Pagina 823 di 896

Though he said it with a grave smile of earnestness, and though

he even put the old man's hand to his lips, he did not part from

him then. He helped him so far to arouse the rocking figure

before the dying embers, as to get a cloak and hat put upon it,

and to tempt it forth to find where the bench and work were

hidden that it still moaningly besought to have. He walked on the

other side of it and protected it to the courtyard of the house

where the afflicted heart--so happy in the memorable time when he

had revealed his own desolate heart to it--outwatched the awful

night. He entered the courtyard and remained there for a few

moments alone, looking up at the light in the window of her room.

Before he went away, he breathed a blessing towards it, and a

Farewell.

CHAPTER XIII. Fifty-two