The driver gathered up his horses and they clattered deafeningly over the last open stretch and turned into a smooth wide prospect.
“Oh bliss, wood-paving,” murmured Miriam.
A mass of smoke-greyed, sharply steepled stone building appeared on the right. Her eyes rested on its soft shadows.
On the left a tall grey church was coming towards them, spindling up into the sky. It sailed by, showing Miriam a circle of little stone pillars built into its spire. Plumy trees streamed by, standing large and separate on moss-green grass railed from the roadway. Bright white-faced houses with pillared porches shone through from behind them and blazed white above them against the blue sky. Wide side streets opened showing high balconied houses. The side streets were feathered with trees and ended mistily.
Away ahead were edges of clean bright masonry in profile, soft tufted heads of trees, bright green in the clear light. At the end of the vista the air was like pure saffron-tinted mother-of-pearl.
Miriam sat back and drew a deep breath.
9
“Well, chickie?”
“What’s the matter?”
“Why, you’ve been very funny!”