Черный тюльпан
The Little Grated Window
”
“What,mydearRosa,youthought,evenbeforereceivingmyletter,ofcomingtomeetmeagain?”
“IfIthoughtofit,”saidRosa,allowingherlovetogetthebetterofherbashfulness,“Ithoughtofnothingelse.”
And,sayingthesewords,Rosalookedsoexceedinglypretty,thatforthesecondtimeCorneliusplacedhisforeheadandlipsagainstthewiregrating;ofcourse,wemustpresumewiththelaudabledesiretothanktheyounglady.
Rosa,however,drewbackasbefore.
“Intruth,”shesaid,withthatcoquetrywhichsomehoworotherisintheheartofeveryyounggirl,“IhaveoftenbeensorrythatIamnotabletoread,butneversomuchsoaswhenyourhousekeeperbroughtmeyourletter.Ikeptthepaperinmyhands,whichspoketootherpeople,andwhichwasdumbtopoorstupidme.”
“Soyouhaveoftenregrettednotbeingabletoread,”saidCornelius.“Ishouldjustliketoknowonwhatoccasions.”
“Troth,”shesaid,laughing,“toreadalltheletterswhichwerewrittentome.”
“Oh,youreceivedletters,Rosa?”
“Byhundreds.”
“Butwhowrotetoyou?”
“Who!why,inthefirstplace,allthestudentswhopassedovertheBuytenhof,alltheofficerswhowenttoparade,alltheclerks,andeventhemerchantswhosawmeatmylittlewindow.”
“Andwhatdidyoudowithallthesenotes,mydearRosa?”
“Formerly,”sheanswered,“Igotsomefriendtoreadthemtome,whichwascapitalfun,butsinceacertaintime—well,whatuseisittoattendtoallthisnonsense?—sinceacertaintimeIhaveburntthem
