Still she only dared to express those feelings by looks and blushes: but Erwin, who felt the same, was not confined like her by the restraints of decorum. He made use of the privilege of his sex, and not only spoke, but spoke so plainly, that little as Rosanna was skilled in the language of love, which she then first heard from his lips, she still understood his meaning; and little as she ventured to answer, still before the entertainment concluded, she had left no doubt upon his mind, that their affection was mutual. The embarrassment, which took place at their first meeting; the gift of her garland; the religious ceremonies in which they had been engaged together, and in which each had stolen a little from that which was destined for Heaven, for the purpose of bestowing it on the other; all these circumstances and a thousand other trifles, which occurred in the course of the entertainment, assured them, that an exchange of hearts had taken place, that their sentiments were sanctioned by the approbation of Heaven, and that every thing would turn out as they wished and expected.
From this day forwards Erwin’s leisure was totally engrossed by Rosanna. The habitations of Tell and Melthal were not so very distant, but that by setting out at the same time the lovers were certain to meet halfway, time enough to pass some hours together undisturbed: besides the intimate connection, which subsisted between the two families, furnished too many opportunities of intercourse, to admit of their often complaining of long absence from each other. The passion, which grew stronger in their bosoms with every hour, was carefully concealed from every one; not that they had any reason to apprehend censure from their superiors; but because secrecy seemed to give an additional charm to the correspondence of their hearts, and because the goal of their desires seemed to be still at a considerable distance.
The venerable Melthal, the youth’s great-grandfather, had caused him to be educated in a foreign country, and intended him for the profession of arms. Erwin had been long suffered to remain ignorant, both to what family he belonged, and to what country he owed his origin: but the good antient (whom the number of his years rather than any sensible infirmity made conscious, that the close of his existence could not be far removed) now thought proper to summon his grandson to a private conference, in which he disclosed to him many particulars of great importance.
—“One more campaign,” said Erwin to his mistress, the first time that he saw her after holding this conversation with old Melthal, “one more campaign under the Emperor’s banners, in whose service I am at present engaged; and then will I hasten back to lay my laurels at the feet of my Rosanna, confess my love for her, and fix my habitation with her in that quarter of the globe, which her fancy shall prefer. If she thinks proper still to reside in the shades of her native vallies, there too will I take up my abode: if she rather desires to see the world (which in truth has its charms and can show some scenes, with which even these enchanting solitudes must not come in competition) perhaps her happy Erwin may succeed in procuring for her there a situation better suited to her merits, than that which she must fill in the obscurity of these retired mountains.”—
—“Dear Erwin,” interrupted Rosanna, “speak no more of this; speak not of my merits, or of removing me to the great world! Ah! why must you needs yourself go thither? Is it not enough to make me hate that world, that it soon must rob me of your society? and alas! who knows, whether you will return from that wild tumult, which I only know by description, with sentiments as kind and as honest and true an heart, as you will bear away with you!”—
Poor Rosanna was bathed in tears, while she made these representations. She had had dreams, and omens, and forebodings, which promised nothing good, and which her lover soon banished by means, which every lover (the false as well as the true) equally practises on similar occasions. But Erwin was true as the truest; and his oaths were heard and registered in the Book of Eternity by the Angel, who suffers no perjury to escape unpunished.
There was one person in the world, with whom Rosanna had been too long accustomed to share all her joys and all her sorrows, all her hopes and all her fears, not to make her feel uneasy under the profound secrecy, which she had hitherto imposed on herself respecting her attachment: that person was Mary. In fact, she had already suffered some distant hints to escape her, that she had a secret to communicate; and at length she summoned up all her resolution, and (with Erwin’s approbation) set forward one morning for the Convent of Engelberg, determined to lay her whole heart open to her sister’s inspection.
Though Mary found her own felicity within the bounds of cloistered retirement, her notions were too liberal to make her consider it as improper, that Rosanna should seek for happiness in the arms of an affectionate husband. With folded hands and a countenance bright with tranquil joy, she piously invoked a blessing on her sister’s union with the honest-hearted Erwin; though she could not help lamenting with a sigh, that he should have adopted the profession of Blood! Before they separated, it was settled between the Sisters, that on an appointed day Rosanna should conduct her lover to the Convent, in order that Mary might become personally acquainted with her future brother.
This interview was not difficult to be procured; Mary had not yet pronounced her vows, and was left at perfect liberty to employ her time, as she thought proper. Yet partly from a wish to make the business no more public than could be avoided, and partly from a movement of religious enthusiasm which forcibly operated upon her imagination, Mary desired, that the meeting should not take place, till the evening was on the point of closing.
It was in autumn, and the weather proved gloomy. Mary had provided herself with a key of the Chapel, and it was in this awful place, that she received the lovers. A small porch, faintly lighted by the glimmerings of a distant lamp, witnessed their first meeting. Mary (who in spite of her extreme youth had already adopted the dignity and grave character appropriate to her destined station) spoke long and seriously to the warrior, respecting the sincerity of his attachment and the sacred nature of his engagement to Rosanna. His answers were such as she most desired to hear; and she now conducted them into the Chapel, where she had already placed two burning tapers before an altar consecrated to Saint Engeltruda.