rough Lady Kingswood's
mind as she turned away from the sea-shore to re-ascend the
flower-bordered terraces of the Palazzo d'Oro,--and it was with real
pleasure that she perceived on the summit of the last flight of grassy
steps, the figure of Don Aloysius. He was awaiting her approach, and
came down a little way to meet her.

"I saw the air-ship flying over the monastery,"--he explained, greeting
her--"And I was anxious to know whether la Signora had gone away into
the skies or was still on earth! She has gone, I suppose?"

"Yes, she has gone!" sighed Lady Kingswood--"and the Marchese with her,
and one assistant. Her 'nerve' is simply astonishing!"

"You did not think of venturing on a trip with her yourself?"--and the
priest smiled kindly, as he assisted her to ascend the last flight of
steps to the loggia.

"No indeed! I really could not! I feel I ought to be braver--but I
cannot summon up sufficient courage to leave terra firma. It seems
altogether unnatural."

"Then what will you do when you are an angel, dear lady?" queried
Aloysius, playfully--"You will have to leave terra firma then! Have you
ever thought of that?"

She smiled.

"I'm afraid I don't think!" she said--"I take my life on trust. I
always believe that God who brought me HERE will take care of me
THERE!--wherever 'there' is. You understand me, don't you? You speak
English so well that I'm sure you do."

"Yes--I understand you perfectly"--he replied--"That I speak English is
quite natural, for I was educated at Stonyhurst, in England. I was then
for a time at Fort Augustus in Scotland, and studied a great many of
the strange traditions of the Highland Celts, to which mystic people
Miss Royal by birth belongs. Her ancestry has a good deal to do with
her courage and character."

While he spoke Lady Kingswood gazed anxiously into the sky, searching
it north, south, east, west, for the first glimpse of the returning
"White Eagle," but there was no sign of it.

"You must not worry yourself,"--went on the priest, putting a chair for
her in the loggia, and taking one himself--"If we sit here we shall see
the air-ship returning, I fancy, by the western line,--certainly near
the sunset. In any case let me assure you there is no danger!" "No
danger?"

"Absolutely none!"

Lady Kingswood looked at him in bewildered amazement.

"Surely there MUST be danger?" she said--"The terrible accidents that
happen every day to these flying machines--"

"Ye