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Main > Fairy tale > All authors > Frank Baum > Fairy tale "Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad"

Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad

And then the glow of

the sun faded softly and twilight took its place. Far down the winding

road could be seen the train of carriages returning from the station,

the vetturini singing their native songs as the horses slowly ascended

the slope. An unseen organ somewhere in the distance ground out a

Neapolitan folk song, and fresh and youthful voices sang a clear, high

toned accompaniment.

Even practical Uncle John stood absorbed and admiring until the soft

voice of the facchino called to ask if he wanted hot water in which to

bathe before dinner.

"It's no use," said Patsy, smiling at him from the next balcony with

tears in her eyes; "There's not another Taormina on earth. Here we are,

and here we stay until we have to go home again."

"But, my dear, think of Paris, of Venice, of--"

"I'll think of nothing but this, Uncle John. Unless you settle down with

us here I'll turn milkmaid and live all my days in Sicily!"

Beth laughed, and drew her into their room.

"Don't be silly, Patsy dear," she said, calmly, although almost as

greatly affected as her cousin. "There are no cows here, so you can't be

a milkmaid."

"Can't I milk the goats, then?"

"Why, the men seem to do that, dear. But cheer up. We've only seen the

romance of Taormina yet; doubtless it will be commonplace enough

to-morrow."

CHAPTER XIII

IL DUCA

Beth's prediction, however, did not come true. The morning discovered

nothing commonplace about Taormina. Their hotel was outside the walls,

but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through

which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in

Sicily. Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced

them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was

picturesque and charming.

Some of the houses had been turned into shops, mostly for the sale of

curios. Uncle John and his nieces had scarcely passed a hundred yards

into the town when one of these shops arrested their attention. It was

full of antique jewelry, antique furniture, antique laces and antique

pottery--all of the most fascinating description.

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