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.""I've made a dinner." She spoke hesitantly, hoping he would not spoil everything by assuming that he himself was in some way responsible for the change.But he was too wise, too cautious, and he merely smiled at her and said gravely, "That will be nice, Julie.What did you do?"She gave a little grimace then and murmured deprecatingly, "Something very simple, Doneus.I saw a butcher's van when I was out walking and bought some meat - I've no idea what it is because I've never had anything to do with cooking.I think it's probably beef -"He laughed and said, "It's probably goat.""Oh, no! Do you eat goat?""Yes, and very tasty it is - er - cooked in the right way, of course." He was teasing her and instead of being indignant she could only stare, and think how attractive he was."Well," she said, still a trifle deprecatingly, "it's cooked.But I'm not sure about the 'properly'."He laughed and went into the lean-to to wash his hands before sitting down at the table.Julie had tried to make it as attractive as she could with what was available, but the cutlery was old and tarnished, the dinner plates chipped and almost robbed of their original pattern.But Julie had put flowers on the table - marigolds and geraniums from the garden.And on a tray was the pretty crockery which, she recalled, she had initially assumed to have been procured just for her visit.She watched his face as he tasted the meat and vegetables.His expression was a mask, but on seeing her anxious eyes fixed upon him he smiled and nodded approvingly."Very tasty," he commented, and helped himself to more.Julie felt pleased that she had tried.He looked less fatigued already and she vowed to continue in her endeavours to make him happy, and these endeavours extended to giving him all her time - when he was in, that was, and in the evenings after dinner they would set out in the purple twilight and walk to the end of the island, to the place they both loved so much.And as they walked the fleeting dusk would melt into the thistledown softness of a Grecian night.The moon would spread its translucent glory over the drowsy landscape, while the sea became dappled with starlight.All would be hushed and still, and often Julie and Doneus would stop on the very edge of the cliffs and gaze across the purple distance to the vague shapes of the little islands, from whose hillsides spangles of light would twinkle like stars that had floated down from above to settle among the trees.Gradually, as the weeks passed, Julie became enfolded in the magic of this paradise island and her home in England seemed a world away.almost too far to reach."Doneus, if you would only let me spend some of my money -""Julie, not again, please." Doneus's gentle tones of censure brought a frown to Julie's face.Once or twice lately she had heard him speak like this to her and she had the odd conviction that he now felt more confident of himself - and of her.He was becoming more assertive, although always in this gentle way.Never once had he spoken a sharp word to her, or cast her an angry glance."What is money for if not to provide comfort?" Her voice pleaded.She had not told him so, but over a week ago she had seen a builder in Pothaia, the capital of the island, and after coming to the house at her invitation, he had given her an estimate for the extensive renovations she had in mind."We could have another sitting-room built on - modern, and furnish it to our own taste." They were on the patio, in the flaring saffron light of sunset, drinking their after-dinner coffee, and Doneus looked at his wife searchingly, as if expecting to see some sign of discontent.But her lovely eyes were clear and warm, her lips parted in a smile, persuasively.He glanced away, seeming to be battling with something inside him and, following the direction of his gaze, Julie saw the outline of the castle, lights shining from several windows.The Americans had kept on a full staff, Doneus had told her, hence the reason for the lights.Julie's gaze returned to her husband."Doneus." she murmured, and he turned his head."Yes, Julie?""If you're thinking I'm yearning for luxury, and the comforts of my home in England, then you're wrong.I'm resigned to living here, but I would like to have the house done up.Wouldn't it be nice to have a bathroom?""So you're not yearning for luxury?" His eyes came back to hers, searching again.He seemed still to be in a state of indecision and her expression became puzzled."What are you thinking about, Doneus?"He smiled then, as if considerably amused."I wonder how you would react if you knew? If only I dared tell you." The last words were a mere whisper, not really meant for Julie's ears at all, but she caught them and frowned in puzzlement."I wish I understood you," she said, and again he smiled."Someday, my dear, you will.""You're always evasive like this." Slight petulance in her tone and a tiny pout to her lips.Doneus's eyes flickered strangely.It did not occur to Julie that her attitude and indeed the whole situation was reminiscent of that which might have occurred between a normal married couple."Why are you so uncommunicative - and so cryptic?"His eyes lit with humour."I puzzle you greatly, do I?""You know you do.You're so different from what we expected - from what I expected when I first came to see you."Cold glints touched his eyes.Julie did not like what she saw."Your uncle gave you to understand you'd have a poor Greek peasant to deal with." Half statement, half question, and Julie waited for him to continue."Someone you could browbeat -""Not browbeat," she cut in indignantly."I never intended to browbeat you.I wanted only an amicable settlement.""You yourself, yes, that is what you would have liked.I should not class you with those two.Your uncle, however, had decided from the first that he had an uneducated peasant with whom to deal - a man who would be almost on his knees with gratitude at the idea of owning five hundred English pounds." Still Julie remained silent, wondering what Doneus would say were he to know that her uncle had fully expected two hundred pounds to be sufficient to keep him happy."What your uncle did not know was that I, unlike him and his kind, have no real interest in money.It procures luxuries, which are pleasant to enjoy.I would never deny that, Julie, but they are in the end superficialities, embellishments to the business of living but certainly not the fundamentals." He looked straight at her and continued, an odd inflection in his deep rich voice, "I've been happier in this cottage than ever I could have been in, say, a castle like Santa Elena over there
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