Nella came and looked too, convinced that the glass had in some way turned out more beautiful by the magic of her mistress's touch.
"It is a miracle!" cried the woman of the people. "Some saint must have made this."
The glass glowed like a gem and seemed to give out light of its own. As Zorzi and Marietta looked, its rich glow spread over their faces. It was that rare glass which, from old cathedral windows, casts such a deep stain upon the pavement that one would believe the marble itself must be dyed with unchanging color.
"We have found it together," said Marietta.
Zorzi looked from the glass to her face, close by his, and their eyes met for a moment in the strange glow and it was as if they knew each other in another world.
"Do not let the red light fall on your faces," said Nella, crossing herself. "It is too much like blood—good health to you," she added quickly for fear of evil.
Marietta lowered her hand and turned the piece of glass sideways, to see how it would look.
"What shall we do with it?" she asked. "It must not be left any longer in the crucible."
"No. It ought to be taken out at once. Such a colour must be kept for church windows. If I were able to stand, I would make most of it into cylinders and cut them while hot. There are men who can do it, in the glass-house. But the master does not want them here."
"We had better let the fires go out," said Marietta. "It will cool in the crucible as it is."