changed to cool dryness. They would get no
further along with talk on this occasion, that was clear. And to clasp
her knees, laying his head on her lap, and penetrate her in silence with
the conviction that they belonged together in a manner that turned all
the sensible things she said into folly, could not be done outside the
world of dreams and fancies. He jumped to his feet.

"I meant, you know, let's go back to Florence. I'm afraid it's high
time. We ought to have daylight at least until we get to the foot of the
mountain."

"Cross, Geraldino?"

"Not at all."

"Good friends as ever?"

"Assuredly."

"Oh, I've had such a beautiful day!" she sighed, getting up by the help
of his two hands, and brushing down her dress. "I certainly do love to
be with you!"

With the inconsequence of a woman she wanted, in order to console him
for rejecting him, to make him sure she loved him deeply nevertheless;
and so she said, turning upon him eyes of sweetest, sincerest affection,
"I certainly do love to be with you!"

* * * * *

In the carriage they were silent, like people tired out by the long day,
talked out, and certain of each other's consent to be still.

The two young fellows on the box were quiet, too. The horses now needed
no encouragement to go; the scraping of the brake gave evidence rather
of the need to hold them back. The driver's friend, named appropriately
Pilade, sat hunched with chilly sleepiness; but Angelo, the driver, was
kept visibly alert by the responsibility of making a safe descent in the
fast-failing light. Owing to the dilatoriness of the _signori_ they
had been later in starting than was prudent.

When they emerged at last from the shadow of the chestnut-trees and the
brake blessedly was released, it was accomplished evening. The dome of
the firmament spread above them so wonderful for darkly luminous
serenity that the signori behind in the carriage arranged themselves to
contemplate it comfortably, with their feet on the forward bench, their
heads propped on the back of the seat.

Thus they passed through glimmering hamlets, between high walls of
orchards, past iron gates opening into cypress avenues with dim villas
at the other end, terraces of vine-garlanded olive-trees, all of a dark
silvery blue, and did not vouchsafe a look at anything but the inverted
cup of the nocturnal sky.

Even this they did not see more than in a secondary way, for