"He is delightful," said Mr. Haveloc warmly. "But I cannot say much for his health; yet these sickly people often outlive stronger ones."
"That is very true," said Mrs. Fitzpatrick, with a satisfied air.
As they passed the place where Aveline had been sitting, Mr. Haveloc started forward and picked up a book.
"This is yours, Miss Fitzpatrick," he said, "do not deny it—now that I am your neighbour, I shall make a point of gleaning after you, and furnish my library with the books you lose."
"You have taken that villa then," said Mrs. Fitzpatrick, smiling at Aveline's confusion, for she was rather notorious for losing her things.
"I have. So you have been reading the dark old Florentine, again," said Mr. Haveloc, looking into the book he carried, "I thought, Mrs. Fitzpatrick, you forbade Dante altogether."
"Not quite," said Mrs. Fitzpatrick; "but I was rather an advocate at Sorrento for studies of a lighter description. Aveline's health—"
"Oh, but I am better now, mamma!" exclaimed Aveline.
"You do, indeed, look better, Miss Fitzpatrick, than when I saw you last," said Mr. Haveloc.
"You think so—you really think so!" exclaimed Mrs. Fitzpatrick eagerly, "and you must be a judge. I, who see her every day, can form no idea of her looks."