The idea of a lifelong penance has taken strong possession of Donatello.

He gropes blindly about him for some method of sharp self-torture, and finds, of course, no other so efficacious as this." "But he loves me," repeated Miriam, in a low voice, to herself.

"Yes; he loves me!" It was strange to observe the womanly softness that came over her, as she admitted that comfort into her bosom.

The cold, unnatural indifference of her manner, a kind of frozen passionateness which had shocked and chilled the sculptor, disappeared.

She blushed, and turned away her eyes, knowing that there was more surprise and joy in their dewy glances than any man save one ought to detect there.
"In other respects," she inquired at length, "is he much changed ?" "A wonderful process is going forward in Donatello's mind," answered the sculptor.