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Rodolphe made many signs of denial。〃Yes；〃 said the bookseller's
wife； going on without noticing this pantomime； which； however； she
plainly saw。 〃I have detected that； and naturally I have reconsidered
my conduct。 Well！ I will put an end to everything by a few words of
deep truth。 Understand this； Rodolphe： I feel in myself the strength
to stifle a feeling if it were not in harmony with my ideas or
anticipation of what true love is。 I could loveas we can love in
Italy； but I know my duty。 No intoxication can make me forget it。
Married without my consent to that poor old man； I might take
advantage of the liberty he so generously gives me； but three years of
married life imply acceptance of its laws。 Hence the most vehement
passion would never make me utter； even involuntarily； a wish to find
myself free。
〃Emilio knows my character。 He knows that without my heart； which is
my own； and which I might give away； I should never allow anyone to
take my hand。 That is why I have just refused it to you。 I desire to
be loved and waited for with fidelity； nobleness； ardor； while all I
can give is infinite tenderness of which the expression may not
overstep the boundary of the heart； the permitted neutral ground。 All
this being thoroughly understoodOh！〃 she went on with a girlish
gesture； 〃I will be as coquettish； as gay； as glad； as a child which
knows nothing of the dangers of familiarity。〃
This plain and frank declaration was made in a tone； an accent； and
supported by a look which gave it the deepest stamp of truth。
〃A Princess Colonna could not have spoken better；〃 said Rodolphe；
smiling。
〃Is that；〃 she answered with some haughtiness； 〃a reflection on the
humbleness of my birth？ Must your love flaunt a coat…of…arms？ At Milan
the noblest names are written over shop…doors： Sforza； Canova；
Visconti； Trivulzio； Ursini； there are Archintos apothecaries； but；
believe me； though I keep a shop； I have the feelings of a duchess。〃
〃A reflection？ Nay； madame； I meant it for praise。〃
〃By a comparison？〃 she said archly。
〃Ah； once for all；〃 said he； 〃not to torture me if my words should ill
express my feelings； understand that my love is perfect； it carries
with it absolute obedience and respect。〃
She bowed as a woman satisfied； and said； 〃Then monsieur accepts the
treaty？〃
〃Yes；〃 said he。 〃I can understand that in a rich and powerful feminine
nature the faculty of loving ought not to be wasted； and that you； out
of delicacy； wished to restrain it。 Ah！ Francesca； at my age
tenderness requited； and by so sublime； so royally beautiful a
creature as you arewhy； it is the fulfilment of all my wishes。 To
love you as you desire to be lovedis not that enough to make a young
man guard himself against every evil folly？ Is it not to concentrate
all his powers in a noble passion； of which in the future he may be
proud； and which can leave none but lovely memories？ If you could but
know with what hues you have clothed the chain of Pilatus； the Rigi；
and this superb lake〃
〃I want to know；〃 said she； with the Italian artlessness which has
always a touch of artfulness。
〃Well； this hour will shine on all my life like a diamond on a queen's
brow。〃
Francesca's only reply was to lay her hand on Rodolphe's。
〃Oh dearest！ for ever dearest！Tell me； have you never loved？〃
〃Never。〃
〃And you allow me to love you nobly； looking to heaven for the utmost
fulfilment？〃 he asked。
She gently bent her head。 Two large tears rolled down Rodolphe's
cheeks。
〃Why！ what is the matter？〃 she cried； abandoning her imperial manner。
〃I have now no mother whom I can tell of my happiness； she left this
earth without seeing what would have mitigated her agony〃
〃What？〃 said she。
〃Her tenderness replaced by an equal tenderness〃
〃/Povero mio/！〃 exclaimed the Italian； much touched。 〃Believe me；〃 she
went on after a pause； 〃it is a very sweet thing； and to a woman； a
strong element of fidelity to know that she is all in all on earth to
the man she loves； to find him lonely； with no family； with nothing in
his heart but his lovein short； to have him wholly to herself。〃
When two lovers thus understand each other； the heart feels delicious
peace； supreme tranquillity。 Certainty is the basis for which human
feelings crave； for it is never lacking to religious sentiment； man is
always certain of being fully repaid by God。 Love never believes
itself secure but by this resemblance to divine love。 And the raptures
of that moment must have been fully felt to be understood； it is
unique in life； it can never return no more； alas！ than the emotions
of youth。 To believe in a woman； to make her your human religion； the
fount of life； the secret luminary of all your least thoughts！is not
this a second birth？ And a young man mingles with this love a little
of the feeling he had for his mother。
Rodolphe and Francesca for some time remained in perfect silence；
answering each other by sympathetic glances full of thoughts。 They
understood each other in the midst of one of the most beautiful scenes
of Nature； whose glories； interpreted by the glory in their hearts；
helped to stamp on their minds the most fugitive details of that
unique hour。 There had not been the slightest shade of frivolity in
Francesca's conduct。 It was noble； large； and without any second
thought。 This magnanimity struck Rodolphe greatly； for in it he
recognized the difference between the Italian and the Frenchwoman。 The
waters； the land； the sky； the woman； all were grandiose and suave；
even their love in the midst of this picture； so vast in its expanse；
so rich in detail； where the sternness of the snowy peaks and their
hard folds standing clearly out against the blue sky； reminded
Rodolphe of the circumstances which limited his happiness； a lovely
country shut in by snows。
This delightful intoxication of soul was destined to be disturbed。 A
boat was approaching from Lucerne； Gina； who had been watching it
attentively； gave a joyful start； though faithful to her part as a
mute。 The bark came nearer； when at length Francesca could distinguish
the faces on board； she exclaimed； 〃Tito！〃 as she perceived a young
man。 She stood up； and remained standing at the risk of being drowned。
〃Tito！ Tito！〃 cried she； waving her handkerchief。
Tito desired the boatmen to slacken； and the two boats pulled side by
side。 The Italian and Tito talked with such extreme rapidity； and in a
dialect unfamiliar to a man who hardly knew even the Italian of books；
that Rodolphe could neither hear nor guess the drift of this
conversation。 But Tito's handsome face； Francesca's familiarity； and
Gina's expression of delight； all aggrieved him。 And indeed no lover
can help being ill pleased at finding himself neglected for another；
whoever he may be。 Tito tossed a little leather bag to Gina； full of
gold no doubt； and a packet of letters to Francesca； who began to read
them； with a farewell wave of the hand to Tito。
〃Get quickly back to Gersau；〃 she said to the boatmen； 〃I will not let
my poor Emilio pine ten minutes longer than he need。〃
〃What has happened？〃 asked Rodolphe； as he saw Francesca finish
reading the las