This page has been validated.

130

world of light. Above all things, I must see to it that he does not wound himself or have the least feather broken.


It is far past midnight now, and I have not slept or wished for slumber.

Constantly since darkness came on I have been watching Georgiana’s window for the light of her candle, but there has been no kindly glimmer yet. The only radiance shed upon the gloom outside comes from the heavens. Great cage-shaped white clouds are swung up to the firmament, and within these pale, gentle, imprisoned lightnings flutter feebly to escape, fall back, rise, and try again and again, and fail.

A little after dark this evening I carried the red-bird over to Georgiana. …

I have seen her so little of late that I did not know she had been away from home for days. But she expected to-night, or, at