She walked on air in these days before Easter.
The book was prospering; Manisty was more content; and as agreeable in all daily ways and offices as only the hope of good fortune can make a man.
'The Priest of Nemi'-- indeed, with several other prose poems of the same kind, had been cast out of the text; which now presented one firm and vigorous whole of social and political discussion.

But the Nemi piece was to be specially bound for Eleanor, together with some drawings that she had made of the lake and the temple site earlier in the spring.

And on the day the book was finished--somewhere within the next fortnight--there was to be a festal journey to Nemi--divine and blessed place! So she felt no fatigue, and was always ready to chatter to Lucy of the most womanish things.

Especially, as the girl's beauty grew upon her, was she anxious to carry out those plans of transforming her dress and hair,--her gowns and hats and shoes--the primness of her brown braids, which she and Miss Manisty had confided to each other.
But Lucy was shy--would not be drawn that way.

There were fewer visitors at the villa than she had expected.