As soon as the fate of Caraccioli was decided, both were willing to return to their old position in life; not that they felt ashamed to avow their connection with the dead, but because they were quite devoid of any of that worldly ambition which renders rank and fortune necessary to happiness.
When he left the crowd of boats, Raoul pulled toward the rocks which bound the shores of the bay, near the gardens of Portici.

This was a point sufficiently removed from the common anchorage to be safe from observation; and yet so near as to be reached in considerably less than an hour.

As the light boat proceeded Ghita gradually regained her composure.

She dried her eyes and looked around her inquiringly, as if wondering whither their companion was taking them.
"I will not ask you, Raoul, why you are here at a moment like this, and whence you have come," she said; "but I may ask whither you are now carrying us?
Our home is at St.Agata, on the heights above Sorrento, and on the other side of the bay.

We come there annually to pass a month with my mother's sister, who asks this much of our love." "If I did not know all this, Ghita, I would not and could not be here.