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Rh She felt that she dared not give way to human emotion in the still and solemn presence of the dead. She trembled to disturb the beautiful composure—as if it could be disturbed!

It is wonderful how, for the day or two after death, all that was lovely in life comes back to the face; the pure marble whiteness of the skin, the closed eyes, the features in such deep stillness, like those of a statue wrought in the highest ideal of art, but with that impressed upon them which was never yet the work of mortal hand. Guido's regular and classic features suited well with this state of entire repose. The calm and sweet serenity belonged to their nature. It was as if the countenance were for a brief while allowed to wear the likeness of the peaceful and spiritual world whither the soul had departed.

Francesca remained watching him with an inexpressible feeling of consolation. He brought to her mind those glorious works of art which they had witnessed together. His dream of their grace and noble beauty was realised in himself; and yet there was something too sad and too tender for marble. The cheek and lip were white, and the hair showed the only vestige of colour—the hair, which retains its gloss and flexibility to the last, when all else is faded and rigid—how much of