met being
marked by a studied reserve on each side.

"And surely, Prince," said she, calling him by the title which in honor
of his dress they had given him, "surely you must have met some charming
creatures at the galleys. All the good qualities of human nature were
not reserved for the cockpit or the steerage, or whatever it is."

"Aye, even at the galleys they were n't all bad, though it's not
exactly the sort of place men grow better in. I had a capital old fellow
as comrade, and, I take shame to say, I ought to have thought of him
before this. I say, George, have you any friends of influence at Naples?
I wish I could get my old companion his liberty."

"George has gone in to write to Augustus," said Nelly; "but if Lord
Culduff could answer your purpose, I 'd ask Marion to interest him in
the matter."

"There's a dear good girl, do write a line to Marion; tell her it's the
greatest favor she could bestow on me. The poor fellow is a political
criminal; he only shot at the king, I believe; and where they do that
every week or so, it's hard to make it a capital offence. I 'll give you
his name and his number when I go into the house."

"The post leaves early," said she, rising. "I must do this at once."

"Wait till I have finished this corner of my netting, and I'll go with
you," said Julia.

"I say No to that," cried Jack. "I 'm not going to be left alone here.
If that's the way you treat a distinguished guest, the sooner he takes
his leave the better. Stay where you are, Miss Julia."

"But I shall have no work, Master Jack. My net will be finished in a few
minutes."

"Make cigarettes for me, then. There 's the bag," said he, lazily.

"I declare, our Bohemianism progresses famously," said she, half tartly.
"What do you think of this proposal, Nelly?" The question came late,
however; for Nelly was already on her way to the house.

"Don't go, that's a good girl. Don't leave me here to my own
thoughts,--they 're not over jolly, I promise you, when I'm all alone."

"Why, it's your good spirits that amaze me," replied she. "I don't
remember seeing you so cheerful or so merry long ago, as you are now."

"You mean that I wasn't so happy when I had more reason to be so? But
what if I were to tell you out of what a sad heart this joy comes; how
every day I say to myself, 'This is to be the last of it!' Not," said
he, in a bolder voice, "that I want to think about myself; this terrible
disaster that has befallen