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Rappaccini's Daughter
"HolyVirgin,signor!"criedoldDameLisabetta,who,wonbytheyouth’sremarkablebeautyofperson,waskindlyendeavoringtogivethechamberahabitableair,"whatasighwasthattocomeoutofayoungman’sheart!Doyoufindthisoldmansiongloomy?FortheloveofHeaven,then,putyourheadoutofthewindow,andyouwillseeasbrightsunshineasyouhaveleftinNaples."
Guascontimechanicallydidastheoldwomanadvised,butcouldnotquiteagreewithherthatthePaduansunshinewasascheerfulasthatofsouthernItaly.Suchasitwas,however,itfelluponagardenbeneaththewindowandexpendeditsfosteringinfluencesonavarietyofplants,whichseemedtohavebeencultivatedwithexceedingcare.
"Doesthisgardenbelongtothehouse?"askedGiovanni.
"Heavenforbid,signor,unlessitwerefruitfulofbetterpotherbsthananythatgrowtherenow,"answeredoldLisabetta."No;thatgardeniscultivatedbytheownhandsofSignorGiacomoRappaccini,thefamousdoctor,who,Iwarranthim,hasbeenheardofasfarasNaples.Itissaidthathedistilstheseplantsintomedicinesthatareaspotentasacharm.Oftentimesyoumayseethesignordoctoratwork,andperchancethesignora,hisdaughter,too,gatheringthestrangeflowersthatgrowinthegarden."
Theoldwomanhadnowdonewhatshecouldfortheaspectofthechamber;and,commendingtheyoungmantotheprotectionofthesaints,tookherdeparture.
Giovannistillfoundnobetteroccupationthantolookdownintothegardenbeneathhiswindow.
