Page:Neuroomia.djvu/175

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I ENJOY A PROLONGED HOLIDAY.
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paying particular attention to her, and I wondered that the company of such a beautiful girl was not more sought after.

On leaving the dining-hall, we repaired to the music room, where I had the pleasure of hearing several of the ladies playing, while a number of, the men and ladies as well, entertained us by their singing. To me the songs were doubly interesting, for they offered a key to the literature of the country, which henceforward I decided to study.

After they had dispersed, I went to my bedroom, with a view to have a sound sleep, in order to be refreshed for the trip to the icefields. I cannot say, however, that T enjoyed much rest on this occasion, for many things crowded upon my imagination.

In the first place, many of my plans were in a measure baffled through the perfidy of Septimus Robinson, and yet he managed to elude punishment. I turned on one side and thought of Alvarez, then on the other and thought of Vandalia. Then again there was that "Tradition of the Two Lovers." I wondered if they ever existed, and if so, on what uninhabited land they made their home. Undoubtedly an island, but what island? Probably New Zealand, or one of the South Sea Islands,