Черный тюльпан
The Second Bulb
”
Andasitwasalreadyday,hethoughtitrightnottofallasleepagain,andhecontinuedfollowingupthelineofthoughtinwhichhismindwasengagedwhenheawoke.
Ah!ifRosahadonlyconversedaboutthetulip,CorneliuswouldhavepreferredhertoQueenSemiramis,toQueenCleopatra,toQueenElizabeth,toQueenAnneofAustria;thatistosay,tothegreatestormostbeautifulqueenswhomtheworldhasseen.
ButRosahadforbiddenitunderpainofnotreturning;Rosahadforbiddentheleastmentionofthetulipforthreedays.Thatmeantseventy-twohoursgiventothelovertobesure;butitwasseventy-twohoursstolenfromthehorticulturist.
Therewasoneconsolation:oftheseventy-twohoursduringwhichRosawouldnotallowthetuliptobementioned,thirty-sixhadpassedalready;andtheremainingthirty-sixwouldpassquicklyenough:eighteenwithwaitingfortheevening’sinterview,andeighteenwithrejoicinginitsremembrance.
Rosacameatthesamehour,andCorneliussubmittedmostheroicallytothepangswhichthecompulsorysilenceconcerningthetulipgavehim.
Hisfairvisitor,however,waswellawarethat,tocommandontheonepoint,peoplemustyieldonanother;shethereforenolongerdrewbackherhandsfromthegrating,andevenallowedCorneliustenderlytokissherbeautifulgoldentresses.
Poorgirl!shehadnoideathattheseplayfullittlelovers’tricksweremuchmoredangerousthanspeakingofthetulipwas;butshebecameawareofthefactasshereturnedwithabeatingheart,withglowingcheeks,drylips,andmoisteyes.
