Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. II.djvu/439

Rh but why has he not had a little patience, a little confidence in me? If he be unhappy, I can never, never, be happy!”——

“But the Prince of Villa Ambrosa?” “I like to talk with him, and to dance with him; but I have no further regard for him;—he can never be to me what Waldo is!——Was he very angry with me? Is it possible that he would so far misunderstand me?” And tears trickled from under the long eye-lashes, down the pale cheeks, and she continued to tremble.

I now told her all that had occurred between Waldo and me, because I had not promised to be silent. When I had ended, and showed her the papers he had placed in my hands, and which secured to her an independent life, her tears ceased to flow, she rose up, pale but resolute, with eyes that beamed through tears.

“Cannot we reach him? Cannot we still see him?” she asked.

“I besought him not to leave Sicily before he had heard from me; but as he made me no answer, I cannot be sure,” I replied.

“Let us go, Frederica, this very day, if it be possible! You will, in any case, very shortly be going to Sicily. Go now, and let me accompany you! Oh, I feel as if my heart must break; that my life is for ever darkened if I cannot regain him, if I cannot devote my whole life to him!”

She stood with clasped hands; her whole soul lay upon her lips.

“Well, well, my child,” said I, “we will go by the