And when he had reached the platform
at the top, Paolina, more used to such climbing than he, and who in
truth had felt no alarm whatever, followed him with a lighter step.
"Yes, this will do nicely, Padre mio!" she said, when she had
reached the top; "it is placed just where it should be, and this
large window gives just all the light I want. It is a much better
light than I had to work by in San Vitale."
"I never was in San Vitale," replied the monk. "I have been here
fourteen years next Easter, and I have never once been in Ravenna in
all that time, nor, indeed, further away from this church than just
a stroll within the edge of the Pineta."
"That is the Pineta we see from this window, of course, Padre mio.
What a lovely view of it! And how beautiful it is! Where does that
road go to, Padre? To Venice?"
"No, figliuola mia. It goes in exactly the opposite direction,
southwards, to Cervia. The Venice road lies away to the northward,
through the wood that you can see on the furthest horizon. It was by
that road I came to Ravenna. I shall never travel it again."
"From Venice, father? Did you come from Venice?" asked Paolina,
eagerly.
"From La bella Venezia I came, daughter--fourteen years ago. And
once in every month I indulge myself by going to the top of our
tower--you can't see it from this window, it is on the northern side
of the church--and looking out over the north Pineta as far as I can
see towards it.
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