Черный тюльпан
Master and Pupil
Theythereforebegantochatalsoaboutotherthings,andthetulip-fancierfoundouttohisgreatastonishmentwhatavastrangeofsubjectsaconversationmaycomprise.
OnlyRosahadmadeitahabittokeepherprettyfaceinvariablysixinchesdistantfromthegrating,havingperhapsbecomedistrustfulofherself.
TherewasonethingespeciallywhichgaveCorneliusalmostasmuchanxietyashisbulbs—asubjecttowhichhealwaysreturned—thedependenceofRosaonherfather.
Indeed,VanBaerle’shappinessdependedonthewhimofthisman.HemightonedayfindLoewesteindull,ortheairoftheplaceunhealthy,ortheginbad,andleavethefortress,andtakehisdaughterwithhim,whenCorneliusandRosawouldagainbeseparated.
“Ofwhatusewouldthecarrierpigeonsthenbe?”saidCorneliustoRosa,“asyou,mydeargirl,wouldnotbeabletoreadwhatIshouldwritetoyou,nortowritetomeyourthoughtsinreturn.”
“Well,”answeredRosa,whoinherheartwasasmuchafraidofaseparationasCorneliushimself,“wehaveonehoureveryevening,letusmakegooduseofit.”
“Idon’tthinkwemakesuchabaduseofitasitis.”
“Letusemployitevenbetter,”saidRosa,smiling.“Teachmetoreadandwrite.Ishallmakethebestofyourlessons,believeme;and,inthisway,weshallneverbeseparatedanymore,exceptbyourownwill.”
“Oh,then,wehaveaneternitybeforeus,”saidCornelius.
Rosasmiled,andquietlyshruggedhershoulders.
