ACROSS THE BAY Tom Horton called an hour later.

He was in despair because his party had decided to leave Naples for Rome, and he feared Beth would be engulfed by the volcano unless he was present to protect her.
"Mr.Merrick," said the boy, earnestly, "you'll take good care of Miss De Graf, sir, won't you?
We both live in Ohio, you know, and we've just got acquainted; and--and I'd like to see her again, some time, if she escapes." Uncle John's eyes twinkled, but he drew a long face.
"My dear Tom," he said, "don't ask me to take care of anyone--please don't! I brought these girls along to take care of _me_--three of 'em, sir--and they've got to do their duty.

Don't you worry about the girls; just you worry about _me_." That was not much consolation for the poor fellow, but he could do nothing more than wring their hands--Beth's twice, by mistake--and wish them good luck before he hurried away to rejoin his family.
"I'm sorry to see him go," said Beth, honestly.

"Tom is a nice boy." "Quite right," agreed Uncle John.

"I hope we shall meet no worse fellows than Tom Horton." At noon they were served a modest luncheon in their rooms, for Signor Floriano, having sent his important papers to a place of safety, had resolved to stick to his hotel and do his duty by any guests that chose to remain with him in defiance of the existent conditions.