"We have not much to boast of, at present, Mr. Haveloc," said she; "we look to the hot weather to set her up again." "You must allow me to take you on a cruise in my yacht," said Mr. Haveloc pointing to the vessel in the distance. "Sea voyages are said to be very good for invalids; and I am becoming quite an experienced sailor." "You used to threaten something of that kind at Sorrento," said Mrs. Fitzpatrick. "Yes! but the fancy has gone off as you said it would," he replied. "I shall get rid of my yacht in the autumn, and go abroad again." "What not tired of travelling yet!" said Mrs. Fitzpatrick. "It is not exactly the love of travelling; but I have promised a friend of mine to go with him to the Pyrenees--a young barrister, who has a few weeks of liberty in the autumn, and who likes to use it to the utmost." "What a delightful tour!" said Aveline. "There is nothing equal to mountain scenery." "But you know, Miss Fitzpatrick, I am not properly sensible of the charms of mountain scenery." "That is very wrong," said Aveline, looking up to him with a smile. "I was in hopes you might have reformed before now." "There were three things I remember that I did not justly appreciate," said Mr. Haveloc; "moonlight, monks, and mountains." "It was only that one old monk that I ever insisted upon," said Aveline. "I thought him the dirtiest of the whole set," said Mr. Haveloc laughing. "He was very dirty," observed Mrs. Fitzpatrick. "You cannot think how surprised I was to see you." "I thought you in Italy," said Mr. Haveloc. "I thought you still farther," replied Mrs. Fitzpatrick. "Indeed! How far?" "In Egypt. Was not that your plan?" "I had some thoughts of going across to Venice, and so on to Egypt; but I became anxious to return to England." "I hope you found your guardian in good health." "Oh! I hope so," echoed Aveline. "He must be such a delightful old man." "He is delightful," said Mr. Haveloc warmly. "But I cannot say much for his health; yet these sickly people often outlive stronger ones." "That is very true," said Mrs. Fitzpatrick, with a satisfied air. As they passed the place where Aveline had been sitting, Mr. Haveloc started forward and picked up a book. "This is yours, Miss Fitzpatrick," he said, "do not deny it--now that I am your neighbour, I shall make a point of gleaning after you, and furnish my library with the books you lose." "You have taken that villa then," said Mrs. Fitzpatrick, smiling at Aveline's confusion, for she was rather notorious for losing her things. "I have. So you have been reading the dark old Florentine, again," said Mr. Haveloc, looking into the book he carried, "I thought, Mrs. Fitzpatrick, you forbade Dante altogether." "Not quite," said Mrs. Fitzpatrick; "but I was rather an advocate at Sorrento for studies of a lighter description. Aveline's health--" "Oh, but I am better now, mamma!" exclaimed Aveline.