But this Lucy would not allow.
"You must be quiet to-day, and to-morrow you can go on deck," she said;
and then, as Jennie had gone out, she sat down by Bessie's side, and
taking one of her hands, continued: "Do you think you are strong enough
to see an old friend by and by?"
Bessie knew she meant Grey, and the hot blood surged into her face as
she answered, eagerly:
"Yes, oh, yes. He will bring Stoneleigh back to me; he was so kind when
father died, and in Rome, and everywhere. Can I see him now?"
"Not just yet," Miss Grey said, smiling at the young girl's eagerness,
which showed itself in every feature. "I doubt if Grey is yet up. He has
been sick all the voyage, and is very weak, and I must prepare him
first. He thinks you are dead."
"Dead!" Bessie repeated. "How can he think so? I do not understand."
As briefly as possible Miss Grey explained all she knew of the mistake
which the messenger boy must have made when he told Grey, in Florence,
that Bessie had died the very day he left Rome.
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