No doubt the old lady was tired, and the young ones went out, as _she_ supposed, for a stroll; and now, as _they_ proposed, this stroll meant nothing less than an ascent of the cone.

After all, there is nothing surprising in the fact that a couple of active and spirited girls should attempt this.

From the Hermitage it does not seem to be at all difficult, and they had no idea of the actual nature of the task.
"What made it worse, however, was the state of the mountain at this particular time.

I don't know whether you have taken the trouble to raise your eyes so high as the top of Vesuvius--" Hawbury languidly shook his head.
"Well, I supposed not; but if you had taken the trouble, you would have noticed an ugly cloud which is generally regarded here as ominous.

This morning, you know, there was an unusually large canopy of very dirty smoke overhead.