Neapolitan life. To-day the delicious
weather had drawn him forth in a heedless mood. And, indeed, it did not
much matter now whether he met his friends or not; he had spoken the
word--to-morrow he would go his way.

At the very moment of thinking this thought, when his cigar was nearly
finished and he had begun to stretch his limbs, wearied by remaining in
one position, shadows and footsteps approached him. He looked up, and--

"Mr. Mallard! So we have caught you at last! It only needed this to
complete our enjoyment. Now you will go across to Raise with us."

Cecily, with Mrs. Baske and Spence. She had run eagerly forward, and
her companions were advancing at a more sober pace. Mallard rose with
his grim smile, and of course forgot that it is customary to doff one's
beaver when ladies approach; he took the offered hand, said "How do you
do?" and turned to the others.

"A fair capture!" exclaimed Spence. "Just now, at lunch, we were
speculating on such a chance. The cigar argues a broken fast, I take
it."

"Yes, I have had my maccheroni."

"We are going to take a boat over to Bale. Suppose you come with us."

"Of course Mr. Mallard will come," said Cecily, her face radiant. "He
can make no pretence of work interrupted."

Already the group was surrounded by boatmen offering their services.
Spence led the way down to the quay, and after much tumult a boat was
selected and a bargain struck, the original demand made by the artless
sailors being of course five times as much as was ever paid for the
transit. They rowed out through the cluster of little craft, then
hoisted a sail, and glided smoothly over the blue water.

"Where is Mrs. Lessingham?" Mallard inquired of Cecily.

"At the Hotel Bristol, with some very disagreeable people who have just
landed on their way from India--a military gentleman, and a more
military lady, and a most military son, relatives of ours. We spent
last evening with them, and I implored to be let off to-day."

Mallard propped himself idly, and from under the shadow of his hat
often looked at her. He had begun to wonder at the unreserved joy with
which she greeted his joining the party. Of course she could have no
slightest suspicion of what was in his mind; one moment's thought of
him in such a light must have altered her behaviour immediately.
Altered in what way? That he in vain tried to imagine; his knowledge of
her did not go far enough. But he could not be wrong in attributing