Черный тюльпан
Rosa’s Lover
”
Shepronouncedthesewordswithasmile,whichwasnotaltogetherwithoutatingeofirony.
Corneliusreflectedforamoment;heevidentlywasstrugglingagainstsomevehementdesire.
“No!”hecriedatlast,withthestoicismofaRomanofold,“itwouldbeaweakness,itwouldbeafolly,itwouldbeameanness!IfIthusgiveuptheonlyandlastresourcewhichwepossesstotheuncertainchancesofthebadpassionsofangerandenvy,Ishouldneverdeservetobeforgiven.No,Rosa,no;to-morrowweshallcometoaconclusionastothespottobechosenforyourtulip;youwillplantitaccordingtomyinstructions;andastothethirdsucker,”—Corneliushereheavedadeepsigh,—“watchoveritasamiseroverhisfirstorlastpieceofgold;asthemotheroverherchild;asthewoundedoverthelastdropofbloodinhisveins;watchoverit,Rosa!Somevoicewithinmetellsmethatitwillbeoursaving,thatitwillbeasourceofgoodtous.”
“Beeasy,MynheerCornelius,”saidRosa,withasweetmixtureofmelancholyandgravity,“beeasy;yourwishesarecommandstome.”
“Andeven,”continuedVanBaerle,warmingmoreandmorewithhissubject,“ifyoushouldperceivethatyourstepsarewatched,andthatyourspeechhasexcitedthesuspicionofyourfatherandofthatdetestableMasterJacob,—well,Rosa,don’thesitateforonemomenttosacrificeme,whoamonlystilllivingthroughyou,—me,whohavenooneintheworldbutyou;sacrificeme,—don’tcometoseemeanymore.”
Rosafeltherheartsinkwithinher,andhereyeswerefillingwithtears.
“Alas!”shesaid
