65

VII.--GATHERING POPPIES 87

VIII.--THE PULSE OF THE SEA 109

IX.--BY-WAYS OF VENICE 129

X.--A BENEDICTION 145

XI.--AT TORCELLO 163

XII.--A PROMOTION 179

XIII.--ILLUMINATIONS 197

XIV.--A SUMMER'S DAY 219

XV.--JUNE ROSES 239

XVI.--A SURRENDER 253

XVII.--THE SERENATA 269

XVIII.--SEARCH-LIGHTS 285

XIX.--"DECUS ET PRAESIDIUM" 301

Illustrations

PAGE

"MAY WATCHED THE YACHT UNTIL IT DISAPPEARED FROM SIGHT" _Frontispiece_

"BETWEEN FROWNING WALLS AND LOW-ARCHED BRIDGES" 4

"TIME-WORN PALACES, AND THE DARKLY DOUBTFUL WATER AT THEIR
BASE" 6

"ON A STONE BRIDGE, LEANING AGAINST THE IRON RAILING, STOOD A
WOMAN IN A SULPHUR SHAWL" 8

"THEY WERE PASSING THE CHARMING LITTLE GOTHIC PALACE KNOWN AS
THE HOUSE OF DESDEMONA" 14

"THEY HAD MOUNTED TO THE HIGH GALLERY THAT SPANS THE SPACE
BETWEEN PILLAR AND PILLAR" 50

"THE GONDOLA IS THE CENTRE OF EVERYTHING; IT IS VENICE AND A
LIVING CREATURE BESIDES" 72

"NOW AND THEN THEY STOPPED AT SOME DOORWAY OPENING UPON THE
WATER, WHERE THEY LANDED" 138

"A COURTYARD EMBELLISHED BY AN EXQUISITE OLD STONE STAIRCASE" 140

"THE MADONNAS, UNDER THEIR IRON CANOPIES, LOOKED DOWN, SERENE
AND BENEFICENT" 142

"WHERE THE LOVELIEST OF ALL THE PARASOL MADONNAS KEEPS GUARD
OVER THE STILL LAGOON" 166

"THE MORNING WAS TRULY VENETIAN, SOFT AND FAIR AS A DREAM" 170

"UNDER THE BEAUTIFUL COLONNADE OF THE CATHEDRAL" 172

"MAY WATCHED THE WATER-LOGGED CRAFT AS IT VANISHED UNDER A
DISTANT BRID