all means," said the first speaker, laughing.

"You are jesting," replied the other, "but I am in sober earnest. I can
resist no longer. Do you, however, wait here, or the carriage may pass
on and leave us behind."

Tony heard nothing of these words; but he heard the light footsteps, and
he heard the rustle of a woman's dress as she forced her way, through
bramble and underwood, till at last, with that consciousness so
mysterious, he felt there was some one standing close behind him. Half
vexed to think that his isolation should be invaded, he drew his hat
deeper over his eyes, and sat steadfastly gazing on the sea below him.

"Is that Levante I see beneath that cliff?" asked she, in Italian,--less
to satisfy her curiosity than to attract fris attention.

Tony started. How intensely had his brain been charged with thoughts of
long ago, that every word that met his ears should seem impregnated with
these memories! A half-sulky "Si" was, however, his only rejoinder.

"What a fine melon you have there, my friend!" said she; and now her
voice thrilled through him so strangely that he sprang to his feet and
turned to face her. "Is my brain tricking me?--are my senses wandering?"
muttered he to himself. "Alice, Alice!"

"Yes, Tony," cried she. "Who ever heard of so strange a meeting? How
came you here? Speak, or I shall be as incredulous as yourself!" But
Tony could not utter a word, but stood overwhelmed with wonder, silently
gazing on her.

"Speak to me, Tony," said she, in her soft winning voice,--"speak to me;
tell me by what curious fortune you came here. Let us sit down on this
bank; our carriage is toiling up the hill, and will not be here for some
time."

[Illustration: 482]

"So it is not a dream!" sighed he, as he sat down beside her. "I have so
little faith in my brain that I could not trust it."

It was easy to see that his bewilderment still remained; and so, with a
woman's tact, she addressed herself to talking of what would gradually
lead his thoughts into a collected shape. She told how they were all
on their way to the South,--Naples or Palermo, not certain
which,--somewhere for climate, as Isabella was still delicate. That her
father and mother and sister were some miles behind on the road, she
having come on more rapidly with a lighter carriage. "Not all alone,
though, Master Tony; don't put on that rebukeful face. The lady you see
yonder on the road is what is called my companion,--the English