“Lovely!—as lovely as Eunice here.”
“Good looks run in our family,” said Mrs. Dengelton complacently. “I myself—well, there, I was just like Eunice at her age. Yes, I will be glad to see Helena!”
“And I will be glad to see Melnos!” interposed the Rector. “You can have no idea, my dear Crispin, how interested I was in Maurice’s letter concerning this scheme of reconstituting Hellas. It is a noble dream, which may turn out into a reality.”
“Always provided there is no trouble from the pirates or the volcano, Mr. Carriston.”
“Oh, I trust that the volcano is quiescent; and as for the pirates, I judge, from your description of the defences, that Maurice will be able to keep them at bay until we arrive.”
“Certainly as a last resource they can close up the pass,” said Crispin thoughtfully; “but that would leave them at the mercy of the volcano.”
“They may be all burnt up,” observed Mrs. Dengelton in a sepulchral tone; “and instead of Rudolph I may meet a cinder.”
“I don’t think so, Mrs. Dengelton. Whatever happens, I have full faith in Justinian’s powers of extricating himself from any dilemma; besides, Maurice also is ingenious in ideas.”
“My dear lad!” said the Rector, with emotion. “I am so anxious to see him. This siege seems to have made a new man of him.”
“I don’t think you would recognize him, Rector. He is not listless now, but full of life and spirits. Love, open-air life, and responsibility have wrought wonders.”