Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. II.djvu/430

440 herself aside, with an air that seemed to say, “Do not disturb me!”

He turned pale and seated himself at some distance opposite to her, looking at her with a grave and inquiring expression. When she had finished her canzonetta, she raised her eyes and looking directly at the grave countenance of her lover, exclaimed playfully,

“Look at that great Hercules! How he has fixed his eyes on me! I believe he wants to frighten me! How droll he is!”

She rested her sweet face on her hands and looked at him with an expression of comic defiance. He rose and approached her. How was it that the Baroness ——— entered just at that moment with her daughter, and desired that they should once more sing over together the piece with which they were to produce a brilliant effect that evening?

The Princess Elsa was again devoted to the music, and Hercules again went his way.

To-day he came in the forenoon and wished to see Elsa, but she had a severe headache and could not receive his visit. Neither could I see him alone, having some foreign visitors with me, and since then he has not returned. It is now evening and late. All is silent in Elsa's chamber; she is asleep, and in her sleep looks like a good and innocent child; and so she is, only too much carried away by the impulse of the moment. I long to talk with her unreservedly, and to warn her seriously not to risk the peace of her own life and that of another, by continuing her present mode of conduct, yet still at the same time I am a little shy of this conversation. Have I not already busied myself too much with the fate of this