"And my reply was," I said, "that I should be content to remain here for ever; but that can scarcely be. I have no intention of leaving Nerac, however."

"Of course not, of course not," said Doctor Louis; "the air here is so fine, so much finer than it is anywhere else--"

"Very much finer," I said.

"And the fruit is so delicious, so much more delicious than it is anywhere else--"

"Much more delicious," I said.

"And the skies are so bright, so much brighter than they are anywhere else--"

"Much brighter."

"And the flowers are so much lovelier, and the stars are so much more brilliant--"

"The doctor and I," I said, entering into his mood, and addressing his wife and daughter, "so perfectly agree."

They smiled, but in Lauretta's smile there was a tender wistfulness.