“Does, then, your happiness require so much?”
“It does—much more than I have mentioned, infinitely more. But one boon can make me happy; I have begged for it on my knees.” He caught her hand and pressed it eagerly to his lips. “I have begged for it, Rosabella, and my suit has been rejected.”
“You are a strange enthusiast,” she said with difficulty, and scarcely knew what she said, while Flodoardo drew her gently nearer to him, and murmured in a supplicating voice, “Rosabella!”
“What would you of me?”
“My happiness!”
She gazed upon him for a moment undecided, then hastily drew away her hand, and exclaimed, “Leave me, this moment, I command you. Leave me, for Heaven’s sake!”
Flodoardo clasped his hands together in despair and anguish. He bowed his head in token of obedience. He left her with slow steps and a melancholy air, and as he passed the threshold, turned to bid her farewell for ever. Suddenly she rushed towards him, caught his hand, and pressed it to her heart.
“Flodoardo,” she cried, “I am thine!” and sank motionless at his feet.
CHAPTER II.
A DANGEROUS PROMISE.
And now who was so blessed as the fortunate Flodoardo? The victory was his own, he had heard the wished-for sentence pronounced by the lips of Rosabella. He raised her from the ground, and placed her on a sofa. Her blue eyes soon unclosed themselves once more, and the first object which they beheld was Flodoardo kneeling at her feet, while with one arm he encircled her waist. Her head sank upon the shoulder of the man for whom she had breathed so many sighs, who had occupied so many of her thoughts by day, who had been present in so many of her dreams by night.