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Rappaccini's Daughter
Bidmebelievenothingsavewhatcomesfromyourownlips."
ItwouldappearthatBeatriceunderstoodhim.Therecameadeepflushtohercheek;butshelookedfullintoGiovanni’seyes,andrespondedtohisgazeofuneasysuspicionwithaqueenlikehaughtiness.
"Idosobidyou,signor,"shereplied."Forgetwhateveryoumayhavefanciedinregardtome.Iftruetotheoutwardsenses,stillitmaybefalseinitsessence;butthewordsofBeatriceRappaccini’slipsaretruefromthedepthsoftheheartoutward.Thoseyoumaybelieve."
AfervorglowedinherwholeaspectandbeameduponGiovanni’sconsciousnesslikethelightoftruthitself;butwhileshespoketherewasafragranceintheatmospherearoundher,richanddelightful,thoughevanescent,yetwhichtheyoungman,fromanindefinablereluctance,scarcelydaredtodrawintohislungs.Itmightbetheodoroftheflowers.CoulditbeBeatrice’sbreathwhichthusembalmedherwordswithastrangerichness,asifbysteepingtheminherheart?AfaintnesspassedlikeashadowoverGiovanniandflittedaway;heseemedtogazethroughthebeautifulgirl’seyesintohertransparentsoul,andfeltnomoredoubtorfear.
ThetingeofpassionthathadcoloredBeatrice’smannervanished;shebecamegay,andappearedtoderiveapuredelightfromhercommunionwiththeyouthnotunlikewhatthemaidenofalonelyislandmighthavefeltconversingwithavoyagerfromthecivilizedworld.Evidentlyherexperienceoflifehadbeenconfinedwithinthelimitsofthatgarden.
