Page 64 of Mrs. Endicott's Splendid Adventure

Ellie and Mavis sat together on the terrace outside the Villa Gloriosa. It was the anniversary of Dora’s death, and Ellie had opened a bottle of champagne to toast her.

“I never thought I’d take to her,” Mavis said. “Bossy old cow back in England, wasn’t she?”

“She softened up a lot, when she got here and she knew we cared about her,” Ellie replied.

“She certainly did. She loved every minute of it here, didn’t she?

Remember how she went swimming? She was fearless.

” She paused. “Unlike me. I’ve never learned to like the water.

Luckily, Louis doesn’t, either.” She looked at Ellie.

“I’d say we’ve done quite well for ourselves, wouldn’t you?

Who would have thought, when we set out in Lionel’s Bentley all those years ago, that we’d find a whole new life here, good men and happiness? ”

“I know,” Ellie said. “Sometimes I still can’t quite believe it myself.

We dared to take the first step, Mavis, and that’s why it worked out for us.

How easy it would have been to retreat to a dismal cottage in England and feel sorry for ourselves for the rest of our lives. Instead we’ve had a great adventure.”

“We certainly have,” Mavis agreed.

Ellie poured champagne and handed Mavis a glass. “To Dora,” she said.

Mavis raised her glass. “And to us.”