Their voices were low and indistinct and finally became mingled with his
dreams of the past, forming a mass of events, sights and sounds which at
first had no meaning. At last the scene changed. The officers ceased
talking, the firelight disappeared, and his dreaming fancy, which had
been struggling with these realities, was freed to take what course
it chose.
He was once more on the sands of Mariana. He saw the great white stone
house on the hill and the form of Morgianna descending toward the
seashore. He knew he had been gone for years, was conscious that their
parting had been unpleasant, and yet her appearance seemed to inspire
his heart with hope. The sun's golden rays fell upon the bright,
fairy-like being as, with a glad smile she hastened toward him.
"You have come at last," she said, with a happy smile. "I have waited so
long, oh, so long, that I feared you would never come."
"Morgianna!" he cried, starting forward and clasping her in his arms.
"Are you pleased to see me?"
"I am happy, Fernando, oh, so happy----"
Then he was partially awakened by some one throwing logs of wood on the
fire, and he had an indistinct impression of hearing a soldier say:
"It's four o'clock and has begun to snow a little. We'll have it cold as
blazes by morning."
As the fire roared, and the wind whistled about their miserable
barracks, he sank away into dreamland again.
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