maid. The bark awaited them, swaying gently against the
harbour-side. Aurelia descended to the little cabin curtained off
below a half-deck, and--sails as yet being useless--four great
oars urged the craft on its way.

What little wind there was breathed from the north For an hour they
made but slow progress, but when the first rays of sun gleamed above
the mountains, the breeze shifted westward; sails were presently
hoisted, and the rippling water hissed before the prow. Soon a
golden day shone upon sea and land. Aurelia came forth on to the
deck, and sat gazing towards Neapolis.

'You know that the deacon is yonder,' she said in a low voice to
Basil, this the first mention of Leander that had fallen from her
lips in speaking with him.

'Is he?' returned the other carelessly. 'Yes, I remember.'

But Basil's eyes were turned to the long promontory of Misenum. He
was wondering anxiously how his letter had affected Veranilda, and
whether, when she heard of it, Aurelia would be angered.

'Where is your friend Marcian?' were her next words.

Basil replied that he, too, was sojourning at Neapolis; and, when
Aurelia inquired what business held him there, her cousin answered
truly that he did not know.

'Do you trust him?' asked the lady, after a thoughtful pause.