Page:Francesca Carrara 2.pdf/123

120 shown by the red fire-light, which lit up but a small circle, and fell principally on a youth and a girl, seated on the same seat, with their arms round each other, as if they had drawn closer from some sudden impulse of fear and affection; while their faces were turned with an earnest expression of attention, wrought up even to pain, towards a figure scarcely visible at first; but which, once observed, riveted the gaze. It was that of a man, about forty or upwards; handsome, but careworn and emaciated, with large wild blue eyes, whose light was almost preternatural. He was speaking; but whatever might be the import of his words, they were such as send the blood from the cheek, and the hope from the heart. Crime and sorrow were in that man's breath.

That painting, whose real story I know not, would give to very life the present scene. There was something in the sepulchral tone of Arden's voice that had made the young Italians unconsciously draw together. There was something beautiful in the impulse of reliance which induced the act. Let them hear what they might, they were strong in the confidence of their mutual love, and each clasped the other's hand with a feeling of affectionate security.