Samuel Butler: The Way of All Flesh

79. CHAPTER LXXIX (continued)

This was the first Ernest had heard about his going abroad, and he talked about my not being able to spare him for so long. I soon made this all right.

"It is now the beginning of April," said I, "go down to Marseilles at once, and take steamer to Nice. Then saunter down the Riviera to Genoa--from Genoa go to Florence, Rome and Naples, and come home by way of Venice and the Italian lakes."

"And won't you come too?" said he, eagerly.

I said I did not mind if I did, so we began to make our arrangements next morning, and completed them within a very few days.