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Rappaccini's Daughter
Approachingtheshrub,shethrewopenherarms,aswithapassionateardor,anddrewitsbranchesintoanintimateembrace—sointimatethatherfeatureswerehiddeninitsleafybosomandherglisteningringletsallintermingledwiththeflowers.
"Givemethybreath,mysister,"exclaimedBeatrice;"forIamfaintwithcommonair.Andgivemethisflowerofthine,whichIseparatewithgentlestfingersfromthestemandplaceitclosebesidemyheart."
WiththesewordsthebeautifuldaughterofRappaccinipluckedoneoftherichestblossomsoftheshrub,andwasabouttofastenitinherbosom.Butnow,unlessGiovanni’sdraughtsofwinehadbewilderedhissenses,asingularincidentoccurred.Asmallorange-coloredreptile,ofthelizardorchameleonspecies,chancedtobecreepingalongthepath,justatthefeetofBeatrice.ItappearedtoGiovanni,—but,atthedistancefromwhichhegazed,hecouldscarcelyhaveseenanythingsominute,—itappearedtohim,however,thatadroportwoofmoisturefromthebrokenstemoftheflowerdescendeduponthelizard’shead.Foraninstantthereptilecontorteditselfviolently,andthenlaymotionlessinthesunshine.Beatriceobservedthisremarkablephenomenonandcrossedherself,sadly,butwithoutsurprise;nordidshethereforehesitatetoarrangethefatalflowerinherbosom.Thereitblushed,andalmostglimmeredwiththedazzlingeffectofapreciousstone,addingtoherdressandaspecttheoneappropriatecharmwhichnothingelseintheworldcouldhavesupplied.
