For instance, the next time we exchange pleasant greetings will be in Italy." I suppose I looked surprised; I certainly felt so, for nothing was further from my thoughts than a visit to Italy.
Heliobas smiled, and said in a tone that was almost gay: "Shall I draw the picture for you?
I see a fair city, deep embowered in hills and sheltered by olive-groves.

Over it beams a broad sky, deeply blue; many soft bells caress the summer air.

Away in the Cascine Woods a gay party of people are seated on the velvety moss; they have mandolins, and they sing for pure gaiety of heart.

One of them, a woman with fair hair, arrayed in white, with a red rose at her bosom, is gathering the wild flowers that bloom around her, and weaving them into posies for her companions.

A stranger, pacing slowly, book in hand, through the shady avenue, sees her--her eyes meet his.