There was a little silence.
"The mountain flowers are so beautiful," continued the English girl; "and the mountains themselves are so near to heaven."
"Would you like to climb up there, Miss Temple?"
"Yes, Signor; even where there are no flowers, even where there are only rocks and eternal snows," she added mysteriously, with lowered eyes.
That white, cold, pure vision remained in her beautiful eyes when she took leave of Lucio Sabini and disappeared with her friend into the hall of the Hôtel Kulm. Alone, in the dark evening, he was surrounded by the cold wind, and all his soul was invaded by an unknown, inexplicable, and mortal sadness.
CHAPTER V
"May I come in, mamma?" asked the fresh, sonorous voice of Mabel Clarke at the closed door.
"Come in, dearie," replied the soft and expressionless voice of her mother from within.
Mabel entered and with her eyes sought her mother in the spacious room.