the hill side,
then stood to wave his hand to Amabel looking a perfect specimen of
health and activity.

'Just like himself,' said Amy, drawing so long a breath that Guy smiled,
but did not speak.

'Are you much vexed?' said she.

'I don't feel as if I had made the most of my opportunities.'

'Then if you have not, I can tell you who has. What do you think of his
beginning to give me a lecture how to behave to you?'

'Did he think you wanted it very much?'

'I don't know: for of course I could not let him go on.'

Guy was so much diverted at the idea of her wanting a lecture
on wife-like deportment, that he had no time to be angry at the
impertinence, and he made her laugh also by his view that was all force
of habit.

'Now, Guido--good Cavaliere Guido--do grant me one satisfaction,' said
she, coaxingly. 'Only say you are very glad he is gone his own way.'

On the contrary, I am sorry he is running his head into a fever,' said
Guy, pretending to be provoking.

'I don't want you to be glad of that, I only want you to be glad he is
not sitting here towering over us.' Guy smiled, and began to whistle--

'Cock up your beaver, and cock it fu' sprush!'

CHAPTER 31

And turned the thistles of a curse
To types beneficent.
--WORDSWORTH

It was about three weeks after the rendezvous at Bellagio, that Sir Guy
and Lady Morville arrived at Vicenza, on their way from Venice. They
were in the midst of breakfast when Arnaud entered, saying,--

'It was well, Sir Guy, that you changed your intention of visiting the
Valtelline with Captain Morville.'

'What! Have you heard anything of him?'

'I fear that his temerity has caused him to suffer. I have just heard
that an Englishman of your name is severely ill at Recoara.'

'Where?'

'At "la badia di Recoara". It is what in English we call a
watering-place, on the mountains to the north, where the Vicentini do
go in summer for "fraicheur", but they have all returned in the last two
days for fear of the infection.'

'I'll go and make inquiries' said Guy, rising in haste. Returning in a
quarter of an hour, he said,--'It is true. It can be no other than poor
Philip. I have seen his doctor, an Italian, who, when he saw our name
written, said it was the same. He calls it "una febbre molto grave".'

'Very heavy! Did he only know the name in writing?'

'Only from seeing it on his passport. He has been unable to give