It was an unheard-of thing
that two should visit the city at the same time--there had only been
three in the whole year--so Halcyone, when she heard the whizz next
morning, bounded from her bed and rushed to peep between the green
shutters. Some instinct told her that the noise indicated it was he--her
dear lover--about to start, and she had the happiness of gazing down
upon his upturned face unperceived, as his eyes searched the windows,
perhaps in some vague hope of being able to discern which was hers.
And she showered upon him blessings of love and tenderness, and called
all the currents of good from the sky and the air, to comfort and
protect him and give him strength to go back and keep his word. And,
just as he was starting, a white pigeon flew down and circled round John
Derringham's head--and he was conscious that at the same moment the sun
must have risen above the horizon, for it suddenly gilded the highest
towers. And he passed out of the dark gate into its glory, and took the
Siena road, a mighty purpose of strength in his heart.
After a few days of wandering, during which he strove not to let grief
or depression master him again, he sent a telegram to Venice to Cecilia
Cricklander.
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