“And if I answer that that fine world you love so well is to me but as a grey stone quarry wherein I daily toil, solely for food and raiment for my child and myself, what then?”

“Then verily if that be possible, Pygmalion’s cold beauty were no longer a fable; and I should turn sculptor.  Do you not find that here in Parthenope you rapidly drift into the classic tide that strands you on Paganism?”

“Has it borne you one inch away from the gods of your life-long worship?”

As she spoke, she bent slightly forward, and searched his bright eyes, as if therein floated his soul.

“Indeed I can answer reverently, with my band upon my heart, Italy has given me a new worship, a goddess I never knew before.  My divinity——­”

“Belongs, sir, to the Dii Involuti! Fortunate provision of fate, which leaves us at least liberty to deify, you perhaps family pride, Venus, or even avaricious Pluto; I possibly ambition or revenge.  We all have our veiled gods, shrouded close from curious gaze; ’the heart knoweth his own bitterness, and the stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.’”

She had interrupted him with an imperious wave of her hand, and spoke through closed teeth, like one tossing down a gage of battle; but the brilliant smile still lighted her splendid eyes, and showed the curves of her temptingly beautiful mouth.

“Mrs. Orme, my wife and Percy are waiting for me at the amphitheatre, and we have an engagement to dine at Baiae.  Can I persuade you to join our party?  I promise you a delightful visit to the old home of Rome’s proudest patricians in her palmiest days; and a dinner eaten in accordance with General Laurance’s suggestion on the site of the temple of Venus, or if you prefer, upon that of Diana.  Will you not contribute the charm of your presence to the pleasure of our excursion?  Remember I am your physician, and this morning prescribe Baiae air.”

“You are very kind, Doctor, but I devote to-day to Avernus, Cumae, and the infernal gods.  Next week I shall bask at Baiae.  Gentlemen, I bid you good-day, and a pleasant hour over your Falernian.”

She turned once more to the mysterious solemn face of that wonderful legendary blue bay, and the light died out of her countenance, as in a room where the lamps are unexpectedly extinguished.  She started visibly, when a voice close beside her asked: 

“Permit me the pleasure of seeing you to your carriage.”

“I am not going just yet.  General Laurance should not detain the Doctor’s party.”

“They have a carriage.  I am on horseback, and can easily overtake them; but if I dared, would beg the privilege of accompanying you, instead of drinking sour wine, and smoking poor cigars among the ivy-wreathed ruins that await me at Baiae Ah, may I hope?  Be generous, banish me not.  May I attend you to-day?

“No, sir.  Go pay your devoir to friendship and courtesy.  I have faithful guardians in the two coming yonder to meet me.”