And cast upon the light and joyous heart
The mournful burden of his station? Fitly
May love woo love, but such a splendour
Might none but monarchs venture to approach.”
As Lewis read this speech, the bright, happy look faded from his face, and his voice grew deep and stern; there was in the whole scene a strange likeness to his own position, which pained him in the extreme, and brought back all his most bitter feelings. Engrossing as was this idea when once aroused, he could not but observe the unusual degree of taste and energy which Annie, who appeared carried away by the interest of the drama, infused into her reading, and the tones of her sweet voice did ample justice to the friendly, confiding tenderness with which Thekla endeavours to console her lover. After her appeal to the Countess Tertsky—
“He’s not in spirits, wherefore is he not?
He had quite another nature on the journey,
So calm, so bright, so joyous eloquent”—
she turns to Max, saying—
“It was my wish to see you always so,