Island of Mermaids by Iris Danbury Page A

in a beautiful golden pattern.
    Cristo led Althea down narrow streets across which washing hung suspended between the windows; women in upper storeys let down baskets on long ropes so that street sellers could fill them with vegetables or a bottle of milk.
    The air was filled with the din of voices and calls and Althea enjoyed this glimpse of Naples away from the routine tourist ’ s-eye view.
    Suddenly she became aware that she and Cristo had left the square behind. ‘ We must go back !’ she said urgently.
    But the taxi still waited in the square.
    ‘ We must have a drink ,’ Cristo suggested. ‘ Would you like coffee or something iced? ’
    ‘ A long cool drink, please. ’
    They found a cafe at the corner of the square and she was grateful for the delicious lemon drink with shaved ice.
    Cristo talked about Rome and its delights. ‘ So much to see and to do. You must come soon and stay with my mother, ’ he invited expansively, then added as an afterthought, ‘ Your father, too. Does he know Rome well? ’
    ‘ He ’ s been several times, but mainly on business. I doubt whether he has taken time off to see the sights at all leisurely. ’
    Cristo told her about his job as a car salesman in a showroom and amused her with anecdotes about some of the would-be purchasers.
    Presently she glanced at her watch, then screwed round in her chair towards the other side of the square. ‘ The taxi! It ’ s gone! ’
    ‘ What matters? We can get another for ourselves, ’ was Cristo ’ s unperturbed reply.
    ‘ But I don ’ t know the name of the restaurant where we were to lunch. ’
    ‘ I shall be delighted to give you lunch wherever you choose, ’ he offered.
    In the smart hotel which Cristo selected Althea failed to enjoy the delightful lunch set before her, course by course. She was worried chiefly on Carla ’ s account. What would the girl think when she came away from the professor ’ s house, either elated at success or needing sympathy for failure, only to find that obviously Althea and Cristo had become impatient and gone off somewhere by themselves?
    After lunch Cristo suggested a stroll through the streets and arcades. ‘ It is possible that we might see Zia Emilia and Carla if they want to do some shopping. ’
    Althea thought it as unlikely as hoping to spot an acquaintance along the length of Regent Street.
    At one point they came to a small public garden set on a height overlooking the harbour.
    Cristo pointed out Capri. The island, a saddleback between the two heights of Monte Tiberio and Monte Solaro, rested like a bird on a sapphire sea. The peak of Solaro was capped, as nearly always, by the white sirocco cloud brought by the south wind from Africa. It was easy to see why legends of sirens and mermaids had been whispered about this idyllic island.
    Cristo was in favour of staying longer in Naples, but Althea was determined to return on the six o ’ clock steamer. ‘ We shall meet your aunt and the others then. ’
    Yet although Althea searched the ship during the crossing there was no sign of either of the Marchettis or of Kent Sanderby.
    ‘ You see? ’ Cristo was all smugness. ‘ They have stayed j somewhere to enjoy themselves and we could have done the same. There was no need to hurry home. ’
    ‘ I couldn ’ t have stayed any longer in Naples, ’ Althea told him coldly. ‘ My father needs me. ’
    ‘ That is nonsense! There are servants in my aunt ’ s house. They can do everything for your father. Besides, he is not an old man unable to look after himself. ’
    Althea did not answer, although she recognised the truth of Cristo ’ s words. She was aware that she was making devotion to her father the excuse for fending off difficulties or anything likely to prove tiresome.
    At the villa dinner was an uneasy meal with only the three of them there, Mr. Buckland with Cristo and Althea. Mr. Buckland had wanted to know the verdict about Carla ’ s future and was surprised that his