Shewaspalewithsuspensewhiletheboatwithmailbagswasmakingtowardsthem。Absorbedinherlettersshedidnotnoticethatshehadleftthe_Euphrosyne_，andfeltnosadnesswhentheshiplifteduphervoiceandbellowedthricelikeacowseparatedfromitscalf。
　　“Thechildrenarewell！“sheexclaimed。Mr。Pepper，whosatoppositewithagreatmoundofbagandruguponhisknees，said，“Gratifying。“Rachel，towhomtheendofthevoyagemeantacompletechangeofperspective，wastoomuchbewilderedbytheapproachoftheshoretorealisewhatchildrenwerewellorwhyitwasgratifying。Helenwentonreading。
　　Movingveryslowly，andrearingabsurdlyhighovereachwave，thelittleboatwasnowapproachingawhitecrescentofsand。
　　Behindthiswasadeepgreenvalley，withdistincthillsoneitherside。
　　Ontheslopeoftheright-handhillwhitehouseswithbrownroofsweresettled，likenestingsea-birds，andatintervalscypressesstripedthehillwithblackbars。Mountainswhosesideswereflushedwithred，butwhosecrownswerebald，roseasapinnacle，half-concealinganotherpinnaclebehindit。Thehourbeingstillearly，thewholeviewwasexquisitelylightandairy；
　　thebluesandgreensofskyandtreewereintensebutnotsultry。
　　Astheydrewnearerandcoulddistinguishdetails，theeffectoftheearthwithitsminuteobjectsandcoloursanddifferentformsoflifewasoverwhelmingafterfourweeksofthesea，andkeptthemsilent。
　　“Threehundredyearsodd，“saidMr。Peppermeditativelyatlength。
　　Asnobodysaid，“What？“hemerelyextractedabottleandswallowedapill。ThepieceofinformationthatdiedwithinhimwastotheeffectthatthreehundredyearsagofiveElizabethanbarqueshadanchoredwherethe_Euphrosyne_nowfloated。Half-drawnupuponthebeachlayanequalnumberofSpanishgalleons，unmanned，forthecountrywasstillavirginlandbehindaveil。Slippingacrossthewater，theEnglishsailorsboreawaybarsofsilver，balesoflinen，timbersofcedarwood，goldencrucifixesknobbedwithemeralds。
　　WhentheSpaniardscamedownfromtheirdrinking，afightensued，thetwopartieschurningupthesand，anddrivingeachotherintothesurf。TheSpaniards，bloatedwithfinelivinguponthefruitsofthemiraculousland，fellinheaps；butthehardyEnglishmen，tawnywithsea-voyaging，hairyforlackofrazors，withmuscleslikewire，fangsgreedyforflesh，andfingersitchingforgold，despatchedthewounded，drovethedyingintothesea，andsoonreducedthenativestoastateofsuperstitiouswonderment。
　　Hereasettlementwasmade；womenwereimported；childrengrew。
　　AllseemedtofavourtheexpansionoftheBritishEmpire，andhadtherebeenmenlikeRichardDallowayinthetimeofCharlestheFirst，themapwouldundoubtedlyberedwhereitisnowanodiousgreen。
　　Butitmustbesupposedthatthepoliticalmindofthatagelackedimagination，and，merelyforwantofafewthousandpoundsandafewthousandmen，thesparkdiedthatshouldhavebeenaconflagration。
　　FromtheinteriorcameIndianswithsubtlepoisons，nakedbodies，andpaintedidols；fromtheseacamevengefulSpaniardsandrapaciousPortuguese；exposedtoalltheseenemiesthoughtheclimateprovedwonderfullykindandtheearthabundanttheEnglishdwindledawayandallbutdisappeared。Somewhereaboutthemiddleoftheseventeenthcenturyasinglesloopwatcheditsseasonandslippedoutbynight，bearingwithinitallthatwasleftofthegreatBritishcolony，afewmen，afewwomen，andperhapsadozenduskychildren。
　　Englishhistorythendeniesallknowledgeoftheplace。Owingtoonecauseandanothercivilisationshifteditscentretoaspotsomefourorfivehundredmilestothesouth，andto-daySantaMarinaisnotmuchlargerthanitwasthreehundredyearsago。
　　Inpopulationitisahappycompromise，forPortuguesefatherswedIndianmothers，andtheirchildrenintermarrywiththeSpanish。
　　AlthoughtheygettheirploughsfromManchester，theymaketheircoatsfromtheirownsheep，theirsilkfromtheirownworms，andtheirfurniturefromtheirowncedartrees，sothatinartsandindustriestheplaceisstillmuchwhereitwasinElizabethandays。
　　ThereasonswhichhaddrawntheEnglishacrosstheseatofoundasmallcolonywithinthelasttenyearsarenotsoeasilydescribed，andwillneverperhapsberecordedinhistorybooks。Grantedfacilityoftravel，peace，goodtrade，andsoon，therewasbesidesakindofdissatisfactionamongtheEnglishwiththeoldercountriesandtheenormousaccumulationsofcarvedstone，stainedglass，andrichbrownpaintingwhichtheyofferedtothetourist。
　　Themovementinsearchofsomethingnewwasofcourseinfinitelysmall，affectingonlyahandfulofwell-to-dopeople。ItbeganbyafewschoolmastersservingtheirpassageouttoSouthAmericaasthepursersoftrampsteamers。Theyreturnedintimeforthesummerterm，whentheirstoriesofthesplendoursandhardshipsoflifeatsea，thehumoursofsea-captains，thewondersofnightanddawn，andthemarvelsoftheplacedelightedoutsiders，andsometimesfoundtheirwayintoprint。Thecountryitselftaxedalltheirpowersofdescription，fortheysaiditwasmuchbiggerthanItaly，andreallynoblerthanGreece。Again，theydeclaredthatthenativeswerestrangelybeautiful，verybiginstature，dark，passionate，andquicktoseizetheknife。Theplaceseemednewandfullofnewformsofbeauty，inproofofwhichtheyshowedhandkerchiefswhichthewomenhadwornroundtheirheads，andprimitivecarvingscolouredbrightgreensandblues。Somehoworother，asfashionsdo，thefashionspread；
　　anoldmonasterywasquicklyturnedintoahotel，whileafamouslineofsteamshipsaltereditsroutefortheconvenienceofpassengers。
　　OddlyenoughithappenedthattheleastsatisfactoryofHelenAmbrose’sbrothershadbeensentoutyearsbeforetomakehisfortune，atanyratetokeepclearofrace-horses，intheveryspotwhichhadnowbecomesopopular。Often，leaninguponthecolumnintheverandah，hehadwatchedtheEnglishshipswithEnglishschoolmastersforpurserssteamingintothebay。Havingatlengthearnedenoughtotakeaholiday，andbeingsickoftheplace，heproposedtoputhisvilla，ontheslopeofthemountain，athissister’sdisposal。She，too，hadbeenalittlestirredbythetalkofanewworld，wheretherewasalwayssunandneverafog，whichwentonaroundher，andthechance，whentheywereplanningwheretospendthewinteroutofEngland，seemedtoogoodtobemissed。
　　ForthesereasonsshedeterminedtoacceptWilloughby’sofferoffreepassagesonhisship，toplacethechildrenwiththeirgrand-parents，andtodothethingthoroughlywhileshewasaboutit。
　　Takingseatsinacarriagedrawnbylong-tailedhorseswithpheasants’
　　featherserectbetweentheirears，theAmbroses，Mr。Pepper，andRachelrattledoutoftheharbour。Thedayincreasedinheatastheydroveupthehill。Theroadpassedthroughthetown，wheremenseemedtobebeatingbrassandcrying“Water，“wherethepassagewasblockedbymulesandclearedbywhipsandcurses，wherethewomenwalkedbarefoot，theirheadsbalancingbaskets，andcrippleshastilydisplayedmutilatedmembers；itissuedamongsteepgreenfields，notsogreenbutthattheearthshowedthrough。
　　Greattreesnowshadedallbutthecentreoftheroad，andamountainstream，soshallowandsoswiftthatitplaiteditselfintostrandsasitran，racedalongtheedge。Highertheywent，untilRidleyandRachelwalkedbehind；nexttheyturnedalongalanescatteredwithstones，whereMr。Pepperraisedhisstickandsilentlyindicatedashrub，bearingamongsparseleavesavoluminouspurpleblossom；andataricketycanterthelaststageofthewaywasaccomplished。
　　Thevillawasaroomywhitehouse，which，asisthecasewithmostcontinentalhouses，lookedtoanEnglisheyefrail，ramshackle，andabsurdlyfrivolous，morelikeapagodainatea-gardenthanaplacewhereoneslept。Thegardencalledurgentlyfortheservicesofgardener。Busheswavedtheirbranchesacrossthepaths，andthebladesofgrass，withspacesofearthbetweenthem，couldbecounted。Inthecircularpieceofgroundinfrontoftheverandahweretwocrackedvases，fromwhichredflowersdrooped，withastonefountainbetweenthem，nowparchedinthesun。
　　Thecirculargardenledtoalonggarden，wherethegardener’sshearshadscarcelybeen，unlessnowandthen，whenhecutaboughofblossomforhisbeloved。Afewtalltreesshadedit，androundbusheswithwax-likeflowersmobbedtheirheadstogetherinarow。
　　Agardensmoothlylaidwithturf，dividedbythickhedges，withraisedbedsofbrightflowers，suchaswekeepwithinwallsinEngland，wouldhavebeenoutofplaceuponthesideofthisbarehill。
　　Therewasnouglinesstoshutout，andthevillalookedstraightacrosstheshoulderofaslope，ribbedwitholivetrees，tothesea。
　　TheindecencyofthewholeplacestruckMrs。Chaileyforcibly。
　　Therewerenoblindstoshutoutthesun，norwasthereanyfurnituretospeakofforthesuntospoil。Standinginthebarestonehall，andsurveyingastaircaseofsuperbbreadth，butcrackedandcarpetless，shefurtherventuredtheopinionthattherewererats，aslargeasterriersathome，andthatifoneputone’sfootdownwithanyforceonewouldcomethroughthefloor。Asforhotwater——atthispointherinvestigationsleftherspeechless。
　　“Poorcreature！“shemurmuredtothesallowSpanishservant-girlwhocameoutwiththepigsandhenstoreceivethem，“nowonderyouhardlylooklikeahumanbeing！“MariaacceptedthecomplimentwithanexquisiteSpanishgrace。InChailey’sopiniontheywouldhavedonebettertostayonboardanEnglishship，butnoneknewbetterthanshethatherdutycommandedhertostay。
　　Whentheyweresettledin，andintraintofinddailyoccupation，therewassomespeculationastothereasonswhichinducedMr。Peppertostay，takinguphislodgingintheAmbroses’house。
　　EffortshadbeenmadeforsomedaysbeforelandingtoimpressuponhimtheadvantagesoftheAmazons。
　　“Thatgreatstream！“Helenwouldbegin，gazingasifshesawavisionarycascade，“I’veagoodmindtogowithyoumyself，Willoughby——onlyIcan’t。Thinkofthesunsetsandthemoonrises——
　　Ibelievethecoloursareunimaginable。“
　　“Therearewildpeacocks，“Rachelhazarded。
　　“Andmarvellouscreaturesinthewater，“Helenasserted。
　　“Onemightdiscoveranewreptile，“Rachelcontinued。
　　“There’scertaintobearevolution，I’mtold，“Helenurged。
　　TheeffectofthesesubterfugeswasalittledashedbyRidley，who，afterregardingPepperforsomemoments，sighedaloud，“Poorfellow！“
　　andinwardlyspeculatedupontheunkindnessofwomen。
　　Hestayed，however，inapparentcontentmentforsixdays，playingwithamicroscopeandanotebookinoneofthemanysparselyfurnishedsitting-rooms，butontheeveningoftheseventhday，astheysatatdinner，heappearedmorerestlessthanusual。
　　Thedinner-tablewassetbetweentwolongwindowswhichwereleftuncurtainedbyHelen’sorders。Darknessfellassharplyasaknifeinthisclimate，andthetownthensprangoutincirclesandlinesofbrightdotsbeneaththem。Buildingswhichnevershowedbydayshowedbynight，andtheseaflowedrightoverthelandjudgingbythemovinglightsofthesteamers。ThesightfulfilledthesamepurposeasanorchestrainaLondonrestaurant，andsilencehaditssetting。WilliamPepperobserveditforsometime；
　　heputonhisspectaclestocontemplatethescene。
　　“I’veidentifiedthebigblocktotheleft，“heobserved，andpointedwithhisforkatasquareformedbyseveralrowsoflights。
　　“Oneshouldinferthattheycancookvegetables，“headded。
　　“Anhotel？“saidHelen。
　　“Onceamonastery，“saidMr。Pepper。
　　Nothingmorewassaidthen，but，thedayafter，Mr。Pepperreturnedfromamiddaywalk，andstoodsilentlybeforeHelenwhowasreadingintheverandah。
　　“I’vetakenaroomoverthere，“hesaid。
　　“You’renotgoing？“sheexclaimed。
　　“Onthewhole——yes，“heremarked。“Noprivatecook_can_cookvegetables。“
　　Knowinghisdislikeofquestions，whichshetosomeextentshared，Helenaskednomore。Still，anuneasysuspicionlurkedinhermindthatWilliamwashidingawound。Sheflushedtothinkthatherwords，orherhusband’s，orRachel’shadpenetratedandstung。Shewashalf-movedtocry，“Stop，William；explain！“andwouldhavereturnedtothesubjectatluncheonifWilliamhadnotshownhimselfinscrutableandchill，liftingfragmentsofsaladonthepointofhisfork，withthegestureofamanprongingseaweed，detectinggravel，suspectinggerms。
　　“IfyoualldieoftyphoidIwon’tberesponsible！“hesnapped。
　　“Ifyoudieofdulness，neitherwillI，“Helenechoedinherheart。
　　Shereflectedthatshehadneveryetaskedhimwhetherhehadbeeninlove。Theyhadgotfurtherandfurtherfromthatsubjectinsteadofdrawingnearertoit，andshecouldnothelpfeelingitareliefwhenWilliamPepper，withallhisknowledge，hismicroscope，hisnote-books，hisgenuinekindlinessandgoodsense，butacertaindrynessofsoul，tookhisdeparture。Alsoshecouldnothelpfeelingitsadthatfriendshipsshouldendthus，althoughinthiscasetohavetheroomemptywassomethingofacomfort，andshetriedtoconsoleherselfwiththereflectionthatoneneverknowshowfarotherpeoplefeelthethingstheymightbesupposedtofeel。