Page:The Writings of Prosper Merimee-Volume 3.djvu/175

153 THE ETRUSCAN VASE 153

out of his window at the clouds, and tried to count the poplars. At length he looked at the clock again, and saw that he had not succeeded in whiling away more than three minutes. " I can not help loving her," he burst out, grinding his teeth and stamping his feet; " she rules me, and I am her slave, just as Massigny was before me. Well, since you have not sufficient courage to break the hated chain, poor wretch, you must obey."

He picked up his hat and rushed out.

When we are carried away by a great pas- sion it is some consolation to our self-love to look down from the height of pride upon our weak- ness. " I certainly am weak," he said to him- self; " but what if I wish to be so? "

As he walked slowly up the footpath which led to the garden gate, he could see in the dis- tance a white face standing out against the dark background of trees. She beckoned to him with her handkerchief. His heart beat violently, and his knees trembled under him; he could not speak, and he had become so nervous that he feared lest the Countess should read his ill- humour.

He took the hand she held out to him, and kissed her brow, because she threw herself into his arms. He followed her into her sitting-room