The First Bulb

           Onthefollowingevening,aswehavesaid,RosareturnedwiththeBibleofCorneliusdeWitt.

           Thenbeganbetweenthemasterandthepupiloneofthosecharmingsceneswhicharethedelightofthenovelistwhohastodescribethem.

           Thegratedwindow,theonlyopeningthroughwhichthetwoloverswereabletocommunicate,wastoohighforconvenientlyreadingabook,althoughithadbeenquiteconvenientforthemtoreadeachother’sfaces.

           Rosathereforehadtopresstheopenbookagainstthegratingedgewise,holdingaboveitinherrighthandthelamp,butCorneliushitupontheluckyideaoffixingittothebars,soastoaffordheralittlerest.Rosawasthenenabledtofollowwithherfingerthelettersandsyllables,whichshewastospellforCornelius,whowithastrawpointedouttheletterstohisattentivepupilthroughtheholesofthegrating.

           ThelightofthelampilluminatedtherichcomplexionofRosa,herblueliquideyes,andhergoldenhairunderherhead-dressofgoldbrocade,withherfingersheldup,andshowingintheblood,asitfloweddownwardsintheveinsthatpalepinkhuewhichshinesbeforethelightowingtothelivingtransparencyofthefleshtint.

           Rosa’sintellectrapidlydevelopeditselfundertheanimatinginfluenceofCornelius,andwhenthedifficultiesseemedtooarduous,thesympathyoftwolovingheartsseemedtosmooththemaway.

           AndRosa,afterhavingreturnedtoherroom,repeatedinhersolitudethereadinglessons,andatthesametimerecalledallthedelightwhichshehadfeltwhilstreceivingthem.

           Oneeveningshecamehalfanhourlaterthanusual.