Чорний тюльпан
The Maid and the Flower
ButassheknewwithwhatardentdesireCorneliuslookedforwardtothenewsabouthistulip;andas,notwithstandingherdeterminationnottoseeanymoreamanherpityforwhosefatewasfastgrowingintolove,shedidnot,ontheotherhand,wishtodrivehimtodespair,sheresolvedtocontinuebyherselfthereadingandwritinglessons;and,fortunately,shehadmadesufficientprogresstodispensewiththehelpofamasterwhenthemasterwasnottobeCornelius.
RosathereforeappliedherselfmostdiligentlytoreadingpoorCorneliusdeWitt’sBible,onthesecondflyleafofwhichthelastwillofCorneliusvanBaerlewaswritten.
“Alas!”shemuttered,whenperusingagainthisdocument,whichsheneverfinishedwithoutatear,thepearloflove,rollingfromherlimpideyesonherpalecheeks—“alas!atthattimeIthoughtforonemomenthelovedme.”
PoorRosa!shewasmistaken.Neverhadtheloveoftheprisonerbeenmoresincerethanatthetimeatwhichwearenowarrived,wheninthecontestbetweentheblacktulipandRosathetuliphadhadtoyieldtoherthefirstandforemostplaceinCornelius’sheart.
ButRosawasnotawareofit.
Havingfinishedreading,shetookherpen,andbeganwithaslaudablediligencethebyfarmoredifficulttaskofwriting.
As,however,RosawasalreadyabletowritealegiblehandwhenCorneliussouncautiouslyopenedhisheart,shedidnotdespairofprogressingquicklyenoughtowrite,aftereightdaysatthelatest,totheprisoneranaccountofhistulip.
