"
Nina started suddenly to her feet. The place was filled with a soft,
white radiance. Faintly, as though from a distance, came the sounds of
delicious music, and a rare fragrance was in all the air. What was it?
Oh, what was it? She felt her heart beat louder and faster, and she
thought she must cry out for very pain of its throbbing. But she made
no sound, only waited and watched in breathless wonder and anticipation.
The light about her grew clearer and more lustrous; the faint strains
of melody more glorious, and the perfumed air sweeter still; and lo!
the whole place was thronged with white-winged spirits, clad all in
garments so pure and spotless that they glistered at every turn. Each
seemed to have in charge some precious treasure which she clasped
lovingly to her breast, and all were so beautiful and tender-eyed that
Nina could not be afraid. The dazzling forms flitted to and fro like
filmy clouds; and as one passed very near her, Nina stretched out her
hand to grasp her floating robe. But though she scarcely touched it,
it was enough to make the delicate fabric sag and droop as if some
strange weight had suddenly been attached to it. Its wearer paused in
her flight, and glanced down at her garment anxiously, and then for an
instant appeared to be trying to remember something. In her eyes there
grew a troubled look, but she shook her head and murmured,--
"Alas! What have I done? What can I have done? I can think of no way
in which I have let the world touch me, and yet I must have, for my
robe is weighted, and--" But here she suddenly espied Nina.
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