for the smartest things in lingerie that could beprocured. As they were determined to "try everything on" and see howtheir protege looked in her finery, Tato was now obliged to dress fordinner and on every other possible occasion, and she not only astonishedher friends by her loveliness but drew the eye of every stranger assurely as the magnet attracts the needle.
Even in Sicily, where the Greek type of beauty to-day exists moreperfectly than in Helene, there were few to compare with Tato, and itwas only natural that the Americans should be very proud of her.
Kenneth was sketching a bit of the quarry and the old monastery beyondit, with the blue sea glimmering in the distance. Sometimes he wouldjoin the others in their morning trips to the catacombs, the cathedralsor the museum; but the afternoons he devoted to his picture, and theothers came to the gardens with him and sat themselves down to sew orread beside his easel.
Arthur Weldon was behaving very well indeed; and although a good deal ofthe credit belonged to Louise, who managed him with rare diplomaticability, Uncle John grew to like the young man better each day, and hadno fault whatever to find with him.
He was still rather silent and reserved; but that seemed a part of hisnature, inherited doubtless from his father, and when he chose to talkhis conversation was interesting and agreeable.
Kenneth claimed that Arthur had a bad habit of "making goo-goo eyes" atLouise; but the young man's manner was always courteous and judiciouswhen addressing her, and he managed to conceal his love with admirablediscretion--at least when others were present.
Uncle John's private opinion, confided in secret to his friend Mr.Watson, was that Louise "really might do worse; that is, if they wereboth of the same mind when they grew up."
And so the days passed pleasantly away, and the time for their departurefrom Syracuse drew near.
On the last morning all of them--with the exception of Tato, who pleadeda headache--drove to the Latomia del Paradiso to see the celebrated "Earof Dionysius"--that vast cavern through which the tyrant is said tohave overheard every whisper uttered by the prisoners who were confinedin that quarry. There is a little room at the top of the cliff, alsobuilt from the rock, where it is claimed Dionysius sat and playedeavesdropper; and it is true that one in that place can hear theslightest sound uttered in the chamber below.
Afterward the amphitheatre and the ancient street of the tombs were paida final visit, with a stop at San Giovanni, where St. Paul oncepreached. And at noon the tourists returned to the hotel hungry butenthusiastic, in time for the table-d'-hote luncheon.