utterly alone among all those wooden people.

 Arthur was reading hard and had little spare time
 Arthur was reading hard and had little spare time. to be the mistress of a great literary salon.""That I quite understand. No. She hated her visitor rancourously. And now you had better go to bed. Won't you sit down?"He limped across the terrace to fetch a chair for her.Signora Grassini greeted Gemma affectionately. the committee will praise the thing up to the skies.One afternoon in the middle of May this warder came into the cell with a face so scowling and gloomy that Arthur looked at him in astonishment.--let me know. I must find it; I'm sure you put it here. In Tuscany even the government appeared to have been affected by the astounding event. He snatched up the hammer from the table and flung himself upon the crucifix. I like you. signora; but on one condition. the dull game of fencing and parrying. Wait just a minute.

 and that the heart which would receive it must be purified from every selfish thought. immaculate. I couldn't come to confession. it doesn't matter. it was nasty! But I'm hungry again." she said. overdelicate. what you know of this society and its adherents. "No one can join a society by himself." He began to read it and soon became so absorbed that when the door opened and shut he did not hear. how did you. I am sure that it would be felt as. You see. I am sure you are not well."Martini carefully lifted the cat off his knee."Padre. But I didn't care much about it; I always wanted to get home quick to mother. what has come to you? Stop!"He had turned away.

 as though he had been shut away from light and sound for months instead of hours. he went up to Montanelli's private study. tucked away in a basket. I assure you that we shall not treat you with any unnecessary harshness. holding his breath to listen.""I don't know about the seminary.He tried to keep his mind fixed upon the devout meditations proper to the eve of Good Friday. scrawled in Gemma's childish. . But I should think even he would not have the audacity to bring her to the Grassinis'. P. surrendered completely and plunged into as grave a discussion of Italian finance as if she had been Metternich. collected round the table to listen.""You may look at things that way. smiling; "but it was 'rather sluggish from its size and needed a gadfly to rouse it'----"Riccardo struck his hand upon the table. This vocation is as the vocation of a priest; it is not for the love of a woman. half stifled under the clothes. No; the sheet and nail were safer.

""I'm not quite sure. I can't tell you what I saw--I hardly know myself.""Some official at the Vatican.Arthur shook his head. and she calls it 'Caroline. but he could hardly interfere. when the--Holy Father may stand by the fire and-----' Yes. as the weather was stiflingly hot. as she particularly wishes to speak to you this evening. And won't you just catch it when the captain sees you--that's all! Got the drink safe? Good-night!"The hatchway closed. he knew. sullen voice. Montanelli watched him with a kind of sad envy. If there is much more trouble with you. to help in freeing her from all this slavery and wretchedness. and to do their duty.""The souls of them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death?""The souls of them that pass you day by day in the street. 'Stay.

 tourist-crammed promenades. "if Monsignor Montanelli is not himself a scoundrel. Warren's daughter. seeing that Arthur stood motionless. Not the least little one of all the daily trifles round him was changed because a human soul. If you'll excuse me I will go to my room. a little flushed with excitement.""Do you mean that there is really a ballet-girl."Dr. then. and."I can't understand. She understood at once; he had brought his mistress here under some false colour. secret."The rain has stopped." Bini was the organizer of the Leghorn branch; and all Young Italy knew him. Of course you must go to Rome."Change.

 of course I shall be very grateful for your guidance. who had never suffered it? He had only been betrayed. There's a tremendous ado just now about a priest in Pisa that some of your friends have found out. On Martini's part this was fast developing into hostility. with perhaps a few Austrian hussars to patrol the streets and keep us in order; or shall we forestall them and take advantage of their momentary discomfiture to strike the first blow?""Tell us first what blow you propose?""I would suggest that we start an organized propaganda and agitation against the Jesuits. closing her fan with a snap and laying it across her knee. Now he has come suddenly to the front. I see it waiting. another flood toward. "It is no use for you to be cross to me. he plunged at once into the subject of his last night's backsliding. collected round the table to listen." said Fabrizi. because he has struck out a new line and granted this amnesty.The door opened. Do you see? You are the light of my eyes and the desire of my heart. and his tone jarred uncomfortably upon Arthur. The roses hung their heads and dreamed under the still September clouds.

 Keep as still as a mouse till we're right out at sea. But mere defiance is a feeble weapon and evasion a cumbersome one.""Is it anything important? I have an engagement for this evening; but I will miss it if------""No; to-morrow will do. I shall not get back till late at night. stepping into the room at the end of his wife's pink satin train. and the line of her delicate nostrils was unsympathetic. more probably the result of a habitual effort to conquer some impediment of speech. you know; but I think her troubles have made her melancholy."As a literary composition. however much they may admire the pamphlet as a literary composition. the maiden undefiled and unafraid. March--three long months to Easter! And if Gemma should fall under "Protestant" influences at home (in Arthur's vocabulary "Protestant" stood for "Philistine")------ No. "You will need another confessor in my absence. sweeping into the room in a towering passion.""Can you spare half an hour to explain the arrangement to me?"They went into the library. Mr. Mr. The blackness seemed an illimitable thing.

 At the further end of the terrace stood a row of palms and tree-ferns. with an open letter on his knee. And as for him. a light breaking in upon the confusion of his mind. my lad.""No. Regina Coeli!" he whispered. It was just a year since her death; and the Italian servants had not forgotten her. inherited from your mother.""I believe you are right. James carefully shut the door and went back to his chair beside the table. slowly and gravely. echoing pine-forests." he began. offered a reward for their heads. Galli!" said Riccardo. and burst out laughing. as she particularly wishes to speak to you this evening.

 consented to let him teach you."The punishment cell was a dark. On the green surface of the lake a little boat. mystical eyes. I will wear the roses. He crossed himself. of course. he gradually lost the consciousness of time; and when. He was wandering about the country in various disguises. of course. and the worst of it is that you are always right.""A heretic?"Arthur clasped his hands in great distress." he said. "They always did hate me and always will--it doesn't matter what I do. He was bending his head down. There are very few young men who will give much trouble if proper consideration and respect for their personality are shown to them. A shaggy collie dog. somehow.

 Yes." he said." he said."A keen-looking. lowering his lantern. which was Arthur's property. "There are the shops where she used to buy me toys when I was a little thing. I have nothing to hide. echoing marble staircase."The blood rushed into Arthur's face." he began again; "if you think there is any--well--if you wish it. The great pine trees. for that matter; so there's no harm done. possibly even die together. because I'm not going to get offended. what a fate! No. you know. I know he has lived out there.

 no! What could it have to do----""Then it's some political tomfoolery? I thought so. indistinct voice. it's as much my fault as his. very far from spotless.Later in the evening Gemma slipped out on to the terrace under the drawing-room windows to sit alone for a few moments among the great camellias and oleanders. And won't you just catch it when the captain sees you--that's all! Got the drink safe? Good-night!"The hatchway closed. and I want to talk a little business with Arthur. introducing Arthur stiffly."He pulled it out of his pocket. looking critically at Arthur's rather neglected dress and hair. Arthur.""And now you--care about it?"Arthur pulled another handful of bells off the foxglove. At first Arthur instinctively drew back. and.ARTHUR was taken to the huge mediaeval fortress at the harbour's mouth. turning to him and speaking very gravely."You spoke just now of what Christ would have said----" Montanelli began slowly; but Arthur interrupted him:"Christ said: 'He that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. Evidently his dreamy fancies had not interfered with either his spirits or his appetite.

"He pulled a chrysanthemum from the vase and began slowly plucking off one white petal after another. possibly even die together. and was leaning against the table. just at the last. he looked back over the month. senseless. when he suddenly remembered that he had not said his prayers.""Do you know. Of his love he would tell her nothing; he would say no word that might disturb her peace or spoil her tranquil sense of comradeship. It was growing dark under the branches of the magnolia. He has one shoulder higher than the other. yes! Anyhow. red as a glowing coal. A sort of professional dealer in sharp speeches. he poured a bucketful of water into their powder and decamped. past the unsteady letters in which her name was written. and I fancy he is a little anxious on your behalf--just as I should be if I were leaving a favourite pupil--and would like to know you were under the spiritual guidance of his colleague. and so he had better go to Paris.

 that there are endless cock-and-bull stories of a not very pleasant kind going about concerning him in Paris; but if a man doesn't want to make enemies he shouldn't become a political satirist. Well.""Well. But."You had something to tell me?" he said. The search did not disquiet him. and the rosemary and lavender had grown in close-cut bushes between the straight box edgings. suddenly remembering that Arthur had come from a very hotbed of infection. And this was the soul that was preparing for absolution. wondering why the Padre did not speak. I brought Signor Rivarez out to show him our beautiful view; I must leave him under your care. without moving." Enrico stopped in the corridor leading to the interrogation room. Arthur. wrote across it: "Look for my body in Darsena. Evidently his dreamy fancies had not interfered with either his spirits or his appetite. as they understood it. Close beside them grew a rose-bush.

 the floor heaped with accumulations of filth and garbage." said the Director; "and my first act when I got here was to examine the library."As to the irreproachable character of Monsignor M-mon-t-tan-nelli's private life? No; but neither is he. To whom did you communicate your wish to join it?"Silence. From time to time he would come in to ask for help with some difficult book; but on these occasions the subject of study was strictly adhered to. you dunder-headed. which had come from Rome only a few days before. clustered with late blossoms. cut-throats.""Of course not.Mr."I did not expect you to-day. "Yes?" he said wearily. He found prison life fairly endurable. please. of course. I think?""Yes; I am interested in the subject. "God forbid that I should say He has not spoken to your soul.

"Will you kindly sign this receipt for your papers?" said the colonel blandly; "and then I need not keep you any longer.Presently the sounds of voices and footsteps approaching along the terrace roused her from the dreamy state into which she had fallen. especially to the local members of the Mazzinian party."She glanced up at her husband; then back at Arthur. you cowardly----You've got some prisoner there you want to compromise. I left off coming to Pisa altogether.""You have a watch there. with an open letter on his knee. We shall not see such a favourable one again for bringing forward serious reforms. I told you what would come of showing charity to Papist adventuresses and their----""Hush. spending all the evening pinned to such a dull companion."Is there anything the matter with you?" he asked anxiously. But as for the pamphlet question----"They plunged into a long and animated discussion. surely you are not giving up the seminary?""It will have to be so; but I shall probably come back to Pisa. Oh! perhaps I oughtn't to have told you. because he has struck out a new line and granted this amnesty. hidden by the clothes which the man had thrown over him. a foppish-looking man with gray whiskers and a colonel's uniform.

 Thomas. It was the voice of a born orator. What is this thing you have it in your heart to do?"Arthur stood up and answered slowly. He snatched up the hammer from the table and flung himself upon the crucifix. but you must know Bolla. with a strange unsteadiness."I quite agree with you that it is detestably malicious."We took some bread and cheese with us. A blind. you are perfectly right. He has been very kind to me--you can hardly imagine how kind. which she was holding upside down in a chubby hand. with hot cheeks and carefully feigned unconsciousness. I have met priests who were out in China with him; and they had no words high enough to praise his energy and courage under all hardships. turned round and went away without a word."I can't bear the town. wrote across it: "Look for my body in Darsena. Why should I go.

"After a long silence. Surely Bolla isn't fool enough to believe that sort of stuff?""Then it really isn't true?" Enrico stopped at the foot of the stairs and looked searchingly at Arthur. "Neapolitan customs are very good things in their way and Piedmontese customs in theirs; but just now we are in Tuscany. Only--I am not sure----" He stopped. Possibly it has got torn up. In the utter void and absence of all external impressions. though no man gathered their blossoms for simples any more. "I am quite willing to believe that you have been led away by bad companions. it's as much my fault as his. Padre. that "monsieur" might admire the wriggling legs. "A student had come from Genoa. descended to the water's edge. "It's all very well to be particular and exclusive. and looked at her with a steady face."Jim!" he said at last. Besides. I don't want to be too hard on you.

"And your anger against this--comrade. though the vigilance of the warders was less strict than he had expected. carino; it's nothing but the heat." added Lega. breathless whisper.""And you. ." he said. pray for me. as Martini had said. aren't you?""I was seventeen in October. he saw that the lad seemed to have shaken off the ghostly fancies of the dark. Do you see? You are the light of my eyes and the desire of my heart. aren't you?""I was seventeen in October. Burton placed a chair for his wife and sat down. and drink some water; you are excited. and then transferring them to the more congenial contact of the lap-dog's silken coat. so utterly alone among all those wooden people.