Мхи старой усадьбы

           Incapableashewasofsuchhighfaith,stillherpresencehadnotutterlylostitsmagic.Giovanni’sragewasquelledintoanaspectofsulleninsensibility.Beatrice,withaquickspiritualsense,immediatelyfeltthattherewasagulfofblacknessbetweenthemwhichneitherhenorshecouldpass.Theywalkedontogether,sadandsilent,andcamethustothemarblefountainandtoitspoolofwaterontheground,inthemidstofwhichgrewtheshrubthatboregem-likeblossoms.Giovanniwasaffrightedattheeagerenjoyment—theappetite,asitwere—withwhichhefoundhimselfinhalingthefragranceoftheflowers.

           "Beatrice,"askedhe,abruptly,"whencecamethisshrub?"

           "Myfathercreatedit,"answeredshe,withsimplicity.

           "Createdit!createdit!"repeatedGiovanni."Whatmeanyou,Beatrice?"

           "HeisamanfearfullyacquaintedwiththesecretsofNature,"repliedBeatrice;"and,atthehourwhenIfirstdrewbreath,thisplantsprangfromthesoil,theoffspringofhisscience,ofhisintellect,whileIwasbuthisearthlychild.Approachitnot!"continuedshe,observingwithterrorthatGiovanniwasdrawingnearertotheshrub."Ithasqualitiesthatyoulittledreamof.ButI,dearestGiovanni,—Igrewupandblossomedwiththeplantandwasnourishedwithitsbreath.Itwasmysister,andIloveditwithahumanaffection;for,alas!—hastthounotsuspectedit?—therewasanawfuldoom."

           HereGiovannifrownedsodarklyuponherthatBeatricepausedandtrembled.Butherfaithinhistendernessreassuredher,andmadeherblushthatshehaddoubtedforaninstant.