" , I had thrown up my plans and ambitions, thrown up all I had ever worked for or desired, for her sake I master man away there north, with influence and property and great reputation, but none of it had seemed worth having beside her I had come place, this city of sunny pleasures, with her, and left all those things to wreck and ruin just to save remnant life While I in love with her before that she had any care , before I had imagined that dare--that dare--all my life had seemed vain and hollow, dust and ashes dust and ashes Night after night, and long days I had longed and desired--my soul had beaten against the thing forbidden !

"But impossible man another just these things It's emotion, it's tint, light that comes and goes Only while it's there, everything changes, everything The thing is away and left them in their crisis what "

"Left whom ? " I asked, puzzled

"The people up north there -- dream, anyhow--I big man, the sort of man men come to trust in, to group themselves about Millions of men who had never seen me were ready things and risk things because confidence in me I playing that game for years, that big laborious game, that vague, monstrous political game amidst intrigues and betrayals, speech and agitation vast weltering world, and at last I had sort of leadership against the Gang-- called the Gang--a sort of compromise of scoundrelly projects and base ambitions and vast public emotional stupidities and catch-words--the Gang that kept the world noisy and blind year by year, and all the while drifting, drifting towards infinite disaster But 't expect you to understand the shades and complications year--the year something or other ahead I had it all--down smallest details--in my dream I suppose I dreaming of it before I awoke, fading outline of some queer new development I had imagined still hung about me as I rubbed my eyes some grubby affair that made me thank God sunlight I sat up couch and remained looking woman, and rejoicing--rejoicing that I had come away out of all that tumult and folly and violence before too late After all, , life--love and beauty, desire and delight, are they not worth all those dismal struggles for vague, gigantic ends ? And I blamed myself for having ever sought leader when given my days to love But then, thought I, if I spent my early days sternly and austerely, wasted myself upon vain and worthless women, and thought all my being went out in love and tenderness to my dear mistress, my dear lady, who had come at last and compelled me--compelled me by her invincible charm --to lay that life aside

"' worth it,' , speaking without intending her to hear; ' worth it, my dearest one; worth pride and praise and all things Love ! is worth them all together ' And murmur voice she turned about

"'Come ,' she cried-- hear her now--come the sunrise upon Monte Solaro '

"I remember how I sprang to my feet and joined her balcony She put white hand upon my shoulder and pointed towards great masses of limestone flushing, as it were, into life I looked But first I noted the sunlight on her face caressing the lines of her cheeks and neck How can I describe the scene we had ? We were at Capri----"

" there," " clambered up Monte Solaro and drunk _vero Capri_--muddy stuff like cider-- summit "

"Ah ! " said the man white face; "then perhaps tell me-- know if indeed Capri For life never been there Let me describe it We were in little room, one of vast multitude of little rooms, very cool and sunny, hollowed limestone of sort of cape, very high above the sea The whole island, , was one enormous hotel, complex beyond explaining, and other side there were miles of floating hotels, and huge floating stages flying machines came They called it Pleasure City , none in your time--rather, say, _is none now Now ! --yes

"Well, this room of ours was extremity cape, one east and west Eastward was great cliff--a thousand feet high perhaps, coldly grey except bright edge of gold, and beyond it the Isle Sirens, and falling coast that faded and passed hot sunrise And when one turned west, distinct and near was little bay, little beach still in shadow And out shadow rose Solaro, straight and tall, flushed and golden-crested, like beauty throned, white moon was floating behind her sky And from east to west stretched the many-tinted sea all dotted with little sailing-boats

" eastward, , these little boats were gray and very minute and clear, but westward they were little boats of gold--shining gold--almost like little flames And just below us was rock with an arch worn through it The blue sea-water broke to green and foam all round the rock, and galley came gliding arch "

" that rock," " nearly drowned there called the Faraglioni "

"_Faraglioni ? Yes, she called it that," answered the man white face " some story--but that----"

He put his hand forehead again "No," , "I forget that story

"Well, first thing I remember, the first dream I had, that little shaded room beautiful air and sky dear lady , with her shining arms and her graceful robe, and how we sat and talked in half whispers to one another We talked in whispers, not because to hear, but because still such freshness of mind thoughts were little frightened, , themselves at last in words And so they went softly

"Presently we were hungry, and we went apartment, going by strange passage with moving floor, until we came great breakfast-room-- fountain and music pleasant and joyful place , with its sunlight and splashing, murmur of plucked strings And we sat and ate and smiled at one another, and heed man who was watching me from table near by

"And afterwards we went on dancing-hall But describe that hall The place was enormous, larger than any building ever seen--and in one place the old gate of Capri, caught wall of gallery high overhead Light girders, stems and threads of gold, burst pillars like fountains, streamed like an Aurora across the roof and interlaced, like--like conjuring tricks All great circle dancers there were beautiful figures, strange dragons, and intricate and wonderful grotesques bearing lights The place was inundated with artificial light that shamed the newborn day And went throng the people turned about and looked at us, for all world my name and face were known, and how I had suddenly thrown up pride, and struggle place looked also lady beside me, though half the story of how at last she had come was unknown or mistold And few men who were there, , but judged me happy man, of all the shame and dishonour that had come upon my name

"The air was full of music, full of harmonious scents, full rhythm of beautiful motions Thousands of beautiful people swarmed hall, crowded the galleries, sat in myriad recesses; they were dressed in splendid colours and crowned with flowers; thousands danced great circle beneath the white images ancient gods, and glorious processions of youths and maidens came and went We two danced, not the dreary monotonies of your days--of , I mean--but dances that were beautiful, intoxicating And even now my lady dancing--dancing joyously She danced, , with serious face; she danced with serious dignity, and yet she was smiling at me and caressing me--smiling and caressing with her eyes

"The music was different," he murmured "It went-- describe it; but infinitely richer and more varied than any music that has ever come awake

"And then-- when we had done dancing--a man came lean, resolute man, very soberly clad place, and already I had marked his face watching me breakfasting hall, and afterwards went along the passage I had avoided his eye But now, sat in little alcove smiling pleasure of all the people who went to and fro across the shining floor, and touched me, and spoke forced to listen And he asked that he might speak for little time apart

"'No,' ' no secrets lady What me ? '

" trivial matter, or dry matter, for lady to hear

"'Perhaps to hear,' said I