Ellinor stood up
in silent, wondering dismay. Was the _Santa Lucia_ going down on the
great deep, and Dixon unaided in his peril? Dr. Livingstone was by her
side in a moment. She could scarcely see him for the vapour, nor hear
him for the roar of the escaping steam.
"Do not be unnecessarily frightened," he repeated, a little louder. "Some
accident has occurred to the engines. I will go and make instant
inquiry, and come back to you as soon as I can. Trust to me."
He came back to where she sat trembling.
"A part of the engine is broken, through the carelessness of these
Neapolitan engineers; they say we must make for the nearest port--return
to Civita, in fact."
"But Elba is not many miles away," said Ellinor. "If this steam were but
away, you could see it still."
"And if we were landed there we might stay on the island for many days;
no steamer touches there; but if we return to Civita, we shall be in time
for the Sunday boat."
"Oh, dear, dear!" said Ellinor. "To-day is the second--Sunday will be
the fourth--the assizes begin on the seventh; how miserably unfortunate!"
"Yes!" he said, "it is. And these things always appear so doubly
unfortunate when they hinder our serving others! But it does not follow
that because the assizes begin at Hellingford on the seventh, Dixon's
trial will come on so soon.
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