Four Phases of Love

hutters, the windows were carefully covered with dark curtains, so that in the brightest day scarcely a ray of light

l that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the

ther burst into tears, as she heard the doctor's footst

and bore all; only at first he would not allow anyone to hold him during t

psed, removed his hands from the boy's eyel

r hastily placed a bandage over her eyes, and assisted her himself to her room; for her knees trembled under her. There, on her couch, sleep a

t profound science could hardly have solved. What does it know of the well-springs of life? His father entreated him to have patience, for with God's help he would soon be able to resolve his doubts more clearly for himself. Now, rest was necessary for him, and above all for Mary, whom he might so easily awake with his talking. Then he

n, who may have been told by their master, did not storm out of the school as noisily as was their wont, but went in twos and threes, whispering, and glancing shily at the hous

him yet? He asked her then, in a low voice, how she was. Her heavy sleep had hardly refreshed her, and her eyes burned under their light c

egay for Clement. When they brought them to the boy, his face brightened; their scent and cool sprinkling of dew refreshed him. "Thank them for me very much. They are good girls; I am ill now, but when I can see I will d

tor, who came early, found her freer from danger than he had dared to hope. Long he sat by the boy's bedside, listened

d talk to him. The door then was not to be shut, that Mary might hear the beautiful stories too. Legends of pious men and women on whom God had laid and removed heavy sufferings were repeated. The tale of poor H

nds, or sang with her; but directly after he began new questionings, which showed that he took more interest in the stories than in the hymns. Ma

cross the darkened room towards the open door, in which the boy stood, stretching forth his hands, joyously seeking hers. Then he grasped her hand firmly, and entreated her to lean on him, which s

ou now? he

s her answer, "

eyes can do that. It hurt me, I must say, yet I could have looked for ever into the beautiful coloured world, so blissful was the pain. You will feel it too. But it must be many days before we are so happy. But then I will do nothing all day long but see. I want to know so many things, Mary. They say that each thing has a different colour. I wonder what colours your face and mine are? Dark or bri

nto her heart. It had never occurred to her that she too was to see, and she hardly knew what to think about it. She had heard of mi

at ugly people were pitied, and often less loved than others. "Oh, if I should be ugly," she thought to herself, "and he care no more about me. It used to be all the same when he played with my hair and called i

She was entirely alone in the chamber, for her mother's bed, which had been placed beside hers, had been removed on account of the closeness of the room. And besides, they no longer thought a night

e of her bed and heard the strong rain rushing down without. But it cooled not her feverish brow. She tried to collect herself and think, but found nothing within her soul but the miserable thought with which she had fallen asleep. A strange determination arose within her. She would go to Clement now he was alone; what prevented her from putting an end to her uncertainty, and s

tinguish no form. Already terrified, and in despair, she wished to go back. There flamed through the now uncovered window-panes a flash one second long--then another and another--the air waved to and fro with the intensity of light--thunder and rain-stream without increased in roar; but she gazed for one short moment on the curly