“But, father, the earthquake! the lake!”
“Those mean nothing. Look how frequent are earthquakes at Santorin, yet people continue to live there. As to the lake, as soon as this war is over, I will stop up the cracks at the bottom, and it will soon be filled again. Are the women afraid?”
“Some of them; still they are all sleeping down below with the children, so I don’t think they attach much importance to the disappearance of the lake.”
“And are you less brave than these poor things? Helena, I thought you were braver.”
“I told Miss Helena there was no danger,” said Zoe in English, with her pretty foreign accent.
“There, you see, Helena! Zoe is not afraid.”
“Oh, I am better now you are with me,” said Helena, smiling through her tears; “but it is so lonely here with no one but Zoe and that man who drives the engine.”
“Where are the servants?”
“I sent them down to look after the wounded who are in the village. But, papa—Maurice?”
“He is all right, and sends you this kiss—there!”