The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Furnace, by Rose Macaulay

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Title: The Furnace

Author: Rose Macaulay

Release Date: August 22, 2010 [eBook #33482]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)

***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FURNACE***

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THE FURNACE

by

R. MACAULAY

Author of 'Abbots Verney'

London
John Murray, Albemarle Street, W.
1907

TO THE
OTHER CITIZENS OF SANTA CATERINA,
VARAZZE,
WHO, AT PRESENT SCATTERED LABORIOUSLY OVER
THREE CONTINENTS,
INTEND, IN THE SPACIOUS DAYS OF LEISURE
THAT AGE SHALL BRING,
TO INHABIT AGAIN THE RED HOUSE BEYOND THE TOWN
AND NAVIGATE THE WHITE CANOE.

'Le metal precieux qu'on trouvera un jour au fond des cendres....'
MAURICE MAETERLINCK

CONTENTS

I. YOUTH IN THE CITY

II. THE IMPRESSION-SEEKER

III. OF MENTAL STANDPOINTS

IV. BLIND WALLS

V. BALAE'S BAY

VI. GRADONI

VII. RETROSPECT WITH THE SEARCH-LIGHT

VIII. BROKEN BARRIERS

IX. FURNACE FLAMES

X. BETTY AND TOMMY

XI. THE ETERNAL ROADS

XII. THE ROADS DIVIDE

XIII. PINE-BARK BOATS

THE FURNACE

CHAPTER I

YOUTH IN THE CITY

'Val piu aver amici in piazza
Che denari nella cassa.'

_Proverb._

Royalty was arriving in the harbour in a steam-yacht. It had, that is,
already arrived in the harbour; it was now disembarking on the pier. It
was an interesting event. An edified crowd watched it; representatives
of the Press jotted down their impressions; some took photographs. A few
drew pictures instead. The representative of the _Marchese Peppino_, an
illustrated pa