'Delfina seems to be happy. She has already explored the greater part of
the grounds, as far as the sea, and has run down all the flights of
steps. She came to tell me about all the wonderful things she had
seen--panting, swallowing half the words, her eyes looking almost
dazzled. She spoke continually of her new friend Muriella--a pretty name
that sounds still prettier from her lips.
'She is fast asleep. When her eyes are closed, her lashes cast a long,
long shadow on her cheeks. Francesca's cousin was struck by their length
this evening and quoted a beautiful line from Shakespeare's Tempest on
Miranda's eyelashes.
'The scent of the flowers is too strong in this room. Delfina was
anxious to keep the bouquet of roses by her bedside, but now that she is
asleep I shall take them away and put them out into the loggia in the
fresh air.
'I am tired, and yet I have written four pages; I am sleepy, and yet I
would gladly prolong this languor of soul, lulled by I know not what
unwonted sense of tenderness diffused around me. It is so long--so
long--since I have felt myself surrounded by a little kindness!
'I have just carried the vase of roses into the loggia and stayed there
a few moments to listen to the voices of the night, moved by the regret
of losing in the blindness of sleep the hours that pass under so
beautiful a sky.
Pages:
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197