Page:Francesca Carrara 3.pdf/184

Rh sprang to her feet, the hair streamed back from her forehead, the dew stood upon her temples, the eyes dilated with a wild unnatural glare, while every tinge of colour perished on lip and cheek. Some inarticulate words died upon her tongue, and the next moment she sank insensible at Francesca's side.

It was long before the united efforts of her attendants could rouse her from that stony trance; and when at length she opened her eyes, their expression was wandering, and her words unconnected. In despair, the leech was summoned; and, saying something about excited nerves and over-fatigue, he administered a sleeping draught; and Francesca never left the Comtesse till she saw her sunk in a profound slumber.

"Strange," thought she, "How love and ambition have struggled for empire in that divided heart! How this passion of sorrow would have soothed Guido, could he have believed how keenly his loss would be felt! The love which was restrained for the living defies control when aroused for the dead."