“I know who you mean,” said Ruth. “Marmie read us about her and Tito last summer in the long evenings, and once Marmie was in Florence too, and she says that some day when we’re big we shall go to Italy.”
“Well, I’m going to take you there now, only it’s a far-back Italy, for you’ll remember that we must visit the fifteenth century as well as Florence if we want to find Romola.”
“Yes. What fun that will be! How good you are to us, dear fairy. You’re sure it doesn’t tire you to take us so far?”
The fairy laughed; and her laugh was as wonderful as sunlight on water. “You forget that all I have to do is to take you through the Magic Gate,” she explained. “So give me your hands and we’ll be off.”
Just as Rose was thinking that the fairy’s hand, in spite of being so small, felt very firm and strong, and Ruth that it was softer than the inside of a tulip-petal, the journey was over, and the girls opened their eyes to find themselves standing before a sombre stone building pierced with small windows, and none too many of these. A huge door faced them, hung on large ornamental hinges, and just as they blinked in the sudden astonishment of the scene, these doors swung slowly open, showing a stone inner court. A young girl stood within the open doors.
Though she was younger than when Rose and Ruth had met her before, in the book, there was no mistaking her, with her marvellous red-gold hair, rippling like tiny waves flooded with the sunset, and falling far down below her shoulders. Tall and slight, clad in a straight-hanging black gown square at the throat, she looked pale and shining, almost as though there were a light within her.
“Romola!” exclaimed both the girls together.
“Oh, this is good,” the girl answered, coming forward with a smile and outstretched hands. “Will you come up first and see my father, and then go with me on an errand I must do that will take me on the other bank of the Arno?”
“That will be great,” said Rose. “How is your father, Romola?”
Romola shook her head sadly. “The blind are blind,” she replied. “But come.”