the light reflected from the snow without was clear as the light of dawn. It fell through the arches full upon the two pictures above, from which the boy on his entrance had flung back the veil: the Elevation and the Descent of the Cross were for one instant visible as by day.
Nello rose to his feet and stretched his arms to them: the tears of a passionate ecstasy glistened on the paleness of his face.
"I have seen them at last!" he cried aloud. "O God, it is enough!"
His limbs failed under him, and he sank upon his knees, still gazing upward at the majesty that he adored. For a few brief moments the light illumined the divine visions that had been denied to him so long—light, clear, and sweet and strong as though it streamed from the throne of Heaven.
Then suddenly it passed away: once more a great darkness covered the face of Christ.
The arms of the boy drew close again the body of the dog.
"We shall see His face—there," he murmured; "and He will not part us, I think; He will have mercy."
IV.
On the morrow, by the chancel of the cathedral, the people of Antwerp found them both. They
