‘I feel assured he will,’ said Venetia; ’and perhaps ere long they will all three be here again.  Joy! joy!’

‘They must never go in that boat again,’ said Lady Annabel.

‘Oh! they never will, dearest mother, if you ask them not,’ said Venetia.

‘We will send to Lerici,’ said Lady Annabel.

‘Instantly,’ said Venetia; ’but I dare say they already sent us a messenger.’

‘No!’ said Lady Annabel; ’men treat the danger that is past very lightly.  We shall not hear from them except in person.’

Time now flew more lightly.  They were both easy in their minds.  The messenger was despatched to Lerici; but even Lerici was a considerable distance, and hours must elapse before his return.  Still there was the hope of seeing them, or hearing from them in the interval.

‘I must go out, dear mother,’ said Venetia.  ’Let us both go out.  It is now very fine.  Let us go just to the ravine, for indeed it is impossible to remain here.’

Accordingly they both went forth, and took up a position on the coast which commanded a view on all sides.  All was radiant again, and comparatively calm.  Venetia looked upon the sea, and said, ’Ah!  I never shall forget a white squall in the Mediterranean, for all this splendour.’

It was sunset:  they returned home.  No news yet from Lerici.  Lady Annabel grew uneasy again.  The pensive and melancholy hour encouraged gloom; but Venetia, who was sanguine, encouraged her mother.

‘Suppose they were not Englishmen in the boat,’ said Lady Annabel.

’It is impossible, mother.  What other two persons in this neighbourhood could have been in an open boat?  Besides, the man said Englishmen.  You remember, he said Englishmen.  You are quite sure he did?  It must be they.  I feel as convinced of it as of your presence.’

‘I think there can be no doubt,’ said Lady Annabel.  ’I wish that the messenger would return.’

The messenger did return.  No two persons in an open boat had put into Lerici; but a boat, like the one described, with every stitch of canvas set, had passed Lerici just before the squall commenced, and, the people there doubted not, had made Sarzana.

Lady Annabel turned pale, but Venetia was still sanguine.  ’They are at Sarzana,’ she said; ’they must be at Sarzana:  you see George was right.  He said he was sure they were at Sarzana.  Besides, dear mother, he heard they were at Sarzana.’

‘And we heard they were at Lerici,’ said Lady Annabel in a melancholy tone.

And so they were, dear mother; it all agrees.  The accounts are consistent.  Do not you see how very consistent they are?  They were seen at Lerici, and were off Lerici, but they made Sarzana; and George heard they were at Sarzana.  I am certain they are at Sarzana.  I feel quite easy; I feel as easy as if they were here.  They are safe at Sarzana.  But it is too far to return to-night.  We shall see them at breakfast to-morrow, all three.’