"That it is sometimes quite a fortunate thing to lose your arm. For if the Admiral had not lost his arm he might have had to nail up the canvas, or screw the palm tree into the hole." Will gave a kind of groan, which she pretended not to note. "It was much more entertaining for him to sit by--I mean to sit in a box and watch a servant dancing attendance on her ideas, which changed like a chameleon's." Will hoped so, but kept silence. "I never enjoyed myself so much, Signor W-Will. Your Admiral is so kind to ladies. Perhaps many of his smiles were conversation, for he speaks so little Italian, and I not much more English: you must teach me English, Signor W-Will, that I may talk to him without giving him trouble. Yes, our friendship is a great success." Suddenly the Admiral joined them. The Queen and General Mack had left off speaking French, and begun to talk Austrian-German--most likely because they were very interested about some point which they could not properly explain to each other except in their native language. The Admiral, however, who was very sensitive, took it as a hint, and fell back to join Will and Donna Rusidda. "Well, you two happy people," he began--"with nothing to talk about but yourselves?" "It was sad for Sicilians," she replied. By this time she could understand English readily, though she spoke it with difficulty. "Well, how have you been entertaining yourselves?" "We was not; we was on duty, as you say." "Yes, duty--excellent, as all our countries expect of us, and generally give us precious little help in doing it, though my Lord St. Vincent did give me the best ships afloat." "We was waiting for you for the pleasure." The Admiral made his best bow, and he put on that expression of his which reminded me of a dog pricking its ears. General Mack had doubtless been a little prosy, and occupied much of the conversation with what he was going to do with the French when he had beaten them. "Well, what pleasure are we going to begin with?" "We shall show to you the fountains." "Capital," said the Admiral. "I have been looking at them, you know, on the sly, while the General was composing the proclamation which he is going to make to the cities of the Peninsula." "Oh, but you shall not have seen them--all." "Madam," said the Admiral, pretending to be offended, "I have, as you please to notice, only one eye; but I think that the French at any rate will allow that I am a pretty good hand at taking in the whole situation." "Sit-oo-ation," she repeated, laughing; "that is a good word. No, I do not think that you have--how can I say--caught--yes, caught the whole sit-oo-ation." "Madam, I hope I shall never contradict a lady."