Page:Burnett - Two Little Pilgrims' Progress A Story of the City Beautiful.djvu/200

180 fountains of molten jewels sprung up and flamed and changed. The City Beautiful stood out whiter and more spirit-like than ever in the pure radiance of these garlands of clearest flame.

When first they came out upon it, Robin involuntarily pressed close to Meg, and their twin hands clasped each other.

"Oh, Meg!" cried Robin.

"Oh, Robin!" breathed Meg, and she turned to John Holt and caught his hand too.

"Oh, John Holt!" she said, "John Holt!"

Very primitive and brief exclamations of joy, but somehow human beings have uttered them just as simply in all great moments through centuries.

John Holt knew just the degree of rapturous feeling they expressed, and he held Meg's hand close and with a warm grasp.

They saw the marvellously fairy spectacle from all points and from all sides. Led by John Holt, they lost no view and no beauty. They feasted full of all the delight of it, and at last he took them to a quiet corner, where through the trees sparkled lights and dancing water, and let them talk it out.

The day had been such an incredible one, with its succession of excitements and almost unreal pleasures, that they had actually forgotten that the night must