She looked and saw herself as another person, acting a part only half known and half understood.

But gradually her own individual soul entered into the figure of her imagination; her eager heart beat fast; she breathed and moved and acted in the future.

She was descending the dark steps alone, listening with supernatural sense of sound for her lover's tread without.

It came; the door opened, and she was in his arms,--in those strong arms that could protect her from insult and tyranny and cruel wooing; out in the night, on the road, in Rome, married, free, and made blessed for ever.

On a sudden the artificial imagery of her labouring brain fell away, and the thought crossed her mind that henceforth she must be an orphan.