Page:Blue Magic.djvu/103

 "See here," said Siddereticus, as he laid his hand over Fen's, which was trembling, "this won't do at all. If you're going to get so much excited, we'll have to go back to the yacht this instant."

"Oh, please!" cried Fen, "I won't get excited—I'm not excited,—but it—it's too wonderful!"

"Yes," agreed Siddereticus, "it is too wonderful. We'll seek a dark and remote canal, where it's not so full of light and color and splendor."

He gave an order to the gondolier, who, with a mellow assent, swept the gondola into one of the quieter water-streets which joined the busy Grand Canal.

Here all was dim and silent. The dark, leaning houses shadowed the water, their carved balconies hung over it, and it washed their slippery green steps without a sound. Here and there, over a high,