The Maid and the Flower

           ButpoorRosa,inhersecludedchamber,couldnothaveknownofwhomorofwhatCorneliuswasdreaming.

           Fromwhathehadsaidshewasmorereadytobelievethathedreamedoftheblacktulipthanofher;andyetRosawasmistaken.

           Butastherewasnoonetotellherso,andasthewordsofCornelius’sthoughtlessspeechhadfallenuponherheartlikedropsofpoison,shedidnotdream,butshewept.

           Thefactwas,that,asRosawasahigh-spiritedcreature,ofnomeanperceptionandanobleheart,shetookaveryclearandjudiciousviewofherownsocialposition,ifnotofhermoralandphysicalqualities.

           Corneliuswasascholar,andwaswealthy,—atleasthehadbeenbeforetheconfiscationofhisproperty;Corneliusbelongedtothemerchant-bourgeoisie,whowereprouderoftheirrichlyemblazonedshopsignsthanthehereditarynobilityoftheirheraldicbearings.Therefore,althoughhemightfindRosaapleasantcompanionforthedrearyhoursofhiscaptivity,whenitcametoaquestionofbestowinghisheartitwasalmostcertainthathewouldbestowituponatulip,—thatistosay,upontheproudestandnoblestofflowers,ratherthanuponpoorRosa,thejailer’slowlychild.

           ThusRosaunderstoodCornelius’spreferenceofthetuliptoherself,butwasonlysomuchthemoreunhappytherefor.

           Duringthewholeofthisterriblenightthepoorgirldidnotcloseaneye,andbeforesheroseinthemorningshehadcometotheresolutionofmakingherappearanceatthegratedwindownomore.