"Well!" asked Aspa, looking at her with open eyes, "what did he say?"
But Mataswintha drew Aspa's small head down upon her bosom.
"He said," she whispered--"he said, 'She will become the most beautiful woman on earth.'"
"He said truly," cried the little slave; "why shouldst thou become red? It is so. But go on. What didst thou do next?"
"I crept up to my bed and wept; wept tears of sorrow, delight, and love, all at once. That night a whole world, a heaven, was opened to me. He liked me, I felt it; and he called me beautiful. Yes, now I knew it. I was beautiful, and I was glad; for I wished to be so for his sake. Oh, how happy was I! Meeting with him had brought light into my darkness, and a blessing to my life. I knew now that I might be liked and loved. I took care of my person, which he had praised. The sweet power in my heart spread a mild warmth over my whole being; I became softer and more earnest. Even my mother's severity relaxed when I met her harshness with gentleness; and daily all hearts were turned to me more kindly, as I became more tender. And for all this I had to thank him. He had saved me from rushing into shame and misery, and had won for me a whole world of love. Since then I have lived, and live, only for him."
And she ceased, and laid her hand upon her beating heart.
"But, mistress, when did you see or speak to him again? Does your love live on such scanty nourishment?"
"I have never spoken to him again, and have only seen him once. On the day of Theodoric's death, he commanded the guards of the palace, and Athalaric told me his name; for I had never dared to inquire about him, lest my flight, and ah! my secret, should be discovered. He was not at court; and if he sometimes came there, I was away."
"So thou knowest nothing further of him? of his life; of his past?"
"How could I inquire! My blushes would have betrayed me. Love is the child of silence and of longing. But I know all about his--about our future."