s sent up! They jumped to their feet, as if possessed, and one of
them tossed his cup through the lattice work and vines overhead.

When George got down again, young and old surrounded him, a few of them
embraced him, and then the whole gay company began to sing. Later the
duchess saw her son whirling madly in the dance with a girl dressed in
many colours, who, though beautiful, was undoubtedly only the daughter
of a swineherd, for she was barefoot, and kiss her red lips--which
indeed no Greylock ought to have done, yet his mother did not begrudge
him the amusement.

It looked as if that were happiness, but true happiness it could not be,
for such was not granted to a child born to misfortune. Yet what else
could it be? At any rate, he had the appearance of being the most
blessed of mortals.

He was in Italy; of that she became more and more assured, and yet none
of her messengers could find him. A year later, however, her son began
to busy himself with matters that would certainly give some clue to her
more recent envoys.

George had left his poverty-stricken room and dwelt now in a handsome
vaulted chamber. Each day dressed in a fine robe and with a roll of
parchment in his hand, he superintended a great number of builders.
Often she saw him standing on such high scaffolding that he seemed to
be perched between heaven and earth, and she would be overcome by
giddiness, though he seemed proof against it.

Once in a while a tall princely-looking man, with a beautiful young
woman and a train of courtiers and servants, came to inspect the
building. George would be sent for to show the gentleman and the young
woman, who seemed to be his daughter, the plans, and they had long
conversations together. At these interviews George was not at all
servile; and his gestures were so manly and graceful, his eyes shone so
frankly, yet so sweetly and modestly, that his mother yearned to draw
him to her heart and kiss him; but that, alas! could not be, and little
by little it dawned upon her that he longed for other lips than hers,
for the glances that he bestowed upon the maiden bespoke his admiration,
which, the duchess noticed, did not seem to displease her.

Once, during an interview with George, she dropped a rose, and when he
picked it up, she must have allowed him to keep it, for she gave no sign
of disapproval when he kissed it and hid it inside the breast of his
doublet. The large architectural drawing had screened this li