They stay a long time in the sun-kissed garden, considering that there
is after all not very much to see there. But Elizabeth's light steps,
that to-day seem set to some innocent dancing-tune, are loath to leave
it; she must smell the great new peonies, monthly-rose-coloured, faintly
perfumed; she must steal a sprig of rosemary "to put into her coffin
when she dies," at which he catches his breath, shuddering; she must
peep into the well. He insists on her holding his hand for safety as she
leans over to do so; her little fingers grip his tight as she cranes her
neck and bends her lissom body. But what a small handful they are,
compared to those other fingers--those kind, useful, but undoubtedly
solid fingers--which he has held perfunctorily through many a
matter-of-fact hour. By-and-by they stray away together out of the
bounteous air of the hilltop into a semi-underground church, to see the
fifteenth and sixteenth century monuments, which look as fresh as if
their marble had left its home in Carrara but yesterday. They stand
looking down at those three kin who lie side by side before the high
altar, each with head dropped a little sideways on the shoulder, as if
overcome by sudden sleep. They step on into the side chapel, where that
yet nobler mitred figure, fashioned by Donatello's hand, stretches his
prone length above his border of fruit and flowers, among which lies a
carved skull, through whose empty eye-holes--strange and grisly fancy
contrasting with so much beauty--a mocking ribbon runs. Elizabeth is
perfectly silent the whole time, but no flood of talk could make Jim
half so conscious of her presence, palpitating with sympathy and
feeling, could give half the confidence he enjoys that she will
introduce no allusion to either Kensal Green or Woking, as it is but too
probable that the excellent companion of most of his Florentine rambles
would have done.
Elizabeth has been perfectly silent, yet at last she speaks. It is in
the Chapter House, where, as most of us have done, they have suddenly
come upon another tomb, the tomb of one lying full-length on the
pavement before the altar, with no separating edge of marble or
wrought-iron railing to keep him from the foot of the passer-by. He lies
there, portrayed with such an extraordinary vividness of life about his
prostrate figure and his severe, powerful face, that one feels inclined
to speak low, lest he should lift his white lids and look rebuke at us.
In the lines about his mouth there is a hint of sardonic mirth. Is
he--hearing our foolish chatter--touched with a grave contemptuous
amusement at it? Or is he keeping in his sleep the memory of some four
hundred years old jest? Elizabeth has involuntarily crept close to
Burgoyne's side, with the gesture of a frightened child.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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