Черный тюльпан
The Events which took place during those Eight Days
IhaveheardyouandthatdetestableJacob,asyoucallhim,sooftentalkaboutwhatisthesoilbestfittedforgrowingtulips,thatIknowitaswellasthefirstgardenerofHaarlem.”
“Andnowwhatistheaspect,Rosa?”
“Atpresentithasthesunalldaylong,—thatistosaywhenthesunshines.Butwhenitoncepeepsoutoftheground,Ishalldoasyouhavedonehere,dearMynheerCornelius:Ishallputitoutofmywindowontheeasternsidefromeightinthemorninguntilelevenandinmywindowtowardsthewestfromthreetofiveintheafternoon.”
“That’sit!that’sit!”criedCornelius;“andyouareaperfectgardener,myprettyRosa.ButIamafraidthenursingofmytulipwilltakeupallyourtime.”
“Yes,itwill,”saidRosa;“butnevermind.Yourtulipismydaughter.IshalldevotetoitthesametimeasIshouldtoachildofmine,ifIwereamother.Onlybybecomingitsmother,”Rosaadded,smilingly,“canIceasetobeitsrival.”
“MykindandprettyRosa!”mutteredCorneliuscastingonheraglanceinwhichtherewasmuchmoreoftheloverthanofthegardener,andwhichaffordedRosasomeconsolation.
Then,afterasilenceofsomemoments,duringwhichCorneliushadgraspedthroughtheopeningsofthegratingfortherecedinghandofRosa,hesaid,—
“Doyoumeantosaythatthebulbhasnowbeeninthegroundforsixdays?”
“Yes,sixdays,MynheerCornelius,”sheanswered.
“Anditdoesnotyetshowleaf?”
“No,butIthinkitwillto-morrow.
