time more of this strange ." 

" I dare not linger upon it," answered Donatello, with 
an expression that reminded the sculptor of the gloomiest 
days of his  at Monte Beni. "I dare to be so 
happy as you have seen me, only because I have felt the 
time to be so brief." 

 One day, then ! " pleaded Miriam. " One more day in 
the wild freedom of this sweet-scented air." 

" Well, one more day," said Donatello, smiling ; and 
his smile touched Kenyon with a  beyond words, 
there being gayety and  both melted into it ; " but 
here is Hilda's friend, and our own.  him, at 
least, and set his  at rest, since you have it partly in 
your power." 

" Ah, surely he might endure his  a little longer ! '* 
cried Miriam, turning to Kenyon with a tricksy, fitful 
kind of , that served to hide some solemn necessity, 
too sad and serious to be looked at in its naked aspect. 
" You wordnetdesire us both, I think, and will be content to suffer 
for our sakes, one other day. Do I ask too much ? " 

" Tell me of Hilda," replied the sculptor ; " tell me only 
that she is