Чорний тюльпан
Rosa’s Lover
“Whatisit?”askedCornelius.
“Iseeonething.”
“Whatdoyousee?”
“Isee,”saidshe,burstingoutinsobs,“Iseethatyouloveyourtulipswithsuchloveastohavenomoreroominyourheartleftforotheraffections.”
Sayingthis,shefled.
Cornelius,afterthis,passedoneoftheworstnightsheeverhadinhislife.
Rosawasvexedwithhim,andwithgoodreason.Perhapsshewouldneverreturntoseetheprisoner,andthenhewouldhavenomorenews,eitherofRosaorofhistulips.
Wehavetoconfess,tothedisgraceofourheroandoffloriculture,thatofhistwoaffectionshefeltmoststronglyinclinedtoregretthelossofRosa;andwhen,ataboutthreeinthemorning,hefellasleepovercomewithfatigue,andharassedwithremorse,thegrandblacktulipyieldedprecedenceinhisdreamstothesweetblueeyesofthefairmaidofFriesland.
