I am not affected by great catastrophes from a humane point of view." "Well," she said, busying herself about the room with quick and noiseless movements, "but it is always terrible to hear of such a thing when one reflects that we are all so unprepared." "For what, my sister ?" "For death," she answered, with a look of awe in the most innocent eyes in the world.
"But who is dead ?" "Three hundred people," she answered.

"The passengers and crew of the _Principe Amadeo_--a large steamer that sailed last night from Genoa, with emigrants for South America." "And all are drowned ?" I asked, after a pause, thankful that my face was in the shadow of the curtain.
"All, except two of the crew.

The steamer had only left the harbour an hour before, and all the passengers were at dinner.

There came, I think, a fog, and in the darkness a collision occurred.

The _Principe Amadeo_ went down in five minutes." She spoke quietly, and with that calm which religion, doubtless, gave her.