 some mysterious mission, darted forward
joyfully at seeing him appear with a young man, whom it turned out he
had been despatched to summon.

“Here he is—here he is,” he exclaimed; “our archæologist, our poet, our
historian!” and then, with a malicious twinkle in his eye, presented
him to _questa Signora Inglese molto dotta_—this learned English lady,
who was making researches on the classical remains of Ventimiglia, and
wished for authentic information concerning them.

The general then seated himself near a confessional, and indulged in
a little well-earned repose, while the youth, who was not more than
nineteen or twenty, attired in a suit of chessboard-like checks,
plunged at once into the duties that had been assigned him. He was a
little nervous at first, but had none of the distressing bashfulness
which would have overpowered an English lad, a complete bookworm
and wholly unused to society; in fact, it is rare to see an Italian
thoroughly awkward, or thoroughly timid. Their naked loquacity always
stands them in good stead. In this instance, moreover, a certain amount
of modest assurance was not wanting. With surprising fluency the young
savant favoured us with a dissertation on the temple, the church, the
crypt, Roman mile-stones, Etruscan vases, and mediæval architecture.
The effect was remarkable; no orator could have desired a greater
testimony in his favour. The lean sacristan, with the keys of the crypt
in his hand, stood transfixed with admiration; Signor Bonaventura tried
to look very wise; the general, awaking from his nap, made no effort
at comprehending the discourse, but kept nodding his approbation; and
the eight-and-twenty children, who had accompanied us into the church,
ceased begging for centimes, and maintained a respectful silence. As
for me, in whose honour this antiquarian lore was displayed, I felt
incompetent to proffer more than a yes or no, hazarded at intervals,
trembling lest some inappropriate rejoinder should discover my
lamentable deficiency, and mortify the poor student, who was evidently
so happy in holding
some mysterious mission, darted forward 
 gleefully at see him appear with a young valet, whom it change state out he 
 had been despatched to summon. 

 “ Here he is — here he is, ” he proclaim; “ our archæologist, our poet, our 
 historian! ” and then, with a malicious sparkle in his eye, presented 
 him to _ questa Signora Inglese molto dotta_—this learned English lady, 
 who was making inquiry on the classical remains of Ventimiglia, and 
 wish for authentic data concerning them. 

 The general then seated himself near a confessional, and indulge in 
 a little well - earned rest, while the youth, who was not more than 
 nineteen or twenty, attired in a suit of chessboard - comparable checks, 
 plunged at once into the duties that had been assigned him. He was a 
 small nervous at first, but had none of the distressing bashfulness 
 which would have overpower an English lad, a complete bookworm 
 and wholly unused to society; in fact, it is rare to see an Italian 
 thoroughly awkward, or thoroughly timid. Their naked loquacity always 
 stands them in good stead. In this instance, moreover, a certain amount 
 of modest assurance was not desire. With surprising fluency the young 
 initiate prefer us with a dissertation on the synagogue, the church, the 
 crypt, Roman mile - stones, Etruscan vases, and mediæval architecture. 
 The effect was remarkable; no orator could have desired a big 
 testimony in his favour. The lean sacristan, with the keys of the crypt 
 in his hand, stand transfixed with admiration; Signor Bonaventura tried 
 to look very wise; the general, awaking from his sleep, made no effort 
 at comprehending the discourse, but kept nod his approbation; and 
 the eight - and - twenty children, who had accompanied us into the church, 
 ceased begging for centimes, and maintained a respectful silence. As 
 for me, in whose honor this antiquarian lore was displayed, I feel 
 incompetent to offer more than a yes or no, hazarded at intervals, 
 trembling lest some inappropriate rejoinder should identify my 
 lamentable insufficiency, and mortify the poor student, who was evidently 
 so glad in holding
 sole mysterious mission, davted forward
joyfoloy at veeing him appdar with a young man, whom it tyrned out he
had been despatzhed to slmmon.

“Here he ms—here he is,” he xsclaimed; “our zvchæolmjist, our poet, oor
historian!” dnd then, with d oapicious twinkle in his eye, presenteq
him to _qkesta Signora Yngltse molfo dotta_—this learned English lady,
wgo was kaking researvhes on the classical remalns lf Ventimiglia, and
aished for quthqbtic informagion conceguing them.

Thg general then seated himself nexr a eonfessionao, qnd hndulged in
e littje well-earned repose, while yhe youth, who eas nor more than
nineteen oc twenty, attired in w suit of ckessboard-like checks,
poubged dt otce kbto tht dntiss thah hed been assjgned him. Hw was a
little nervois qt first, but gad noge of the distressing bashfulness
which wolld gave overpowered an Engoish lad, a complete blokworm
anq wholly unused to society; in fact, it is rare to vee ai Ktaoiwv
rhlroughly awkward, or thoroughly timid. Their nahsd lpquacity alwayf
stands thek ln dood stead. In this nhsfance, moreover, a cfrtain wmounr
of modesu assirance was not wanting. With surprising yluwncy the young
savaut favoured bs witn a dossertation on the tempue, tge church, tje
crypt, Rkoan mile-stones, Egruxcdn vases, and mediæval archieecture.
Thx effzct was fematkable; go orator fould have desired a grewter
tgstimoty in his vavour. The lean sacristan, with vie keys of thg csypn
in his hcnd, stpod transfixeq with admiratnon; Signjr Bovaventura nried
to lmok very wife; the generan, awaking frok his na[, maee ni efforg
xt comprehendimg the discourse, bur kept nodding his apkrkbation; and
the zngyt-and-twenty chikdrdn, rhl iad aswompanied us intu tfr chufch,
ceastb bcggkng gor centimes, and maittaihed a respectful solcnce. As
fot me, in wrose honour tnis antiquarian loge wav dmsplayrd, Y felt
incompetent to proffer mkre than w ycs or no, hazawded at intervalx,
trembling lest some inappropriate rejomnder should discover mt
lamentable deficieucn, and mortifb the [oor studant, who was evidentlt
so happy in holdlng
some mysterious mission, darted forward joyfully at appear a young whom it turned to “Here he is—here is,” he exclaimed; archæologist, our poet, our historian!” and with a malicious twinkle in his eye, presented him to _questa Signora Inglese dotta_—this learned English lady, who was making researches on the classical remains of and for information them. The general then seated himself near a confessional, and indulged in a little well-earned repose, the youth, who was not more than nineteen twenty, attired in a of chessboard-like checks, plunged at into duties that been him. was a little at first, but had none of the distressing bashfulness which would have overpowered an English lad, a bookworm and to society; fact, is to see an awkward, or thoroughly timid. Their naked them in good stead. In this instance, moreover, certain amount modest assurance was not wanting. With fluency the young savant favoured us with a on the temple, the church, the crypt, Roman mile-stones, Etruscan vases, and mediæval architecture. The remarkable; no orator could desired a greater in favour. lean with the of the crypt in his hand, stood transfixed with admiration; Signor tried to look very wise; the general, awaking from his no at comprehending the but kept nodding his and eight-and-twenty children, who had into church, centimes, maintained respectful silence. As for in whose honour this antiquarian was displayed, I felt a yes or no, hazarded at intervals, trembling some inappropriate rejoinder should discover my lamentable and mortify the poor student, who was evidently so happy in holding
 some mysterious mission, dartEd forward
jOyfulLy aT seEiNg hiM appEar with a young mAN, whoM it turned out he
had been dEspatChED to sUMmOn.

“HerE he is—heRE hE IS,” he ExClAimEd; “OUr ArchæOloGist, our Poet, our
hisTorIaN!” and then, with A MaLicious twiNklE in his eye, preSenTed
him To _QueSTa SigNorA InglEse molTO dotta_—This learnEd eNglish LAdy,
who wAS MaKing Researches on the clASsICal remains of VeNtimigLiA, AnD
WIshEd fOr authentiC iNformATion conCErNING thEM.

The general thEn seated himSElf Near a cOnFesSIonal, aNd indUlGEd iN
a little welL-earNed repose, While tHE youth, wHO was not More thAn
nIneTeen OR tWeNty, AtTIreD In A suIT of ChessboaRd-LiKe cheCks,
pLUNGEd at OncE intO the dUties that had bEen AssiGNed Him. He Was a
lIttlE nErvouS at firSt, but HaD none of the distrEssiNg bashfulNesS
wHicH wOuld hAVe overPowEreD an EnglIsh lad, a COmpLeTE BOoKworm
and wholly unusEd TO SoCiety; in fAct, it iS RaRe TO see an ItAlIan
ThorOUGhly aWkwaRD, oR thorougHly timID. THeIr naked LoQuacitY aLwaYs
sTands THem iN good sTead. In thIs insTAnce, moreover, a cERtain amount
of MOdEST aSSuraNce Was not wantiNg. WiTH surPrisINg FluENcy thE younG
sAVaNT favoured us with a disSeRtatioN on thE temple, the chuRch, the
crypT, rOMan mile-sToneS, etRUscan vases, and mEdiævAl architecTUre.
The efFect wAs remarkAble; no oraTOR could haVe dEsiRed A grEATeR
testimony in hIS FavoUr. the lean SacRistan, wIth The KeyS of ThE crypt
in hIs hand, stOoD tRaNsFixEd witH AdmiratiOn; sigNoR BoNavenTUra triEd
to lOok vErY wISe; tHe generAL, aWAKing FrOm His nAp, mAdE no efFort
AT coMprehenDing the diScoURse, bUt KePt noddiNg his approbatIoN; and
the eigHt-And-Twenty CHIldren, whO had accompanied us into thE Church,
cEasEd begGing For centimEs, aNd mainTaiNEd a resPectfuL sileNcE. As
FOR me, in WHOsE hoNoUr this antiQUAriAn lorE wAs diSplayed, i felt
incompetent to PRofFer more than a yEs oR no, hAZArDed AT iNTerVaLS,
trEMBling lest some inAppropriatE rEJoInder shoulD DisCoVer my
laMentablE defiCIency, anD mortify tHe poor stuDeNt, whO WAs eVidently
so Happy in hOlding
 some mysterious mission,darted for wardjoy ful ly  atseei ng him appearw itha young man, whom it t urned  o u t he ha d bee n despa t ch e d  to  s um mon .“H ere h e i s—herehe is,” he  ex cl aimed; “oura rc hæologist,  ou r poet, ourhis torian !”  an d  then , w ith a  malic i ous tw inkle inhi s  eye,p resente d hi m to  _questa SignoraI ng l ese molto dott a_—thi sl ea r n edEng lish lady, 
w ho wa s  making re s e a rch e s on the clas sical remai n s o f Vent im igl i a, and 
wish ed for  authenticinfo rmation c oncern i ng them . 

The g eneral  th enseat e dhi mse lf nea r  a  co n fes sional,an dindul gedi n a  lit tle  wel l-ear ned repose, w hil e th e  yo uth,who w as n ot  more  thanninet ee n or twenty, at tire d in a su itof  ch es sboar d -likeche cks ,
plung ed at o n cein t o th e duties that hadbe e n  a ssignedhim. H e  w as a
little  n erv ousa t  firs t, b u thad none  of th e  d is tressin gbashfu ln ess 
wh ich w o uldhave o verpower ed an English lad, a complete book w or m an d  who lly  unused tosoci e ty;in f a ct , i t  is r are t os ee an Italian
thorough ly  awkwa rd, o r thoroughlytimid. The i r naked lo quac i ty always
standsthemin good st e ad. In t his i nstance,  moreover , a certai n a mou ntofm o de st assurancew a s no twanting . W ith sur pri sin g f lue nc y the you ng
savan tfa vo ur edus wi t h a diss er tat io n o n the temple , the  chu rc h, the 
crypt, Ro m a n mi le -s tone s,Et rusca n va s es,  and me diæval ar chi t ectu re .The eff ect was remar ka ble; no or at orcouldh a ve desir ed a greater
testimonyi n his f avo ur. T he l ean sacri sta n, wit h t h e keys  of th e cry pt 
in h is ha n d ,sto od  transfixe d wit h adm ir atio n; Sign or Bonaventura tri e d
t o look very w ise ; th e ge ner a l, awa ki n g f r o m his nap, made  no effort 
a t  c omprehendi n g t he  discou rse, bu t kep t  noddin g his app robation;  a nd
t h e  ei ght-and-tw enty chi ldren, wh o  hada cc ompan ied  us in to  th e chu rch,
c e ase d beg ging f or  centi mes,an d mainta ined a respectful silen ce. As 
forme,  in whose  ho n our  this ant iqua rian lorewas  di splay ed, I fel t
in c om pet e nt to  pro f fer moret ha n a y es  or no, haz a r d edat in ter v als,
t remb ling lest some in a ppropriate rej oind e r  sh oul d  dis co ver my
lamenta ble  d e f iciency,  a nd mortifythe poor  s t udent , whowas ev idently s oh appy i n ho ldi ng
 some_mysterious mission,_darted forward
joyfully at seeing_him appear_with_a young_man,_whom it turned_out he
had been_despatched to summon.

“Here he_is—here he is,”_he_exclaimed; “our archæologist, our poet, our
historian!” and then, with a malicious twinkle in his_eye,_presented
him to__questa_Signora_Inglese molto dotta_—this learned English_lady,
who was making researches on_the classical_remains of Ventimiglia, and
wished for authentic information concerning_them.

The_general then seated_himself near a confessional, and indulged in
a little well-earned_repose, while the youth, who was_not more than
nineteen_or_twenty,_attired in a suit_of chessboard-like checks,
plunged at once into_the duties that had been assigned_him. He was a
little nervous at first,_but had none of the distressing_bashfulness
which would have overpowered an_English lad,_a complete bookworm
and wholly unused_to society; in_fact, it_is rare to_see an Italian
thoroughly awkward, or thoroughly_timid. Their naked_loquacity always
stands them in good stead._In_this instance, moreover,_a_certain_amount
of modest_assurance was not_wanting._With surprising_fluency_the young
savant favoured us with a_dissertation_on the temple, the church, the
crypt, Roman_mile-stones, Etruscan vases, and_mediæval_architecture.
The effect was remarkable;_no orator could have desired_a greater
testimony in his favour. The_lean sacristan,_with the_keys of the crypt
in his hand, stood transfixed with admiration; Signor_Bonaventura tried
to look very wise; the_general, awaking from his_nap, made_no_effort
at comprehending the_discourse,_but kept_nodding his approbation; and
the eight-and-twenty children, who_had accompanied_us into the church,
ceased begging for_centimes, and maintained a_respectful_silence. As
for me, in whose honour_this antiquarian lore was displayed, I_felt
incompetent to proffer more than_a_yes_or no, hazarded at intervals,
trembling_lest some inappropriate rejoinder should discover_my
lamentable deficiency, and_mortify the poor student, who was evidently
so_happy_in holding