' said Lesbia; 'I have been
mewed up in Grasmere half my life, and if you are going to confine me to
the shores of the Mediterranean, which is, after all, only a larger
lake, for the other half of my life, my existence will be a dull piece
of work after all. I agree with what Don Gomez said the other night:
"Not to travel is not to live."'

They went on deck presently and sat in the summer darkness, lighted only
by the stars, and by the lights of the yachts, and the faintly gleaming
windows of the lighted town, sat long and late, in a state of ineffable
repose. Lady Kirkbank. fortified by the produce of Mr. Smithson's
particular _clos_, and by a couple of glasses of green Chartreuse, slept
profoundly. She had not enjoyed herself so much for the last three
months. She had been stretched on Society's rack, and she had been
ground in Society's mill; and neither mind nor body had been her own to
do what she liked withal. She had toiled early and late, and had spared
herself in no wise. And now the trouble was over for a space. Here were
rest and respite. She had done her duty as a chaperon, had provided her
charge with the very best thing the matrimonial market offered. She had
paid her creditors something on account all round, and had left them
appeased and trustful, if not content. Sir George had gone oft alone to
drink the waters at Spa, and to fortify himself for Scotland and the
grouse season. She was her own mistress, and she could fold her hands
and take her rest, eat and drink and sleep and be merry, all at Mr.
Smithson's expense.

The yachts came flocking in next day, like a flight of white-winged sea
birds, and Mr. Smithson had enough to do receiving visitors upon the
_Cayman_. He was fully occupied; but Montesma had nothing to do, except
to amuse Lady Lesbia and her chaperon, and in this onerous task he
succeeded admirably. Lesbia found that it was too warm to be on the deck
when there were perspiring people, whose breath must be ninety by the
thermometer, perpetually coming on board; so she and Lady Kirkbank sat
in the saloon, and had the more distinguished guests brought down to
them as to a Court; and the shrewder of the guests were quick to divine
that no company beyond that of Don Gomez de Montesma was really wanted
in that rose-scented saloon.

The Spaniard taught Lady Kirkbank _monte_, which delighted her, and
which she vowed she would introduce at her supper parties in the half
season of November, when