Rosa’s Lover

           RosahadscarcelypronouncedtheseconsolatorywordswhenavoicewasheardfromthestaircaseaskingGryphushowmattersweregoingon.

           “Doyouhear,father?”saidRosa.

           “What?”

           “MasterJacobcallsyou,heisuneasy.”

           “Therewassuchanoise,”saidGryphus;“wouldn’tyouhavethoughthewouldmurderme,thisdoctor?Theyarealwaysverytroublesomefellows,thesescholars.”

           Then,pointingwithhisfingertowardsthestaircase,hesaidtoRosa:“Justleadtheway,Miss.”

           Afterthishelockedthedoorandcalledout:“Ishallbewithyoudirectly,friendJacob.”

           PoorCornelius,thusleftalonewithhisbittergrief,mutteredtohimself,—

           “Ah,youoldhangman!itismeyouhavetroddenunderfoot;youhavemurderedme;Ishallnotsurviveit.”

           AndcertainlytheunfortunateprisonerwouldhavefallenillbutforthecounterpoisewhichProvidencehadgrantedtohisgrief,andwhichwascalledRosa.

           Intheeveningshecameback.HerfirstwordsannouncedtoCorneliusthathenceforthherfatherwouldmakenoobjectiontohiscultivatingflowers.

           “Andhowdoyouknowthat?”theprisonerasked,withadolefullook.

           “Iknowitbecausehehassaidso.”

           “Todeceiveme,perhaps.”

           “No,herepents.”

           “Ahyes!buttoolate.”

           “Thisrepentanceisnotofhimself.”

           “Andwhoputitintohim?”

           “Ifyouonlyknewhowhisfriendscoldedhim!”

           “Ah,MasterJacob;hedoesnotleaveyou,then,thatMasterJacob?”

           “Atanyrate,heleavesusaslittleashecanhelp.