“Now listen, gentlemen,” he added. “To-day you must take luncheon with me all alone, and not trouble your heads about excavations or exhumations either. After luncheon, if you will allow me, I will drive you over the island.”
“We will be delighted,” said Reeves.
“Then you shall dine with myself and daughter to-morrow evening, and I will take care you meet just the landed proprietors that can assist you. The mounds you say are around here?”
“Within a radius of about three miles.”
“Capital!”
The luncheon passed off most pleasantly. Then our parson—that is, Miguel—and Miss H. found themselves by the piano.
Strange that under circumstances such as these two young folks always find out that the one knows precisely the same songs as the other. Well, most sweetly did they sing them too.
But yonder were the horses pawing the gravel, and very soon we were all off on one of the most pleasant drives ever I have had in my life.
The country seemed to me more pleasant now than it would have been in summer, for the air was cooler far, and there was no want of either trees, flowers, or foliage to gaze upon and admire. The farm blocks and the cottages, too, were all thoroughly American, and all the greater treat to behold on that account. It was indeed a lovely island!
The drive was a long one, and when we reached our little vessel that night, we were all just pleasantly tired.