Черный тюльпан
The Second Bulb
DuringthedayIsitandworkbyitsside,forIhaveneverleftmychambersinceIputitthere.”
“YouarerightRosa,itisyourdowry,youknow.”
“Yes,andwithitImaymarryayoungmanoftwenty-sixortwenty-eightyears,whomIshallbeinlovewith.”
“Don’ttalkinthatway,younaughtygirl.”
ThateveningCorneliuswasoneofthehappiestofmen.Rosaallowedhimtopressherhandinhis,andtokeepitaslongashewould,besideswhichhemighttalkofhistulipasmuchasheliked.
Fromthathoureverydaymarkedsomeprogressinthegrowthofthetulipandintheaffectionofthetwoyoungpeople.
Atonetimeitwasthattheleaveshadexpanded,andatanotherthatthefloweritselfhadformed.
GreatwasthejoyofCorneliusatthisnews,andhisquestionssucceededoneanotherwitharapiditywhichgaveproofoftheirimportance.
“Formed!”exclaimedCornelius,“isitreallyformed?”
“Itis,”repeatedRosa.
Corneliustrembledwithjoy,somuchsothathewasobligedtoholdbythegrating.
“Goodheavens!”heexclaimed.
Then,turningagaintoRosa,hecontinuedhisquestions.
“Istheovalregular?thecylinderfull?andarethepointsverygreen?”
“Theovalisalmostoneinchlong,andtaperslikeaneedle,thecylinderswellsatthesides,andthepointsarereadytoopen.”
TwodaysafterRosaannouncedthattheywereopen.
“Open,Rosa!”criedCornelius.“Istheinvolucrumopen?butthenonemayseeandalreadydistinguish——”
Heretheprisonerpaused,anxiouslytakingbreath.
