A Little Protestant in Rome by Eglanton Thorne

A Moonlight Expedition.

MRS. BERNARD had at last made up her mind to leave Rome. She resolved to travel northward, spending some time at Assisi and Perugia, and other places of interest. She hoped finally to establish herself for the hot summer months in some mountain resort in the neighbourhood of Turin. Having made her plans, she found, as most persons find on the eve of a departure from Rome, that the famous old city had laid its spell upon her, and to leave it was like parting from a friend. There were last visits to be paid and long-talked-of things to be done that would fill almost every hour of the few days that remained.

"You must pay a moonlight visit to the Coliseum before you go," Mrs. Dunton reminded her. "We have talked of it so often, yet left it to the last. Happily, the evenings are lovely now. The moon was brilliant last night. What do you say to going tonight, if we can make up a party?"

"I should like to go," said Mrs. Bernard, with more animation than she often displayed. "I feel as if I had not done my duty by the Coliseum, and now there is so little time."

"Oh, mother, may I go, too? " cried Paul eagerly. "I do so want to see the Coliseum by moonlight."

Mrs. Bernard shook her head. She was sorry the plan had been mentioned in the child's hearing.

"That is impossible, my darling," she said gently. "It would not be good for you to be out so late. Besides, you have a cold already. I can hear that you are hoarse."

"No, I'm not," said the child. "I'm not cold at all. Feel my hands how warm they are."

And indeed the little hands were very hot.

"You certainly have a cold," said his mother, "and I am afraid you are feverish. I must tell Janet to give you some medicine when she puts you to bed."

"I don't want any nasty medicine! " cried Paul impatiently. "I don't want to go to bed. Do take me to the Coliseum."

"No, dear, I cannot do that," said his mother firmly.

Paul began to cry.

"Oh, if you are going to behave like a baby, you must go to Janet," said his mother, rising to ring the bell.

Paul's sobs increased in intensity, till his nurse bore him away in a passion of tears.

"I cannot think what is the matter with him," said Mrs. Bernard, looking troubled. "He is not at all himself to-day. He would not cry like that if he were well."

"Oh, I daresay the heat has upset him," said Mrs. Dunton. "You must expect children to get out of sorts now and then."

She thought privately that Paul's mother had rather spoiled him; but it was excusable, since he was her only child and the one object of her love.

Janet also was of opinion that Paul was not well. She had hardly ever known him so fractious as he showed himself for the rest of the day. He continued to fret because he could not go to the Coliseum, and he resisted strenuously his nurse's desire to put him to bed rather earlier than usual. When at length she got him between the sheets, his perversity continued, and it was long ere he would lie still, or show any inclination to sleep.

Janet was therefore thankful when, coming to peep at him, she at last found that he had fallen asleep. But his face was deeply flushed, his breathing quick, and his appearance made her uneasy.