68 A DOG OF FLANDERS.

beholding the aa of the two
veiled Rubens.

The whole soul of the little Arden-
nois thrilled and stirred with an
absorbing passion for Art. Going
on his ways through the old city in
the early days before the sun or the
people had risen, Nello, who looked
only a little peasant-boy, with a great
dog drawing milk to sell from door to ~
door, was in a heaven of dreams
whereof Rubens was the god. Nello,
cold and hungry, with stockingless
feet, in wooden. shoes, and the winter
winds blowing amongst his curls and
lifting his poor, thin garments, was in
a rapture of meditation, wherein all
that he saw was the beautiful, fair
face of the Mary of the Assumption,