y exactly resembled the other. Rising
early, the youth was in his studio at dawn; the faithful Billy, seated
near, read for him while he worked. Watching, with a tact that only
affection ever bestows, each changeful mood of the youth's mind, Traynor
varied the topics with the varying humors of the other, and thus little
of actual conversation took place between them, though their minds
journeyed along together. To eke out subsistence, even humble as theirs,
the young sculptor was obliged to make small busts and figures for sale,
and Billy disposed of them at Lucca and Pisa, making short excursions to
these cities as need required.

The toil of the day over, they wandered out towards the seashore, taking
the path which led through the olive road by the garden of the villa. At
times the youth would steal away a moment from his companion, and
enter the little park, with every avenue of which he was familiar;
and although Billy noticed his absence, he strictly abstained from the
slightest allusion to it. As he delayed longer and longer to return,
Traynor maintained the same reserve, and thus there grew up gradually a
secret between them,--a mystery that neither ventured to approach. With
a delicacy that seemed an instinct in his humble nature, Billy would now
and then feign occupation or fatigue to excuse himself from the evening
stroll, and thus leave the youth free to wander as he wished; till at
length it became a settled habit between them to separate at nightfall,
to meet only on the morrow. These nights were spent in walking the
garden around the villa, lingering stealthily amid the trees to watch
the room where she was sitting, to catch a momentary glimpse of her
figure as it passed the window, to hear perchance a few faint accents of
her voice. Hours long would he so watch in the silent night, his whole
soul steeped in a delicious dream wherein her image moved, and came and
went, with every passing fancy. In the calm moonlight he would try to
trace her footsteps in the gravel walk that led to the studio, and,
lingering near them, whisper to her words of love.

One night, as he loitered thus, he thought he was perceived, for as
he suddenly emerged from a dark alley into a broad space where the
moonlight fell strongly, he saw a figure on a terrace above him,
but without being able to recognize to whom it belonged. Timidly and
fearfully he retired within the shade, and crept noiselessly away,
shocked at the very thoug