how vast its wealth. Ignorant or vulgar persons may sneer at
this as 'the obvious'--but it is the 'obvious' sun alone that rules the
day."

Lady Kingswood's lips trembled; there were tears in her eyes.

"How truly you speak!" she murmured--"And yet we live in a time when
such truths appear to have no influence with people at all. Every one
is bent on pleasure--on self--"

"As every one was in the 'Cities of the Plain,'"--he said, "and we may
well expect another rain of fire!"

Here, lifting his eyes, he saw in the soft blush rose of the
approaching sunset a small object like a white bird flying homeward
across the sea.

"Here it comes!" he exclaimed--"Not the rain of fire, but something
more agreeable! I told you, did I not, miladi, that there was no
danger? See!"

Lady Kingswood looked where he pointed.

"Surely that is not the air-ship?" she said--"It is too small!"

"At this distance it is small"--answered Aloysius--"But wait!
Watch,--and you will soon perceive Its great wings! What a marvellous
thing it is! Marvellous!--and a woman's work!"

They stood together, gazing into the reddening west, thrilled with
expectancy,--while with a steady swiftness and accuracy of movement the
bird-like object which at the first glimpse had seemed so small
gradually loomed larger with nearer vision, its enormous wings
spreading wide and beating the air rhythmically as though the true
pulsation of life impelled their action. Neither Lady Kingswood nor Don
Aloysius exchanged a word, so absorbed were they in watching the "White
Eagle" arrive, and not till it began to descend towards the shore did
they relax their attention and turn to each other with looks of
admiration and amazement.

"How long have they been gone?" asked Aloysius then.

Lady Kingswood glanced at her watch.

"Barely two hours."

At that moment the "White Eagle" swooped suddenly over the gardens,
noiselessly and with an enormous spread of wing that was like a white
cloud in the sky--then gracefully swerved aside towards its "shed" or
aerodrome, folding its huge pinions as of its own will and sliding into
its quarters as easily as a hand may slide into a loose-fitting glove.
The two interested watchers of its descent and swift "run home" had no
time to exchange more than a few words of comment before Morgana ran
lightly up the terrace, calling to them with all the gaiety of a child
returning on a holiday.

"It was glorious!" she exclaimed--"Just glor