“In truth, you are a most admirable creature,” exclaimed the young merchant, with impressive emphasis. “But what can I do to make your stay in the ship more endurable. Your being used to roam at will over the wide fields and open valleys of your native land, must make this voyage appear very tedious. I should like to vary its monotony for you as much as possible. Have you a desire for any pleasure I can gratify?”
Lilya looked confused, the colour in her face disappeared and returned, and she tried once or twice to raise her eyes from the ground to the face of her companion; but as soon as she had elevated them about half way, she let them fall, and seemed as if she had not courage to make another effort.
“You don’t answer me, Lilya,” said Oriel Porphyry. “Do not be afraid of asking for what you require. I wish your time to pass as pleasantly as I can make it, and you will afford me gratification as well as yourself by giving me an opportunity for increasing your enjoyments. Tell me what it is you most wish to be done.”
“I wish Zabra would be as he used to be,” exclaimed the simple girl, and an expression of sadness became visible upon her beautiful features.
“So do I,” replied the young merchant; “but I have done every thing to induce him to become so, without success. I cannot tell what it is that makes him act so strangely; but he is a strange creature at all times, and as I have allowed him to do as he pleases, I am afraid nothing I could say or do would make him become more rational. He avoids every attempt I have made to prevail upon him to take his place amongst us as usual, and I have therefore no remedy now but patience.”
“He never used to be so,” murmured Lilya.
“He appears to have taken offence at something or somebody, but what the cause is I do not pretend to know,” said Oriel. “I am sure I have said or done nothing at which he ought to have felt offence.”
“I thought he was offended with me, because I did not tell you how grateful I was for your kindness,” observed his companion.
“I doubt that that is the cause,” replied the other. “But it is my opinion that, if any one can bring him back to his former behaviour, it is yourself, Lilya.”
“Me!” exclaimed the blushing maiden; “I bring him back to be what he was! Oh I wish I could!”