Sandra Belloni -- Volume 7

e yourself,

and in her adorable, deep-fluted tones,

the name quiver with satisfaction.

no blame. My voice has gone. Yes,

largely on the claim his incredulity had to inspect her sweet features accurately. "You speak j

a polished Surface: belonging to the passage of the discourse, and not to the emotions. Wilfrid's swelling passion slipped on it. Sensitively he discerned an ease in its formation and disappearance that shot a first doubt through him, whether he really maintained his empire in her heart. If he did not reign there, why had she sent for him? He attributed the unheated smile

"Don't speak of that nigh

d not mean then. Then

at you would come to me-nothing mor

ved me,

were poor? And-I can't remember what I

man of honour,

: "Oh! be silent, an

orgotten him, perhaps! What did he steal? not what he came for, but something dearer to him t

lection of the scene; but remembering what her emot

Wilming Weir?"

s Branciani. She thought her husband was the Austrian spy who had betrayed them, and she said, "He is not worthy to live. Everybody knew that she had loved him. I have s

told the difference?"

e leader of it. All true Italians trusted Countess Branciani, though she visited the Austrian Governor's house-a General with some name on the teeth.

d high pay. Then he set a watch on him. Count Branciani was to find out who was this unknown leader. He said to the Austrian Governor, 'You shall know him

melting prize. She begged to be allowed to continue. He entreated her to. The

touched the Black-yellow gold or not. But he did not confide any, of his projects to her. And his reason was, that as she went to the Governor's, sh

ittle shudder

ough to take their chance. As if we die more than one death, and the blood we spill for Italy is ever wasted! That night the Austrian spy followed the Count to the meeting-house of the conspirators. It was thought quite natural that the Count should go there. But the spy, not having the password, crouched

have been caught from her father, who liked not the priests of his native land well enough t

, vainly seeking for personal

stairs with her nurse when a band of Austrian soldiers entered the hall underneath, and an officer, with his sword drawn, and some men, came marching up in their stiff way-the machines! This officer stooped to her, and before the nurse could stop her, made her say where her father was. Those Austrians make children betray their parents! They don't think how we grow up to detest them. Do I? Hate is not the word: it burns so hot and steady with me. The Countess came out on the first landing; she saw what was happening. When her husband was led out, she asked permission to embrace him. The officer consented, but she had to say to him, 'Move back,' and then, with her lips to her husband's cheek, 'Betray no more of them!' she whispered. Count Branciani started. Now he understood what she had done, and why she had done it. 'Ask for the charge that makes me a prisoner,' he said. Her husband's noble face gave her a chill of alarm. The

frid, all on fire with a word, made one of her

she ec

My beloved! you said: 'He who was once my lover:'-you said that. What does it mean? Not that-not-? d

eathing quick, but her

'once.' You

at night

it

love me

't spea

love you now! I wake up in the night, thinking I hear your voice. You haunt me. Cruel! cold!-who guards you and watches over you but the man you now hate? You sit there as if you could make yourself stone when you pleased. Did I not c

assion, and Wilfrid's heart waged fierce at the sight of her, grown beautiful!-grown elegant!-and to reject him! When, after a silence which his pride w

n Emilia. "You str

famous lie, and, whatever might be th

ck him. I cannot think of him apart from the days when I had my voice. I cannot bear to thi

d not overbear: "I was quite mad that day I went to him. I think, in my despair I spoke things that may have led him to fancy the truth of what he has said. On my

ng in him, and she was not prepared for the delirium with which he enveloped her. She listened to his raving senselessly, beginning to think herself lost. Her tortured hands were kissed; her eyes gazed into. He interpreted her stupefaction as contriti

!" cried Emilia

ou not

st not

and became in a minute outwa

ect. I am bound to co

ce

clearly in Emilia's mind. She had not winced; and therefore Wilfrid judged that his shot had missed because there was no mark. With his eye upon her sideways, showing its circle wi

e came to this conclusion, aloud: "Then I love nobody!"

, after a silence. "You ar

d his head. The real feeling in him

I do for you

never to leave you!' Can you forget the night when you said it? Emilia! Marry me and you will love me again. You must. This man, whoever he is-Ah! why am

r eyes to his. She faltered: "I cannot be married." An

from 'that woman,' as you called her, and come to you. See! here it is exactly as you willed it.

by the aspect of her power. This filled her likewise with a dangerous pity for its victim; and now, putting out bot

"And you leave me to that woman. She loves the Austrians, as you know. There! I will ask nothing-

t followed; nodding quick assent to the stipulation before she he

ed it, and did not think she was grantin

l, then?

, I

our h

re simply pretexts for steps

see you?"

es

staying? And somet

led in the passionate fold of his arms. He released her instantly, an

ear me! is enough. Since we are to meet on those terms, let it be s

he object of hitting the very centre of the hearts of obdurate damsels, glanced off Emilia's, whi

e?" he repeated: an

tain you against your will! I can't expect to make such a figure at the end of the piece as your Cou

nds?" She

conspirators? He handed

mplicated volunteered to be betrayed by him; they went and confessed, and put the Government on a wrong track. Count Branciani made a dish of traito

a contracted mouth: "I pity him for

having to live

leges, and feeling stupefied by a position which both enticed and stung him, he remarked that he presumed h

ye," sa

rst to say it,"

colonel, your cousin, to say "N

ngland, I shall sta

ve her love to

rpose!" he said. "Farewell! I shall see the harp to-night. It stan

nd you were

lovely

his lips, and, as this time his phrase was not palpably obscured