s
improved."

"Is it possible? But tell me about the sun, when it sets, what becomes
of it?"

"It goes back to its place of rising through a great tunnel beneath us."

Thorndyke sat in deep thought for a moment; then he looked so steadily
and so admiringly into Bernardino's eyes that she grew red with
confusion. "But you, yourself, are you thoroughly content here?"

"I know nothing else," she continued. "I have heard little about your
world except that your people are discontented, weak and insane, and
that your changeable weather and your careless laws regarding marriage
and heredity produce perpetual and innumerable diseases; that your
people are not well developed and beautiful; that you war with one
another, and that one tears down what another builds. I have, too,
always been happy, and since you came I am happier still. I don't know
what it means. I have never been so much interested in any one before."

"It is love on the part of both of us," replied the Englishman
impulsively, taking her hand. "I never was content before. I went roving
over the earth trying to end my life at sea or in balloon voyages, but
now I only want to be with you. I have never dreamed that I could be so
happy or that I would meet any one so beautiful as you are."

Bernardino's delight showed itself in blushes on her face, and
Thorndyke, unable to restrain himself, put his arm around her and drew
her to his breast and kissed her.

She sprang up quickly and he saw that she was trembling and that all the
color had fled from her face.

"What is the matter?" he asked, in alarm.

At first she did not answer, but only looked at him half-frightened,
and then covered her face with her hands. He drew them from her face and
compelled her to look at him.

"What is the matter?" he repeated, a strange fear at his heart.

"You have broken one of the most sacred laws of our country," she
faltered, in great embarrassment; "my father would punish me very
severely if he knew of it, and he would banish you; for, to treat me in
that manner, as his daughter, is regarded as an insult to him."

"I beg your pardon most humbly," said the contrite Englishman. "It was
all on account of my ignorance of your customs and my impulsiveness. It
shall never happen again, I promise you."

Her face brightened a little and the color came back slowly. She sat
down again, but not so near Thorndyke, and seemed desirous of changing
the subject.

"And do you love