He stood there awhile;
then he said, "Alas! am I now Grief's disappointed son at last?"
He did not stop to examine his mind, and to try to find out what
he probably meant by that, because, for one reason, "a mixture
of ambition and greatness of soul moved upon his young heart,"
and started him for the village. He resumed his bench in school,
"and reasonably progressed in his education." His heart was heavy,
but he went into society, and sought surcease of sorrow in its
light distractions. He made himself popular with his violin,
"which seemed to have a thousand chords--more symphonious than the
Muses of Apollo, and more enchanting than the ghost of the Hills."
This is obscure, but let it go.
During this interval Leos did some unencouraged courting, but at last,
"choked by his undertaking," he desisted.
Presently "Elfonzo again wends his way to the stately walls and
new-built village." He goes to the house of his beloved; she opens
the door herself. To my surprise--for Ambulinia's heart had still
seemed free at the time of their last interview--love beamed from the
girl's eyes. One sees that Elfonzo was surprised, too; for when he caught
that light, "a halloo of smothered shouts ran through every vein."
A neat figure--a very neat figure, indeed! Then he kissed her.
"The scene was overwhelming." They went into the parlor. The girl
said it was safe, for her parents were abed, and would never know.
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