In all that they have been doing for you, according to your orders, I truly think they are more curious than interested." A streak of rose and silver flared through the sky flushing the pallor of Morgana's face as she lifted it towards him, smiling.
"Quite natural!" she said--"No man is ever 'interested' in woman's work, but he is always 'curious.' Woman is a many-cornered maze--and man is always peeping round one corner or another in the hope to discover her--but he never does!" Rivardi gave an almost imperceptible shrug.
"Never ?" he queried.
"Never!" she affirmed, emphatically--"Don't be sarcastic, amico!--even in this dim morning light I can see the scornful curve of your upper lip!--you are really very good-looking, you know!--and you imply the same old Garden of Eden story of man giving away woman as a wholly incomprehensible bad job! Adam flung her back as a reproach to her Creator--'the woman thou gavest me;'-- oh, that woman and that apple! But he had to confess 'I did eat.' He always eats,--he eats everything woman can give him--he will even eat HER if he gets the chance!" She laughed and pointed to the brightening sky.

"See?
''Tis almost morning!' as Shakespeare's Juliet remarked--but I would not 'have thee gone'-- not unless I go also.

Whither shall we fly ?" He looked at her, moved as he often was by a thrill of admiration and wonder.
"It is for you to decide"-- he answered--"You know best the possibilities-and the risks---" "I know the possibilities perfectly,"-- she said--"But I know nothing of risks--there are none.

This is our safety"-- and she drew out from the folds of her cloak, two small packets of cylindrical form--"This emanation of Nature's greatest force will keep us going for a year if needful! Oh man!--I do not mean YOU particularly, but man generally!--why could you not light on this little, little clue!--why was it left to a woman! Come!--let us see the White Eagle in its nest,--it shall spread its wings and soar to-day--we will give it full liberty!" The dawn was spreading in threads of gold and silver and blue all over the heavens, and the sea flushed softly under the deepening light, as she went towards the aerodrome, he walking slowly by her side.
"Are you so sure ?" he said--"Will you not risk your life in this attempt ?" She stopped abruptly.
"My life?
What is it?
The life of a midge in the sun! It is no good to me unless I do something with it! I would live for ever if I could!--here, on this dear little ball of Earth--I do not want a better heaven.

The heaven which the clergy promise us is so remarkably unattractive! But I run no risk of losing my life or yours in our aerial adventures; we carry the very essence of vitality with us.
Come!--I want to see my flying palace! When I was a small child I used to feed my fancy on the 'Arabian Nights,' and most dearly did I love the story of Aladdin and his palace that was transported through the air.