To Rowland himself it had never seemed so radiantly sublime as at these moments; he felt almost as if he had contrived it himself and had a right to be proud of it.

He left Miss Garland a while on the steps of the choir, where she had seated herself to rest, and went to join their companions.

Mrs.
Hudson was watching a great circle of tattered contadini, who were kneeling before the image of Saint Peter.

The fashion of their tatters fascinated her; she stood gazing at them in a sort of terrified pity, and could not be induced to look at anything else.

Rowland went back to Miss Garland and sat down beside her.
"Well, what do you think of Europe ?" he asked, smiling.
"I think it 's horrible!" she said abruptly.
"Horrible ?" "I feel so strangely--I could almost cry." "How is it that you feel ?" "So sorry for the poor past, that seems to have died here, in my heart, in an hour!" "But, surely, you 're pleased--you 're interested." "I am overwhelmed.