The sunlight fell upon the silver figure, and upon the dark tangled hair of the artist who remained motionless, as though absorbed in devotion, while his daughter watched him through the half-open door.
The scene was one which would have struck any one; the impression it made on Lucia was altogether extraordinary.

She easily fancied that Marzio, after his interview with Don Paolo, had felt a great and sudden revulsion of sentiment.

She knew that the priest had not left the studio many minutes before, and she saw her father apparently praying before a crucifix.

A wonderful conversion had been effected, and the result was there manifest to the girl's eyes.
She held her breath, and remained at the door, determined not to move until Marzio should have risen from his knees.

To interrupt him at such a moment would have been almost a sacrilege; it might produce the most fatal results; it would be an intrusion upon the privacy of a repentant man.