"Then I must cheer up," Lanfear exclaimed. "If I could only look at you strongand well, Miss Gerald, like this girl--"

They both glanced at the peasant, and she laughed in sympathy with theirsmiling, and beat the donkey a little for pleasure; it did not mind.

"But you will be--you will be! We must hurry on, now, or your fatherwill be getting anxious."

They pushed forward on the road, which was now level and wider than ithad been. As they drew near the city, whose ruin began more and more toreveal itself in the roofless walls and windowless casements, they saw aman coming towards them, at whose approach Lanfear instinctively puthimself forward. The man did not look at them, but passed, frowningdarkly, and muttering and gesticulating.

Miss Gerald turned in her litter and followed him with a long gaze. Thepeasant kid said gayly in Italian: "He is mad; the earthquake made himmad," and urged the donkey forward.