ther must I run away? Do measles matter? I'd rather
have them and stay here. I would indeed."

"Don't be silly, Lorna. Miss Rodgers wouldn't thank you to start an
epidemic. Of course you must go to Capri. It's a splendid opportunity.
Signora Verdi has a nice little villa. Cheer up, child. I'll tell you
what I'll do. I'll take you myself to-morrow, stay over Sunday, and come
again and spend the next week-end with you. I can get an extra day or
two of holiday if I want, and the Casa Verdi is a quiet spot, quite out
of the way of tourists. We can have the orange groves to ourselves and
see nobody. If I catch the early boat I'm not likely to be troubled with
English trippers; that's one good business."

"Daddy! You darling! Oh, that would be glorious! I'd go to the North
Pole if you'd come too. Two week-ends with you in Capri! What fun. We'll
have the time of our lives!"

To poor Lorna, who so seldom had the opportunity of enjoying family
outings, this visit indeed was an event. She packed her bag joyously,
and was all excitement to start.

Following his usual custom of avoiding the vicinity of English people,
Mr. Carson decided not to go to Capri by the ordinary steamer that
conveyed pleasure-seekers, but to secure passages in a cargo vessel
which was crossing with supplies. To Lorna the mode of conveyance was
immaterial; she would have sailed cheerfully on a raft if necessary. She
rather enjoyed the picturesque Neapolitan tramp steamer with its cargo
of wine barrels and packing cases, and its crew of bare-footed,
red-capped seamen, talking and gesticulating with all the excitability
of their Southern temperament. The voyage across the blue bay was longer
than that to Fossato, and she sat in a cozy nook among the casks, and
watched first the white houses of Naples fading away, then the distant
mountains of the coast, then the gay sails of the fishing craft that
plied to and fro over the water.

It was sunset when they reached the beautiful island of Capri, a pink
ethereal sunset that flooded headland and rock, orange orchard and
vineyard, in a faint and luminous opal glow. Their vessel anchored
outside the quay of the Marina Grande, and signaled for a boat to take
them off. A little skiff put out from the beach, and into this they and
their luggage were transferred. The transparent crystal water over which
they rowed was clear as an aquarium, and alive with gorgeous medusae
whose pink tentacles seemed to flash with th