uch, and seemed about to leave the
cabin. He again, however, went up to Marianna, and whispered--"It may
be better for your mistress and yourself that she remain as if overcome
with illness till the conclusion of the voyage. Urge her not to rise,
or to attempt to go on deck; and tell her that the leech who has
attended her, has prescribed perfect silence and calmness. You
understand me?"

"I do, signor--though I cannot comprehend your reasons," returned
Marianna. "But, at all events, you can tell me when the voyage is to be
brought to a conclusion. It has lasted already a long time. I did not
think the Mediterranean sea was so large."

"Even there I cannot satisfy you," returned he who was called by
Marianna Signor Paolo. "Certainly not for many days; it may be even for
some weeks. You observe, that we do not always continue sailing. We
visit the shore occasionally, and, sometimes, remain hours together at
anchor."

"I cannot say exactly that I discovered that," answered the girl. "I
thought sometimes the ship appeared to sail very slowly, and that we
were very near the shore; but I knew not that we were altogether at
rest. Yet I cannot understand why you should not tell me where we are
going to."

"Perhaps I myself do not know," returned Paolo evasively. "The
commander of this ship does not always say where he will next steer."

"There again--who is your commander?" asked the girl. "It is strange
you should not have told me his name."

"You are much too curious, Marianna," answered Signor Paolo. "I must
again warn you to prevent your mistress from asking questions, which you
cannot answer; and now I must leave you, for the present; for I dare not
remain long at a time here."

Saying this, to the great disappointment of Marianna, who had made up
her mind to enjoy a long chat, he took his departure; and she bolted and
locked the door behind him--saying, as she did so, "I will do as he
tells me, at all events; and, as I may not go out, no one else shall
come in without my leave."

The bright rays of the sun were streaming through the stern-ports, and
glittering on the arms and the gilt mouldings of the bulkheads, when Ada
Garden again awoke. Her eyes were dazzled by the bright refulgence
which they encountered, and almost blinded, she closed them, till
Marianna bethought of drawing the curtain across the foot of her couch.
In so doing she saw that her mistress was awake.

Now, although the glare