Only a dog. Other people said this afterwards, but not one of those who
stood by the river, looking sadly where he had been carried away. Only
a dog, indeed, and yet without his aid three of their number might never
have been given back to those who loved them. Down Phillis's face the
tears were raining.
"Is it hopeless?" she said.
"Quite hopeless," Jack replied in a dull and shaken voice. "I would
give--well it's no use talking about what I would give--"
And then they turned away. It was indeed necessary that the two men, in
their chilled and dripping state, should get home as quickly as
possible. And what of the little waif whose rescue had cost them so
much? Phillis stooped down, and lifted her from the cradle which had
been an ark, and in which she was sleeping as soundly as on her mother's
breast.
"I will carry her," said the girl with a sob.
As they walked--silent and moved with many feelings--along the bank
which would lead them back to the road, the sinking sun, which had been
hidden for many days, broke out from behind a drifting mass of clouds,
and flooded the whole scene with a sudden golden glory. The angry and
turbid waters were transfigured by its radiance; here and there where
they had spread themselves in desolating tracts, all the brilliance of
the heavens seemed to be given back; and Rome herself, unmoved by the
violence of the flood, lay in dark imperial purples against the western
sky. They all looked silently and hurried on.
When they reached the road, other people had collected who stared in
amazement at the strange figures, at the rescued baby. More than one
had seen the cradle carried down under the bridge, but had never thought
of possible deliverance. Now there were willing feet enough to start
off after the cradle, to run in the opposite direction in order to get
tidings of what little farm had been swept away. And fortunately one or
two carriages had driven out from Rome, the owners of which almost
contested the honour of taking the little party back. It was a strange
drive. Joy and sorrow at times are almost inextricably interwoven.
Phillis, with the baby's dark and curly head pressed tightly against
her, sat and looked at Jack, who was, indeed, given back to her from the
dead, and all over the broken clouds golden lights were radiating, and
flashing down upon a watery world. The little pools in the road
reflected some of the brightness, the roofs were shining, the rain drops
gleamed on the trees, it was like enchantment, so suddenly had all this
opal light grown out of the gloom. And yet, not so far away, a mother
was running wildly by the river, crying out for her lost baby; and, far
down, men, with long poles trying to snatch some of his spoil from
Tiber, touched a black and floating object, and let it go with a
push--"only a dog," was what they said, "and dead."
Two nights afterwards some of those who had been dining at the
table-d'hote went out into the Piazza di Spagna. There was an eclipse,
or something which gave them the excuse for coming into the solemn and
wonderful darkness, lit by tremulous stars, and musical with the
constant cool splash of the fountain. Carriages were flying backwards
and forwards, people lounging about, but they did not interfere much
with the beauty or the quiet. The group of friends broke into little
knots, two stood a little way up the Spanish steps, and leaned against
the parapet One of them, a man, was saying:--
"Do not be afraid. These disappointments may sadden, but they do not
wreck our lives. You have given me memories to cherish for ever,
although this is a good-bye we are saying; yes, good-bye, and God bless
you, my dear. Susan and I are going off to-morrow; there is south Italy
to see, it would never do for us, you know, to go home and to have
nothing to report of Vesuvius and Pompeii."
She was crying softly, she felt the kind pressure of his hand, she did
not know that he had moved away because another figure was running up
the steps. "Phillis!" said Jack in a low voice.
And then she turned and laid her head upon his shoulder.
"Oh, it is hard, hard!" she said. "Jack, must there always be pain with
one's deepest happiness!"
He did not quite understand, but perhaps he guessed enough, and he was
very gentle with her. For indeed it seemed as if the joy of their life
had come to them through death and sorrow of heart. Is it not so often?
Will it not be so to the very end?
Presently he began to talk about the baby; the mother had been found the
very day of the flood, and had walked and run all the way into Rome,
almost mad with the bliss of the tidings. And Jack had been out to the
spot where the little farm had stood, and had seen all the desolation
and ruin, and was going to make his thank-offering and Phillis's, take
the form of a new building. Over the door there would be carved the
figure of a dog, with a date.
Before this was done there were two weddings in Rome. Bice and young
Count Moroni were married first, and two or three days after, Phillis
Grey and John Ibbetson. It was one of those bright Easter days when
Rome breaks into delicious harmonies of spring; when the banksia roses
fling themselves over the walls like foam, and delicate plants spring
out of the mighty brickwork, and the sky is one unbroken depth of blue,
and the sun shines on the fountain of Trevi, on the falling waters which
came rushing out, on the pigeons which fly backwards and forwards, and
perch themselves on Neptune's head. The wedding was very quiet.
Scarcely half a dozen people were in the Church, and in an hour or two
Jack and Phillis were to start for Florence on their way to Venice. But
before this Phillis had a wish which naturally was to be gratified.
They must drive to the Ponte Molle and see the spot where Cartouche had
died for his master.
On their way Jack put into her hands a letter from his uncle, written
with some triumph, but little cordiality.
"Oliver Trent!" repeated Phillis, as she came to a sentence with his
name.
"Oliver Thornton, perhaps, one of these days," said Jack, folding the
letter and putting it back in his pocket. "Who knows? I'm sure I
don't. But if so, I hope Hetherton will disagree with him."