Page:In Maremma, by Ouida (vol 3).djvu/123

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
IN MAREMMA.
115

come to life again. She had descended into the grave of the deep waters, and been delivered by the hand that she loved.

Her heart swelled with emotion and was thankful as she looked through the sunlight on the sea which had been thus merciful.

How the black wall of water had risen and towered above her! how the foam of it had hissed, and boiled, and seethed! How impenetrable had been the cruel starless skies! how deep and how hoarse the thunder of the storm!

She remembered it, and recalled it with a thrill of awful pleasure, as a child that has been lost, lying safely in his little bed at home, will recall the terrors of the unknown roads and unknown faces that scared him on his way.

Absorbed in those memories, she did not hear a boat approach through the water and ground on the sand, as that of Sanctis had done in the winter noon.

Before she had heard any sound about her, Daniello Villamagna had come beside her.

It was seven months since she had left him standing by the sea-wall by the salt lagoon of Orbetello. Since then he had