Page:In Maremma, by Ouida (vol 3).djvu/81



HEN she unclosed her eyes from out of the trance of death, she lay upon the stone floor of the tomb before the wood fire.

Este kneeled beside her; her hands were in his, his breath was on her cheek.

'What has happened?' she said stupidly; then suddenly remembered.

'The oil and the wine are lost!' she cried; then grew drowsy and stupid again as the warmth from the burning wood stole over her and rejoiced all her cramped and frozen body.

'What matters that?' he murmured over her. 'You are saved; you live.'

She smiled dreamily, her eyelids had dropped again, She was but half awake.