The contour and pallor of her beautiful fece, then attenuated by mental suffering and bodily fatigue, seemed almost sublime in the placidity of its aspect. Tears were oozing heavily from her long lashes, and her respirations were short and quick as her lover bent over her, and, taking one of her passive hands in his, pressed it gently to his lips.
Anna awoke, and started on beholding Konrad, whose attire had been changed; for the pages of the Earl had given him a sombre suit of black sarcenet in lieu of his wet garments.
"Konrad," she said faintly, "thou hast tarried long."
"Not one moment longer than I could avoid, dearest Anna! Thou canst not guess where I have been, and whom I have seen."
"Thou hast seen him," she replied, with a radiant face; "whom else couldst thou see that I care for?"
"I have seen him, lady," said Konrad, over whose countenance there fell a deeper shade of melancholy. "I have seen him, and stood with him face to face in his own castle hall."
"Oh!" exclaimed Anna; and, half-clinging to Konrad's neck, she turned upon him a face and eyes that were radiant with eagerness and joy; "and what said he? what message sent he to me—to his well-loved Anna? why came he not himself?"
"Thou hast forgotten, Anna"——
"Ah! my God! yes—the story. He is still faithful to me—say that he is, dear Konrad!"
"Six months ago, with all formality and magnificence, he was married to another, and thou art no more remembered than the last year's snow."