Once
more she wrapped the damp cloth round her hand and went to the furnace.
The middle crucible was to be tried next. Nella, looking on with nervous
anxiety, was in a profuse perspiration.
"I believe that is the one into which the ladle fell," said Zorzi. "Yes,
I am quite sure of it."
Marietta took the specimen and poured it out, set down the ladle on the
brick work, and watched the cooling glass, expecting to see what she had
often seen before. But her face changed, in a look of wonder and
delight.
"Zorzi!" she exclaimed. "Look! Look! See what a colour!"
"I cannot see well," he answered, straining his neck. "Wait a minute!"
he cried, as Marietta took the tongs. "I see now! We have got it! I
believe we have got it! Oh, if I could only walk!"
"Patience--you shall see it. It is almost cool. It is quite stiff now."
She took the little flat cake up with the tongs, very carefully, and
held it before his eyes. The light fell through it from the window, and
her head was close to his, as they both looked at it together.
"I never dreamed of such a colour," said Zorzi, his face flushing with
excitement.
"There never was such a colour before," answered Marietta. "It is like
the juice of a ripe pomegranate that has just been cut, only there is
more light in it.
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