Page 202 of 1118

Then was heard in the village the busy hum of the evening, which

precedes the solemn stillness of the night; then were seen women

returning from their daily labour, with their infants on their

backs, and leading by the hand the older children, to whom they

were repeating the evening prayers; men with their spades, and

other instruments of culture, thrown over their shoulders. At the

opening of the cottage doors, was discerned the bright light of

the fires, kindled in order to prepare their meagre suppers; in

the street there were salutations given and returned, brief and

mournful observations on the poverty of the harvest, and the

scarcity of the year; and at intervals was heard the measured

strokes of the bell which announced the departure of the day.

When Renzo saw that the two men no longer followed him, he

continued his way, giving instructions, in a low voice, from time

to time, to his two companions. It was dark night when they

arrived at the cottage of Lucy.