Page:Idalia, by 'Ouida' volume 2.djvu/297



the first break of the dawn, freed by his Umbrian friend, he went back to bis work on the waters; the cool long hours were precious for labour, and he desired so to gratify and serve them, that the Brethren should be loth to lose his services. He was thankful that he was given liberty at all with the sunrise. When the bolt of his cell had been drawn, a horror of dread had stolen on him that his errand was suspected, and that he was trapped, like a fox in a keeper's gins.

The morning was balmy, clear, and beautiful; even the naked wastes and smoking marshes looked brighter in its light, and he went forth with the scythe, and the nets, and the lines across his shoulder, and the hound following close in his path. He had strapped his gold about his waist, and he brought the dog with him. The hound's eyes