seen coming toward us so rapidly. The situation was well calculated to
cause us anxiety, if we had been subject to such a feeling, but, as usual
with us at the present day, it has turned out to our advantage; for it has
given us two such worthy representatives of a neighboring race."

"I am sure," I answered, "that the advantage is greatly on our side."

I could not say more, for I was conscious that the doctor was watching
closely to see how I was affected by the presence of this royal girl. When
he saw I was inclined to be somewhat quiet he felt impelled to say
something, and offered the following compromising remark:

"If we had only brought Mona safely off the moon with us, you would have
had something more worthy of your interest than we are, and my friend here
also would now be in better spirits."

Antonia had a question in her eyes but her perfect breeding kept her from
putting it into words, after the final expression of the doctor's speech.
Of course, I could not ignore the allusion, and said:

"Mona is a friend of the doctor's whom I have not the pleasure of knowing.
I suppose he thinks her cheerful disposition, of which I have heard
before, would make our present situation even more enjoyable than it is.
Speaking for myself, however, I think that would be impossible."

With that she rose, and, with a pleasant word of adieu to us, told
Thorwald she would come in another day after we were well rested.

It was now approaching night-fall and dinner was to be speedily announced.
The doctor and I were shown to a suite of dressing-rooms, and as soon as