The past, the future were obliterated--as if the former had never
been, and the latter never would be. The whole world was without form
and void. Then, something like a dream, dim but stupendous, rose upon my
soul--a fluttering veil, now impenetrable, now transparent, and yielding
intermittent glimpses of a splendid but unattainable treasure. What did
you know or care about me in such moments? Doubtless your spirit was far
away from me. And yet, your mere bodily presence was sufficient to
intoxicate me--I felt it flowing through my veins like blood, taking
hold upon my soul with superhuman force----'
She sat silent and motionless, gazing straight before her, her figure
erect, her hands rigidly clasped in her lap, in the attitude of one who
makes a supreme effort to brace himself against his own weakness. Only
her mouth--the expression of the lips she vainly strove to keep
firm--betrayed a sort of anguished rapture.
'I dare not tell you all I feel.--Maria, Maria, can you forgive me?--say
that you forgive me.'
Two little hands came suddenly from behind the seat and clasped
themselves over the mother's eyes, and a voice panting with fun and
mischief cried--
'Guess who it is--guess who it is!'
She smiled, and allowed herself to be drawn backwards by Delfina's
clinging fingers, and instantly, with preternatural clearness, Andrea
saw that smile wipe away all the obscure, delicious pain from her lips,
efface every sign that might be construed into an avowal, put to flight
the least lingering shadow of uncertainty that he might possibly have
converted into a gleam of hope.
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