"I can look you frankly in the eye," murmured she, "and no guilt
burdens my conscience. I have loved naught but you, and my God only
dwells near you in my heart." Wholly overcome, wholly intoxicated
with happiness, she leaned her head upon his shoulder, and as he
clasped her in his arms, as he covered with kisses her now
unresisting lips, she felt only that she loved him unutterably, and
that there was no happiness for her except with him.
It was a sweet dream, a moment of most exquisite ecstasy. But it was
only a moment. A hand was laid violently on her shoulder, a hoarse
angry voice called her name; and as she looked up, she encountered
the wild glance of Elizabeth, who stood before her with deathly pale
cheeks, with trembling lips, with expanded nostrils, and eyes
darting flashes of wrath and hatred.
"This, then, is the friendly service which you swore to me?" said
she, gnashing her teeth. "Did you steal into my confidence, and with
scoffing mouth spy out the secrets of my heart, in order to go away
and betray them to your paramour? That you might in his arms
ridicule this pitiable maiden, who allowed herself for the moment to
be betrayed by her heart, and took a felon for an honorable man!
Woe, woe to you, Catharine, for I tell you I will have no compassion
on the adulteress, who mocks at me, and betrays my father!"
She was raving; completely beside herself with anger, she dashed
away the hand which Catharine laid on her shoulder, and sprang back
from the touch of her enemy like an irritated lioness.
Pages:
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521