Major Williams also was one of the “Hallena” party.  He was young, slender, and had a cheerful smile for everybody.  He had climbed to the presidency of the Harrisville Bank which had thousands of depositors, and which wielded a gigantic financial power.

It was decided not to start for Genoa till the next morning.  Dinner was soon announced and Captain Hall offered his arm to Lucille, whom he placed at his right hand, and Mrs. Harris at his left.  The dinner hour and part of the evening were spent in pleasant reminiscences of what each had seen since leaving Harrisville.  The marriage of George Ingram and Gertrude was also a suggestive topic, and many agreeable things were spoken.  Captain Hall was present at the Paris wedding, and it was the stately beauty of Lucille more than all else that prompted him to invite the Harrises to take the Mediterranean cruise.

Some of the mothers of fine daughters in Harrisville had exhausted their wits in trying to entrap Harry Hall, who was impartially attentive to all, but was never known to pay marked attention to any young lady.  That Captain Hall should overlook the other women on the yacht, and place Lucille at his right hand was so marked that Major Williams after dinner, lighting his cigar, said, “Henley, why wouldn’t Harry and Lucille make a good match?” “Lucille is a beautiful girl,” was all Henley said, and as the lights of Nice disappeared, the “Hallena” party retired for the night.

An early breakfast was ordered as everybody wished to be early on deck to witness the yacht’s departure for Genoa.  As the “Hallena” responded to her helm, the United States consul at Nice hoisted and lowered the flag thrice, as a bon voyage to the American yacht, and the consul queried whether the American statesman was yet born who was wise enough to introduce and maintain such a national policy as would multiply his country’s commerce and flag on the sea.  Patriotic Americans stopping at Monaco also responded with flag and gun, as the “Hallena” steamed swiftly away.

The sun had reached the zenith, when Captain Hall sighted Genoa, and he called Lucille to stand with him on the bridge.  “Superb Genoa!  Worthy birthplace of our Columbus,” said Lucille.

“Yes,” said Harry, “Genoa is older than Borne; she was the rival of Venice, and the mother of colonies.”

As the “Hallena” approached this strongly fortified city of northern Italy, the capacious harbor was a forest of masts, and a crazy-quilt of foreign flags, but not one ship was flying the stars and stripes, a fact which saddened the hearts of the tourists.  The “Hallena” steamed past the lighthouse and moles that protect the harbor, and all the guests of Captain Hall stood on the forward deck admiring the city with its palaces, churches, white blocks, and picturesque villas that occupy land which gradually rises and recedes from the bay.

On landing, the officials were very courteous, and gave Captain Hall and his party no trouble when it was learned that that “Hallena” brought travelers only.  The Genoese are very proud of their city and its past history, and they are courteous to Americans, especially so since the Columbian World’s Fair.