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ARIADNE. 39doubt he would return soon for the winter; theycould not tell where he was;no, there was noone in the house exceptdomestics. That was allhe said, or would say, being trained to silenceno doubt.Iturned away, and went into the busierstreets, Pales clinging close to me, for the blitheand busygaiety, and the crowds, and the glitter,and theinnumerable lamps,made these streets sostrangely bewildering after the dusky moonlitways of Rome, with their vast flights of stairs,and their great deserted courts, and their melodyof murmuring waters, and then- white gleam ofcolossalmarbles or gigantic domes.The city was all in the height of a fine frostywinter-night's merriment, and, what seemed tomeafter suchlong absence incredible,multitudes,aU light-hearted and light-footed, were pouringdown the streets, going to theatres or cafes orother places of diversion, with the Hghts allsparkling aU amongst their trees, and the windowsof then- shops, and frontages of their buildingsaU gay with colour and ornament andinvitation to amusement.