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village； there was no fear of listeners； Rodolphe took Gina into a
corner； and asked her in a low voice and bad Italian； 〃Who are your
master and mistress； child？ Tell me； I will give you this fine new
gold piece。〃
〃Monsieur；〃 said the girl； taking the coin； 〃my master is the famous
bookseller Lamparini of Milan； one of the leaders of the revolution；
and the conspirator of all others whom Austria would most like to have
in the Spielberg。〃
〃A bookseller's wife！ Ah； so much the better；〃 thought he； 〃we are on
an equal footing。And what is her family？〃 he added； 〃for she looks
like a queen。〃
〃All Italian women do；〃 replied Gina proudly。 〃Her father's name is
Colonna。〃
Emboldened by Francesca's modest rank； Rodolphe had an awning fitted
to his boat and cushions in the stern。 When this was done； the lover
came to propose to Francesca to come out on the lake。 The Italian
accepted； no doubt to carry out her part of a young English Miss in
the eyes of the villagers； but she brought Gina with her。 Francesca
Colonna's lightest actions betrayed a superior education and the
highest social rank。 By the way in which she took her place at the end
of the boat Rodolphe felt himself in some sort cut off from her； and；
in the face of a look of pride worthy of an aristocrat； the
familiarity he had intended fell dead。 By a glance Francesca made
herself a princess； with all the prerogatives she might have enjoyed
in the Middle Ages。 She seemed to have read the thoughts of this
vassal who was so audacious as to constitute himself her protector。
Already； in the furniture of the room where Francesca had received
him； in her dress； and in the various trifles she made use of；
Rodolphe had detected indications of a superior character and a fine
fortune。 All these observations now recurred to his mind； he became
thoughtful after having been trampled on； as it were； by Francesca's
dignity。 Gina； her half…grown…up /confidante/； also seemed to have a
mocking expression as she gave a covert or a side glance at Rodolphe。
This obvious disagreement between the Italian lady's rank and her
manners was a fresh puzzle to Rodolphe； who suspected some further
trick like Gina's assumed dumbness。
〃Where would you go； Signora Lamporani？〃 he asked。
〃Towards Lucerne；〃 replied Francesca in French。
〃Good！〃 said Rodolphe to himself； 〃she is not startled by hearing me
speak her name； she had； no doubt； foreseen that I should ask Gina
she is so cunning。What is your quarrel with me？〃 he went on； going
at last to sit down by her side； and asking her by a gesture to give
him her hand； which she withdrew。 〃You are cold and ceremonious； what；
in colloquial language； we should call /short/。〃
〃It is true；〃 she replied with a smile。 〃I am wrong。 It is not good
manners； it is vulgar。 In French you would call it inartistic。 It is
better to be frank than to harbor cold or hostile feelings towards a
friend； and you have already proved yourself my friend。 Perhaps I have
gone too far with you。 You must take me to be a very ordinary woman。〃
Rodolphe made many signs of denial。〃Yes；〃 said the bookseller's
wife； going on without noticing this pantomime； which； however； she
plainly saw。 〃I have detected that； and naturally I have reconsidered
my conduct。 Well！ I will put an end to everything by a few words of
deep truth。 Understand this； Rodolphe： I feel in myself the strength
to stifle a feeling if it were not in harmony with my ideas or
anticipation of what true love is。 I could loveas we can love in
Italy； but I know my duty。 No intoxication can make me forget it。
Married without my consent to that poor old man； I might take
advantage of the liberty he so generously gives me； but three years of
married life imply acceptance of its laws。 Hence the most vehement
passion would never make me utter； even involuntarily； a wish to find
myself free。
〃Emilio knows my character。 He knows that without my heart； which is
my own； and which I might give away； I should never allow anyone to
take my hand。 That is why I have just refused it to you。 I desire to
be loved and waited for with fidelity； nobleness； ardor； while all I
can give is infinite tenderness of which the expression may not
overstep the boundary of the heart； the permitted neutral ground。 All
this being thoroughly understoodOh！〃 she went on with a girlish
gesture； 〃I will be as coquettish； as gay； as glad； as a child which
knows nothing of the dangers of familiarity。〃
This plain and frank declaration was made in a tone； an accent； and
supported by a look which gave it the deepest stamp of truth。
〃A Princess Colonna could not have spoken better；〃 said Rodolphe；
smiling。
〃Is that；〃 she answered with some haughtiness； 〃a reflection on the
humbleness of my birth？ Must your love flaunt a coat…of…arms？ At Milan
the noblest names are written over shop…doors： Sforza； Canova；
Visconti； Trivulzio； Ursini； there are Archintos apothecaries； but；
believe me； though I keep a shop； I have the feelings of a duchess。〃
〃A reflection？ Nay； madame； I meant it for praise。〃
〃By a comparison？〃 she said archly。
〃Ah； once for all；〃 said he； 〃not to torture me if my words should ill
express my feelings； understand that my love is perfect； it carries
with it absolute obedience and respect。〃
She bowed as a woman satisfied； and said； 〃Then monsieur accepts the
treaty？〃
〃Yes；〃 said he。 〃I can understand that in a rich and powerful feminine
nature the faculty of loving ought not to be wasted； and that you； out
of delicacy； wished to restrain it。 Ah！ Francesca； at my age
tenderness requited； and by so sublime； so royally beautiful a
creature as you arewhy； it is the fulfilment of all my wishes。 To
love you as you desire to be lovedis not that enough to make a young
man guard himself against every evil folly？ Is it not to concentrate
all his powers in a noble passion； of which in the future he may be
proud； and which can leave none but lovely memories？ If you could but
know with what hues you have clothed the chain of Pilatus； the Rigi；
and this superb lake〃
〃I want to know；〃 said she； with the Italian artlessness which has
always a touch of artfulness。
〃Well； this hour will shine on all my life like a diamond on a queen's
brow。〃
Francesca's only reply was to lay her hand on Rodolphe's。
〃Oh dearest！ for ever dearest！Tell me； have you never loved？〃
〃Never。〃
〃And you allow me to love you nobly； looking to heaven for the utmost
fulfilment？〃 he asked。
She gently bent her head。 Two large tears rolled down Rodolphe's
cheeks。
〃Why！ what is the matter？〃 she cried； abandoning her imperial manner。
〃I have now no mother whom I can tell of my happiness； she left this
earth without seeing what would have mitigated her agony〃
〃What？〃 said she。
〃Her tenderness replaced by an equal tenderness〃
〃/Povero mio/！〃 exclaimed the Italian； much touched。 〃Believe me；〃 she
went on after a pause； 〃it is a very sweet thing； and to a woman； a
strong element of fidelity to know that she is all in all on earth to
the man she loves； to find him lonely； with no family； with nothing in
his heart but his lovein short； to have him wholly to herself。〃
When two lovers thus understand each other； the heart feels delicious
peace； supreme tranquillity。 Certainty is the basis for which human
feelings crave； for it is never lacking to religious sentiment； man is
always certain of being fully repaid by God。 Love never believes
itself secure but by this resemblance to divine love。 And the raptures
of that moment must have been fully felt to be understood； it is
unique in life； it can never return no more； alas！ than the emotions
of youth。 To believe in a woman； to make her your human religion； the
fount of life； the secret luminary of all your least thoughts！is not
this a second birth？ And a young man mingles with this love a little
of the feeling he had for his mother。
Rodolphe and Francesca for some time remained in perfect silence；
answering each other by sympathetic glances full of thoughts。 They
understood each other in the midst of one of the most beautiful scenes
of Nature； whose glories； interpreted by the glory in their hearts；
helped to stamp on their minds the most fugitive details of that
unique hour。 There had not been the slightest shade of frivolity in
Francesca's conduct。 It was noble； large； and without any second
thought。 This magnanimity struck Rodolphe greatly； for in it he
recognized the difference between the Italian and the Frenchwoman。 The
waters； the land； the sky； the woman； all were grandiose and suave；
even their love in the midst of this picture； so vast in its expanse；
so rich in detail； where the sternness of the snowy peaks and their
hard folds standing clearly out against the blue sky； reminded
Rodolphe of the circumstances which limited his happiness； a lovely
country shut in by snows。
This delightful intoxication of soul was destined to be disturbed。 A
boat was approaching from Lucerne； Gina； who had been watching it
attentively； gave a joyful start； though faithful to her part as a
mute。 The bark came nearer； when at length Francesca could distinguish
the faces on board； she exclaimed；