Perhaps they had trod upon the ice outside, and had wet the soles of their slippers, so that they had been forced to set them up on end to dry.  She had no doubt they would be gone in the morning.

The tremulous voice had ceased some time ago, and now the organ was sending forth deep, heavy chords that made the air thrill and vibrate.  The pew in which Nina sat quite shook with the sounds, and she shrank away from the wooden back, and cuddled down upon the cushion in the seat, feeling very mysterious and awestruck, but withal quite warm and happily expectant.

“Ah, ah!” she thought, “they are coming,—­the angels are coming.  That is why the seat trembles so.  There are so many of them that though they step very lightly it shakes the ground.  He, up there, is playing their march music for them.  Oh, I know!  I know!  I have seen the soldiers in the streets; and when they came one could feel the ground tremble, and they had music, too,—­they kept step to it.  I ’ll lie very still and not move, and maybe I can even get a glimpse of the Gesu Bambino himself, and if I should—­ah! if I should, then I know I ’d never be tired nor cold nor sad-hearted any more.”

Nina started suddenly to her feet.  The place was filled with a soft, white radiance.  Faintly, as though from a distance, came the sounds of delicious music, and a rare fragrance was in all the air.  What was it?  Oh, what was it?  She felt her heart beat louder and faster, and she thought she must cry out for very pain of its throbbing.  But she made no sound, only waited and watched in breathless wonder and anticipation.

The light about her grew clearer and more lustrous; the faint strains of melody more glorious, and the perfumed air sweeter still; and lo! the whole place was thronged with white-winged spirits, clad all in garments so pure and spotless that they glistered at every turn.  Each seemed to have in charge some precious treasure which she clasped lovingly to her breast, and all were so beautiful and tender-eyed that Nina could not be afraid.  The dazzling forms flitted to and fro like filmy clouds; and as one passed very near her, Nina stretched out her hand to grasp her floating robe.  But though she scarcely touched it, it was enough to make the delicate fabric sag and droop as if some strange weight had suddenly been attached to it.  Its wearer paused in her flight, and glanced down at her garment anxiously, and then for an instant appeared to be trying to remember something.  In her eyes there grew a troubled look, but she shook her head and murmured,—­

“Alas!  What have I done?  What can I have done?  I can think of no way in which I have let the world touch me, and yet I must have, for my robe is weighted, and—­” But here she suddenly espied Nina.