fond of
seclusion, and you know I am accustomed to it.'

'Ah! yes,' said Cadurcis, mournfully. 'When I was in Greece, I used
often to wish that none of us had ever left dear Cherbury; but I do
not now.'

'We must forget Cherbury,' said Lady Annabel.

'I cannot: I cannot forget her who cherished my melancholy childhood.
Dear Lady Annabel,' he added in a voice of emotion, and offering her
his hand, 'forget all my follies, and remember that I was your child,
once as dutiful as you were affectionate.'

Who could resist this appeal? Lady Annabel, not without agitation,
yielded him her hand, which he pressed to his lips. 'Now I am again
happy,' said Cadurcis; 'now we are all happy. Sweetest of friends, you
have removed in a moment the bitterness of years.'

Although lights were in the saloon, the windows opening on the portico
were not closed. The evening air was soft and balmy, and though the
moon had not risen, the distant hills were clear in the starlight.
Venetia was standing in the portico conversing with George Cadurcis.

'I suppose you are too much of a Turk to drink our coffee, Lord
Cadurcis,' said Herbert. Cadurcis turned and joined him, together with
Lady Annabel.

'Nay,' said Lord Cadurcis, in a joyous tone, 'Lady Annabel will answer
for me that I always find everything perfect under her roof.'

Captain Cadurcis and Venetia now re-entered the villa; they clustered
round the table, and seated themselves.

'Why, Venetia,' said Cadurcis, 'George met me in Sicily and quite
frightened me about you. Is it the air of the Apennines that has
worked these marvels? for, really, you appear to me exactly the same
as when we learnt the French vocabulary together ten years ago.'

'"The French vocabulary together, ten years ago!"' thought Herbert;
'not a mere London acquaintance, then. This is very strange.'

'Why, indeed, Plantagenet,' replied Venetia, 'I was very unwell when
George visited us; but I really have quite forgotten that I ever was
an invalid, and I never mean to be again.'

'"Plantagenet!"' soliloquised Herbert. 'And this is the great poet
of whom I have heard so much! My daughter is tolerably familiar with
him.'

'I have brought you all sorts of buffooneries from Stamboul,'
continued Cadurcis; 'sweetmeats, and slippers, and shawls, and daggers
worn only by sultanas, and with which, if necessary, they can keep
"the harem's lord" in order. I meant to have sent them with George to
England, for really I