les in a deluge. But our heroism was
rewarded, for just as the train crossed the brigand's marsh the rain
stopped and the sun shone out, and the effect of blue sky and clouds was
simply glorious. We had a great joke at Paestum. A mosquito had stung me
badly on one lid so that I looked as if I had a black eye. It was most
uncomfortable and painful, I remember. Well, a party of French tourists
were going round the temples, and as they passed us they glanced at my
eye and then at Daddy--a husband of three weeks' standing--and they
murmured something to one another. I couldn't catch their words, but
quite plainly they were saying: 'Oh, these dreadful English! He's
evidently given her a black eye, poor thing! That's how they treat their
wives!'

"The French people went on to the second temple, and Dad and I sat down
to eat our lunch. We were fearfully annoyed by dogs that sat in front of
us and watched every mouthful, and barked incessantly. (Did they trouble
you too! How funny! They must surely be the descendants of our dogs
who've inherited a bad habit.) Dad got so utterly exasperated that he
said he must and would get rid of them, so he seized my umbrella, shook
it furiously at them and yelled out '_Va via_' in the most awful and
blood-curdling voice he could command. Just at that moment the French
tourists came back round the corner. They turned to one another with
nods of comprehension, as if they were saying, 'There! Didn't I tell you
so! See what a brute he really is,' and they cast the most sympathetic
glances at me as they filed by. Isn't that true, Daddy?"

Mr. Cameron lazily removed his cigarette.

"It's a stock story, my dear, that you've told against me for the last
twenty years. I won't say that it's not exaggerated. Go on telling it if
you like. My back's broad enough to bear it. Shall I return good for
evil? Well, as I walked through the town to-day, waiting till you came
up by the funicular, I saw one of the Tarantella dancers, and I engaged
the whole troupe to come to the house to-night and give us a
performance. You said you wanted to see them. Will our friends here
honor us with their company and help to act audience?"

It seemed an appropriate ending to such a delightful day, and all the
party readily accepted the invitation. After twilight fell they
assembled at the Camerons' villa and took their places in the salon,
which had been temporarily cleared of some of its furniture. The
Tarantella dancers