Chapter XIII

A month later Paolo della Rocca led his wife through what had once been his mother’s chambers at Palestrina, and which were now prepared for her with all their wide windows unclosed and looking out to the golden afternoon glories of the bright southwest.

In the little oratory which opened out of the bed-chamber, there was hung an altar-picture; it was the picture of San Cipriano il Mago.

“Take it as my marriage gift,” he murmured to her. “You threw away your magic wand and renounced the world for me,—oh, my love, my love; God grant you the saint’s reward!”

She laid her hands upon his heart and leaned her cheek upon them.

“My reward is here.”

“And you will never repent?”

“Did Cyprian repent when he broke his earthly bonds and gained eternal life? Once I was blind; but now I see. The world is nothing; Love is enough.”