Rollo in Rome | Page 5

good-natured a way that it was
impossible to take offence at it, though Mr. Howland felt, that by
making the request and receiving such a reply, he had placed himself in
a very ridiculous position.
"I prize my seat more than ever," said the Russian, still addressing the
ladies; "I prize it incalculably, and so I cannot think of going up upon
the banquette. But if the gentleman will go up there, I will promise to
take the very best care of the ladies possible, while they are in the
coupé."
Mrs. Howland then took Louise aside, and asked, in a whisper, whether
she should have any objection to ride in the interior, in case Mr.
Howland could exchange the place on the banquette for one within.
Louise was quite troubled that her sister should make such a proposal.
She said she should not like very well to go in there among so many
strangers, and in a place, too, where she could not see the scenery at all.
Besides, Louise thought that it would have been more generous in
Angelina, if she thought it necessary for one or the other of them to ride
inside, to have offered to take a seat there herself, instead of putting it

off upon her sister, especially since it was not so proper, she thought,
for her, being a young lady, to ride among strangers, as for one who
was married.
Mr. Howland then suggested that they should all ascend to the
banquette. The persons who had the other two seats there would of
course be willing to change for the coupé; or at least, since the coupé
was considered the best place, there would be no indelicacy in asking
them to do it.
But the bride would not listen to this proposal. She never could climb
up there, in the world, she said.
By this time the coach was ready, and the conductor began to call upon
the passengers to take their places, so that there was no more time for
deliberation. They were all obliged to take their seats as the conductor
called off the names from his way bill. The two ladies entered the
coupé in company with the Russian, while Mr. Howland ascended by
the step ladder to his seat on the banquette. While the passengers were
thus getting seated the postilions were putting in the horses, and in a
moment more the diligence set off.
Now, here were four persons setting out on a pleasant morning, in a
good carriage, to take the drive from Naples to Rome--one of the most
charming drives that the whole tour of Europe affords, and yet not one
of them was in a condition to enjoy it. Every one was dissatisfied, out
of humor, and unhappy. The Russian gentleman was displeased with
Mr. Howland for asking him to give up his seat, and he felt
uncomfortable and ill at ease in being shut up with two ladies, who he
knew were displeased with him for not giving it up. The bride was
vexed with the Russian for insisting on his place in the coupé, and with
her sister for not being willing to go into the interior, so that she might
ride with her husband. Miss Louise was offended at having been asked
to sit in the interior, which request, she said to herself, was only part of
a systematic plan, which her sister seemed to have adopted for the
whole journey, to make herself the principal personage in every thing,
and to treat her, Louise, as if she was of no consequence whatever. And
last of all, Mr. Howland, on the banquette above, was out of humor

with himself for having asked the Russian to give up his seat, and thus
subjected himself to the mortification of a refusal, and with his wife for
having required him to ask it.
Thus they were all at heart uncomfortable and unhappy, and as the
horses trotted swiftly on along the smooth and beautiful road which
traverses the rich campagna of Naples, on the way to Capua, the
splendid scenery was wholly disregarded by every one of them.
Now, it is very often so with parties travelling in Europe. The external
circumstances are all perhaps extremely favorable, and they are passing
through scenes or visiting places which they have thought of and
dreamed of at home with beating hearts for many years. And yet now
that the time has come, and the enjoyment is before them, there is some
internal source of disquiet, some mental vexation or annoyance, some
secret resentment or heart-burning, arising out of the circumstances in
which they are placed, or the relations which they sustain to one
another, which destroys their peace and quiet of mind, and of course
incapacitates them for