Page:In a winter city, by Ouida.djvu/387



later Paolo della Rocca led his wife through what had once been his mother's chambers at Palestrina, and which were now prepared for her, with all their wide windows unclosed and looking out to the rose and golden afternoon glories of the bright south-west.

In the little oratory, which opened out of the bed-chamber, there was hung an altar picture; it was the picture of San Cipriano il Mago.

"Take it as my marriage gift," he murmured to her. "You threw away your magic wand and renounced the world for me,—oh, my love, my love! God grant you the Saints' reward!"