The Argosy — page 81: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

66 The Oleander. Easter came, fragrant with big blue violets and white narcissus ; all the Campagna was thick strewn with purple and white anemones, the air was sweet with Spring’s pungent perfume, and the earth re- joiced in the swift approach of summer. Lady Paragon and Camilla Camoys were busy planning their speedy exodus from the City of Seven Hills. They rejoiced openly at leaving Rome for a common-place German spa, and talked of miasma and Roman fever in the same breath as they chattered about the tables at Monte Carlo, and the eloquence of Monsignor Howard. Diana joined rarely in their conversation ; she had grown very quiet and reserved of late, and her eyes had a strange, far-away expression, as of one in eager search, yet never finding that for which they looked. That year Easter fell on the last day of March, and Lady Paragon and her party were to leave on the Thursday following, thus securing the solemnities at St. Peter’s on Sunday, and a grand ball at the Embassy on Wednesday. Of course Diana was to go to both ; I was at liberty to share the carriage, black veils and reserved seats that the cardinals’ complaisance placed at Camilla’s disposal; but I preferred to go alone, and find a place for myself among the con- tadini who filled the grand nave, and held up their brown, dark-eyed bambini for the blessing of the Pope as he was carried far above their heads. As I thus knelt a little apart from the crowd, my wandering atten- tion was attracted by a woman, dressed plainly in black, with a large bonnet and veil. Something in her movements and appearance seemed familiar to me. I could not see her face, but without know- ing why I became vaguely alarmed. When she arose from her knees and turned towards the entrance I followed her, but owing to the press of people was unable to come up with her. As she reached the door she turned, and at that moment the heavy leather curtain was ‘lifted from without, and like a silhouette against the clear vivid sunshine that poured in, I saw the face of Millicent Denman. I cried out and started forward, but the silver trumpets rang out, like angel voices, the crowd fell upon their knees, there were moments of utter silence, and then, when I turned again, she was gone. I told Lady Paragon on my return, but she was blandly incredu- lous, and Lady Diana laughed in my face, ‘““ My dear Theresa, where would Millicent Denman get the money to come to Italy! ‘And why should she hide herself if she had come ?” All the same, my opinion was not changed ; it certainly was Milli- cent Denman’s face I had seen in St Peter’s. Then came the ball, for which Diana daparted more beautiful than I had ever seen her, but at a comparatively early hour she returned, She came into my room to explain ; she was very tired, and we were to make an early start next day; the Marchesa:d’Albino was return- Gomicbooks (E(©)