Sandra Belloni -- Volume 3
o their common satisfaction. Adela, whose penetration he dreaded most, he had removed by a flattering invitation to Stornley; and that Emilia might be occupied
when Emilia would sigh and say: "I can't work!"-Tracy adding, with resignation: "I never can!" At first
raordinary rapidity, but clung to graphic phrases, that were not always supple enough for nuptials with modulated notes. Then Emili
man, and music fits t
e vine, ver
broke into a smile at his rapture of amusement; which was succeeded
' like first-cousins, and nature forbids the banns. To-morrow you shall have ha
d; "only, not if they're
as delusive a growth as Cobbett's potatoes, which will go back to
sang to you!" Emilia reproached
c," he returned half-cajolingly,
n't that sound dead? Now hark!" She sang the verse, a
erybody, with sundry Gallic interjections; until Mrs. Chump said: "
r. Tracy praised either impartially, and was indifferent between them, he told her. Clelia offered the better theme for passio
um, with visions of a long roll of swarthy cavalry, headed
Alfieri conceived tragedy. Clelia is modern style. Cast the die for Camillus, and let's take horse. Only, we lose the love-business-exactly where I show my strength. Clelia in the camp of the king: dactyllic chorus- accompaniment, while she, in heavy voluptuous anapaests, confesses her love for the enemy of her country. Remember, this is our romantic opera, where we do what we like with History, and make up our
ful country, Emilia's conception of the Roman lord grew pale, and a controversy ensued-she maintaining that a great hero must love a woman; he
n despair, Tracy proposed attaching a lanky barbarian daughter to Bre
ental burlesque at once!" the youth ejaculated, in gloom. "
k you. If Brennus has a daughter
, as a fish 's rotting on a beach; long scissor lips-nippers to any wretched rose of a kiss! a pugilist's nose to the nostrils of a
c portrait, Emilia cried in p
creature-pah
complained. "I feel myself hating her too
and gave the motion of hugging, as
his country? Would one love stop the other?" she persis
doubt about i
in her hands, and excla
rue! it
shaken with sobs-unmistakeable
is intensity of human emotion about a dry faggot of history by no means surprised him; and he was as tender to the grief of his darling little friend as if he had known the conflict that tore her in two. Subsequently he related the incident, in a tone of tender delight, to Wilfrid, whom it smote.
rt" (loud cheers, drowning a faint dissentient hum).-The scene, of which Tracy had told him, gave Wilfrid a kind of dread of the girl. If that was her state of feeling upon a distant subject, how would it be
e, that they required another lesson, and that it would save the shedding of blood if, annually, the chief men of the city took a flogging for the community (senseless arrogance that sensible, and even kindly, men w
ache. The table was silent. Colonel Pierson was a gentleman, but a fals
u do?" he said
to have been allowed to subs
much; I am a w
t's only the women who
is why you
as saved by an Irish outcry of horror from some unpleasant and possibly unmanly retort. "Mr. Paricles said exactly th
of service at the Brookfield dining-table. Colonel Pi
belief that she had abandoned her country pressing on her remorsefully, she lost appetite, briskness of eye, and the soft reddish-brown ripe blood-hue that made her cheeks sweet to contemplate. She looked worn, small, wretched: her very walk indicated self-contempt. Wilfrid was keen to see the change for which others might have accused a temporary headache. Now that she appeared under this blight, it seemed easier to give her up; and his magnanimity being thus encouraged (I
osure. A stoppage in the tune, and a prolonged squeal of the instrument, gave the congregation below matter to speculate upon. Wilfrid put up his finger and sat reverently down, while Emilia plunged tremblingly at the note that was howl
g," he whispered,
ftly; flattered by h
her, listen to her, be near her, alone with her, having nothing to dread from tears, supplications, or passion, as a consequence of the short indulgence of his tenderness. But he had failed to reckon on the chances that he himself might prove weak and be betrayed by the crew for whose comfort he was always providing; and now, as she sat there, her face be
ed, Emilia quitted the
whispers,
nted to se
e now, lit
eek next I a
e! You s
cles has got my father's consent
think of
er nerveless hand
" he breathed impe
n?" And Emilia looked as if she w
had an air of car
thought of it is like being under the earth, tasting bitter gravel! I could almost bear it before you kissed me, my lover! It would kill me now. Say! say! Tell me we s
nd, at her fingers' ends, Wilfri
ild on her previous assumption; doing the whispering easily and sweetly; in the prettiest way from her tongue's tip, with her chin lifted up; and sending the vowels on a prolonged hushed breath, that seemed to print them on the hearing far more distinctly than a volume of sound. Wilfrid fell back on monosyllables. He could not bring his mouth to utter flinty negatives, so it appeared that he assented; and then his better nature abused him for deluding her. He grew utterly ashamed of his aimless selfish double- dealing. "Can it be?" he questioned his own mind, and listened greedily to any mental confirmations of surp
ther was not in a condition of health to bear contradiction to his wishes, and would, he was sure, be absolutely opposed to their union. He brought on himself another reprimand from Mr. Marter, in se
ueeze of his hand. He was astonished to see her so little disconcert
, hurriedly and eagerly; qu
g!" return
treat before the conclusion of the service; somewhat chagrin