w that I shall go as far as Naples. I am going to
Mergellina."

"Oh!"

Vere did not ask her what she was going to do there. She showed no
special interest, no curiosity.

"What will you do, Vere?"

"I don't know."

She glanced round. Hermione saw that her usually bright eyes were dull
and lack-lustre.

"I don't know what I shall do."

She sighed and began to eat her egg slowly, as if she had no appetite.

"Did you sleep well, Vere?"

"Not very well, Madre."

"Are you tired of the island?"

Vere looked up as if startled.

"Oh no! at least"--she paused--"No, I don't believe I could ever be
really that. I love the island."

"What is it, then?"

"Sometimes--some days one doesn't know exactly what to do."

"Well, but you always seem occupied." Hermione spoke with slow meaning,
not unkindly, but with a significance she hardly meant to put into
her voice, yet could not keep out of it. "You always manage to find
something to do."

Suddenly Vere's eyes filled with tears. She bent down her head and went
on eating. Again she heard Monsieur Emile's harsh words. They seemed to
have changed her world. She felt despised. At that moment she hated the
Marchesino with a fiery hatred.

Hermione was not able to put her arm round her child quickly, to ask
her what was the matter, to kiss her tears away, or to bid them flow
quietly, openly, while Vere rested against her, secure that the sorrow
was understood, was shared. She could only pretend not to see, while she
thought of the two shadows in the garden last night.

What could have happened between Emile and Vere? What had been said,
done, to cause that cry of pain, those tears? Was it possible that Emile
had let Vere see plainly his--his--? But here Hermione stopped. Not
even in her own mind, for herself alone, could she summon up certain
spectres.

She went on eating her breakfast, and pretending not to notice that Vere
was troubled. Presently Vere spoke again.

"Would you like me to come with you to Mergellina, Madre?" she said.

Her voice was rather uneven, almost trembling.

"Oh no, Vere!"

Hermione spoke hastily, abruptly, strongly conscious of the
impossibility of taking Vere with her. Directly she had said the
words she realized that they must have fallen on Vere like a blow. She
realized this still more when she looked quickly up and saw that Vere's
face was scarlet.

"I don't mean that I shouldn't like to have you with me, Vere," she
added, hurr