When he woke up he found the house bathed in golden light. The sudden brightness made his eyes smart and he closed them again. He lay there for some time, unmoving, listening. The bells were not ringing any longer, and it was to the pealing of many bells he had awakened. He listened more intently. When he was sure there was only silence in the house, he opened his eyes again. He sprang from the bed, a boy of nine bouncing years, with short, scrawny legs and arms. He ran out of his room into the sala. It was still, empty and big. He hurried to a window and flung the shutters open. The light cut a standing parallelogram upon the front yard. He leaned a little out of the window and listened for footsteps. He withdrew and crossed the floor of his room once more. He lay down on his bed again.