"Now let us visit the statue of St. Peter himself," said Mr. Gray. "Some say it was never meant for that good man, but is really the likeness of a heathen emperor. But nearly every one who worships here does not wish to believe that. And so many visitors have come here to give him honour that one toe of the statue is a good deal worn off." "Why, what do you mean, father?" asked Lucy. "Just what I said, my dear. It is thought to be quite proper to kiss the toe of the statue of St. Peter. I don't know how the fashion started, but, at any rate, I believe thousands upon thousands of people have knelt before the statue and done that very thing. You can see the marks of it for yourself." After St. Peter had been duly examined, Mr. Gray proposed that a visit should be made to the wonderful dome. "But there are a good many stairs to climb. Do you think, wife, that you will be able to mount them?" "If the little girls can do it, I am sure that I can," replied Mrs. Gray, as she turned to Tessa and Lucy. It was quite easy to see by their smiles and nods that they were eager to try it. "Then let us start at once," said her husband, beckoning to a guide to show the way. They passed through a door in the side of the church, and entered a passage which wound round and round, yet up and still up, till they reached a balcony around the foot of the dome. The stairway by which they had come was so broad and rose so gradually that one could easily mount it on horseback. "Many a person has ridden to the top on a donkey," the guide told the children, which amused them very much. As they looked down from the balcony, the people in the body of the church seemed like tiny dolls, they were so far below. "But this is not all," said Mr. Gray. "As soon as you stop panting, we will go higher yet." "All ready, father," said Lucy, after a five minutes' rest. "I'm sure we are equal to another climb now." The next flight of stairs was very narrow. It led to another balcony around the top of the dome. "Do not think this is all," said Mr. Gray. "We can go higher yet, for we have not reached the lantern." After much puffing and gasping for breath, and the climbing of more narrow stairs, they found themselves in a large room inside the lantern. As they looked out of the windows in that lofty place, a wonderful view was spread before their eyes. Below was the square, and leading out from it were many archways with curved tops, like the one through which the children first entered the church. The palace of the Pope was at hand, with its wonderful library and art treasures. Beyond, across the Tiber, lay the great city, with its palaces, fountains, temples, and the ruins of the greatest and finest buildings in the world; some of them two thousand years old. "I can look far out upon the sea that Columbus first sailed," exclaimed Arthur. "Indeed, it seems as if I could almost see Spain, where he went to get help. You know the story of Columbus, don't you, Beppo?"