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To see ourselves as others see us。'
'As far as the sun…burnt visage is concerned； the glass does that every
morning。'
'Yes； but you don't look at yourself exactly as you do at a painted
window；' said Amy； in her demure way。
'I cannot think how you found time for sitting；' said Philip。
'0； it is quite a little thing； a mere sketch； done in two evenings and
half an hour in the morning。 He promises it to me when he has done
with Sir Galahad；' said Amy。
'Twothree evenings。 You must have been a long time at Munich。'
'A fortnight；' said Guy； 'there is a great deal to see there。'
Philip did not quite understand this； nor did he think it very
satisfactory that they should thus have lingered in a gay town； but he
meant to make the best of them to…day； and returned to his usual
fashion of patronizing and laying down the law。 They were so used to
this that they did not care about it； indeed； they had reckoned on it
as the most amiable conduct to be expected on his part。
The day was chiefly spent in an excursion on the lake； landing at the
most beautiful spots； walking a little way and admiring； or while in
the boat； smoothly moving over the deep blue waters； gaining lovely
views of the banks； and talking over the book with which their
acquaintance had begun； 〃I Promessi Sposi〃。 Never did tourists spend a
more serene and pleasant day。
On comparing notes as to their plans； it appeared that each party had
about a week or ten days to spare； the captain before he must embark
for Corfu； and Sir Guy and Lady Morville before the time they had fixed
for returning home。 Guy proposed to go together somewhere； spare the
post…office further blunders； and get the Signor Capitano to be their
interpreter。 Philip thought it would be an excellent thing for his
young cousins for him to take charge of them； and show them how people
ought to travel； so out came his little pocket map； marked with his
route； before he left Ireland； whereas they seemed to have no fixed
object； but to be always going 'somewhere。' It appeared that they had
thought of Venice； but were easily diverted from it by his design of
coasting the eastern bank of the Lago di Como； and so across the
Stelvio into the Tyrol； all together as far as Botzen； whence Philip
would turn southward by the mountain paths； while they would proceed to
Innsbruck on their return home。
Amabel was especially pleased to stay a little longer on the banks of
the lake； and to trace out more of Lucia's haunts； and if she secretly
thought it would have been pleasanter without a third person； she was
gratified to see how much Guy's manner had softened Philip's injustice
and distrust； making everything so smooth and satisfactory； that at the
end of the day； she told her husband that she thought his experiment
had not failed。
She was making the breakfast the next morning； when the captain came
into the room； and she told him Guy was gone to settle their plans with
Arnaud。 After lingering a little by the window； Philip turned； and
with more abruptness than was usual with him； said
'You don't think there is any cause of anxiety about Laura？'
'No； certainly not！' said Amy； surprised。 'She has not been looking
well lately； but Dr。 Mayerne says it is nothing； and you know'she
blushed and looked down'there were many things to make this a trying
time。'
'Is she quite strong？ Can she do as much as usual？'
'She does more than ever： mamma is only afraid of her overworking
herself； but she never allows that she is tired。 She goes to school
three days in the week； besides walking to East…hill on Thursday； to
help in the singing； and she is getting dreadfully learned。 Guy gave
her his old mathematical books； and Charlie always calls her Miss
Parabola。'
Philip was silent； knowing too well why she sought to stifle care in
employment； and feeling embittered against the whole world； against her
father； against his own circumstances； against the happiness of others；
nay； perhaps； against the Providence which had made him what he was。
Presently Guy came in； and the first thing he said was； 'I am afraid we
must give up our plan。'
'How？' exclaimed both Philip and Amy。
'I have just heard that there is a fever at Sondrio； and all that
neighbourhood； and every one says it would be very foolish to expose
ourselves to it。'
'What shall we do instead？' said Amy。
'I told Arnaud we would let him know in an hour's time； I thought of
Venice。'
'Venice； oh； yes； delightful。'
'What do you say； Philip？' said Guy。
'I say that I cannot see any occasion for our being frightened out of
our original determination。 If a fever prevails among the half…starved
peasantry； it need not affect well…fed healthy persons； merely passing
through the country。'
'You see we could hardly manage without sleeping there；' said Guy： 'we
must sleep either at Colico； or at Madonna。 Now Colico； they say； is a
most unhealthy place at this time of year； and Madonna is the very
heart of the feverSondrio not much better。 I don't see how it is to
be safely done； and though very likely we might not catch the fever； I
don't see any use in trying。'
'That is making yourself a slave to the fear of infection。'
'I don't know what purpose would be answered by running the risk；' said
Guy。
'If you chose to give it so dignified a name as a risk；' said Philip。
'I don't； then；' said Guy； smiling。 'I should not care if there was
any reason for going there； but； as there is not； I shall face Mr。
Edmonstone better if I don't run Amy into any more chances of
mischief。'
'Is Amy grateful for the care；' said Philip； 'after all her wishes for
the eastern bank？'
'Amy is a good wife；' said Guy。 'For Venice； then。 I'll ring for
Arnaud。 You will come with us； won't you； Philip？'
'No； I thank you； I always intended to see the Valtelline； and an
epidemic among the peasantry does not seem to me to be sufficient to
deter。'
'0 Philip； you surely will not？' said Amy。
'My mind is made up； Amy； thank you。'
'I wish you would be persuaded；' said Guy。 'I should like particularly
to have you to lionize us there； and I don't fancy your running into
danger。'
The argument lasted long。 Philip by no means approved of Venice；
especially after the long loitering at Munich； thinking that in both
places there was danger of Guy's being led into mischief by his musical
connections。 Therefore he did his best； for Amabel's sake； to turn
them from their purpose； persuaded in his own mind that the fever was a
mere bugbear； raised up by Arnaud； and； perhaps； in his full health and
strength； almost regarding illness itself as a foible； far more the
dread of it。 He argued； therefore； in his most provoking strain；
becoming more vexatious as the former an