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    A CANTER OVER THE CAMPAGSTA. 243

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    "Well! Rome Would Be A Charming Place If...

    We return , not over the open Campagna we came by , but through a green sheltered valley with high rocky banks on each side ; our

    horses are all the fresher for the rest they have had , and canter briskly over the level greensward ; the clouds have rolled away as

    quickly as they gathered , and the purple and blue anemones open their cups sparkling with rain-drops to the sun ' s rays again . The

    air is fragrant with the scent of the purple and white violets nestling in the moss at the foot of the rocks , and the flowering bay

    and lauristinus that clothe their sides . A large herd of beautiful ¦ white goats are feeding about the rocks , as usual perching

    themselves on inaccessible-looking points , or bounding from rock to rock with inconceivable agility .

    The goatherd , a bright-eyed , sunburnt little fellow , reclines at his ease on a slab of rockhis arm caressingly wound about the

    , neck of a solemn , bearded old goat who stands near , whilst two youthful kids caper over and round him .

    Some way on we meet with _^ the dog who ought to be guarding the flock , but who is at present engaged on a rabbiting expedition

    with another dog who ought to be minding some sheep . A well brought upconscientious Englishor above all Scotch , sheep-dog ,

    , , would be infinitely scandalised at the conduct of his great , shaggy brethren of the Campagna . I have never before met with dogs so

    utterly devoid of any ideas of duty or responsibility ; they abandon their charges continuallyand wander about the Campagna in

    , search of dissipation or amusement , sitting near the gates to bark at riding parties , meeting together in large gossiping or hunting

    parties , or lying fast asleep in sunny corners , equally regardless of shepherd or sheep .

    There are some buffaloes feeding in one field we pass through , ugly , unhappy-looking creatures , with bent necks , and an aggrieved

    vicious expression in their small eyes , very different in every respect from the noble slate-coloured oxen who pass us shortly after ,

    full patientl of y agricultural drawing back produc the e to heavy the carts Roman ( they market took ) to this their mornin Cam g - *

    pagna homes . The sun is getting low as we _apjDroach the Roman wallsand we

    , hurry on to avoid the dangerous chilly hour that follows his setting . "We cast one last lingering look on the Alban hills , and the great

    plain now glowing under the red sunset sky . Once more we pass under the old archway , where we come upon Mr . Brown and Miss

    Grey , who ha . ve evidently not effected their object of overtaking the rest of the party . Miss Grey , blushing strangely , whisperingly

    begs Miss Rose to come in to tea with her , " she has something to tell her . " It is hardly our fault that we guess what the "

    something" is , when the impetuous Miss Rose asserts aloud that " she always saw and expected it ! and she knows they will be so happy . ' *

    Mr . Brown does his best to appear unconscious , and makes a wild

    and utterly uncalled-for observation to the Kev . Basil about the

    A Canter Over The Campagsta. 243

    A CANTER OVER THE _CAMPAGSTA . 243

• Citation
  • English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), Dec. 1, 1862, page 243, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01121862/page/27/