Of the two gentlemen one was her brother--the other, a farmer, her husband.
The brother wore a pith helmet, and his bronzed cheek told of service under tropical suns.

The husband was scarcely less brown; still young, and very active-looking, you might guess his age at forty; but his bare forehead (he had thrown his hat on the ground) was marked with the line caused by involuntary contraction of the muscles when thinking.

There was an air of anxiety, of restless feverish energy, about him.

But just for the moment he was calm and happy, turning over the pages of a book.
Suddenly he looked up, and began to declaim, in a clear, sweet voice: 'He's speaking now, Or murmuring, "Where's my serpent of old Nile ?" For so he calls me.

Now I feed myself With most delicious poison!' Just then there came the sharp rattle of machinery borne on the wind; he recollected himself, shut the volume, and rose from his seat.