the daughter of an empress-第32部分

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upholsterers　had　come　and　so　improved　the　villa；　within　and　without；　that　it　now　made　a　stately　and　beautiful　appearance　amid　the　dense　foliage　of　the　trees。　It　had　been　expensively　and　splendidly　furnished　with　every　thing　desirable　for　a　rich　man's　dwelling；　and　the　upholsterers　had　enough　to　relate　to　the　listening　Romans　of　the　elegant　magnificence　now　displayed　in　this　formerly　pitiable　villa。　How　gladly　would　the　former　promenaders　now　have　returned　to　this　garden；　how　gladly　would　they　now　have　revisited　this　villa；　which；　with　its　deserted　halls　and　its　ragged　and　dirty　tapestry；　had　formerly　seemed　to　them　not　worth　looking　at！　But　their　return　to　it　was　now　rendered　impossible；　for　on　the　same　day　in　which　the　new　owner　took　possession　of　the　garden；　he　had　brought　with　him　more　than　fifty　workmen；　who　had　immediately　commenced　surrounding　it　with　a　high　wall。

Higher　and　higher　rose　the　wall；　nobody　could　see　over　it；　as　no　giant　was　sufficiently　tall；　no　one　could　climb　over　it；　as　the　smoothly…　hammered　stones　of　which　it　was　built　offered　not　the　least　supporting　point。　The　garden　with　its　villa　had　become　a　secret　mystery　to　the　Romans！　They　yet　heard　the　rustling　of　the　trees；　they　saw　the　green　branches　waving　in　the　wind；　but　of　what　occurred　under　those　branches　and　in　those　shaded　walks　they　could　know　nothing。　At　first；　some　curious　individuals　had　ventured　to　knock　at　the　low；　narrow　door　that　formed　the　only　entrance　into　this　walled　garden。　They　had　knocked　at　that　door　and　demanded　entrance。　Then　would　a　small　sliding　window　be　opened；　and　a　gruff；　bearded　man　with　angry　voice　would　ask　what　was　wanted；　and　at　the　same　time　inform　the　knocker　that　no　one　could　be　admitted；　that　he　and　his　two　bulldogs　would　be　able　to　keep　the　garden　clear　of　all　intruders。　And　the　two　great　hounds；　as　if　they　understood　the　threats　of　their　master；　would　show　their　teeth；　and　their　threatening　growl　would　rise　to　a　loud　and　angry　bark。

They　soon　ceased　to　knock　at　that　door；　and；　as　they　could　not　gain　admission；　they　took　the　next　best　course；　of　assuming　the　appearance　of　not　wishing　it。

Four　years　had　since　passed；　they　had　overcome　the　desire　to　enter　the　premises　or　to　look　over　the　wall；　but　they　told　wondrous　tales　of　the　garden　and　of　a　beautiful　fairy　who　dwelt　in　it；　and　whose　soft；　melodious　voice　was　sometimes　heard　in　the　stillness　of　the　night　singing　sweet；　transporting　songs。　No　one　had　seen　her；　this　fairy；　but　she　was　certainly　beautiful；　and　of　course　young；　there　were　also　some　bold　individuals　who　asserted　that　when　the　moon　shone　brightly　and　goldenly；　the　young　fairy　was　then　to　be　seen　in　the　tops　of　the　trees　or　upon　the　edge　of　the　wall。　Light　as　an　elf；　transparent　as　a　moonbeam；　she　there　swung　to　and　fro；　executing　the　singular　dances　and　singing　songs　that　brought　tears　to　the　eyes　and　compassion　to　the　hearts　of　those　who　heard　them。　On　hearing　these　tales；　the　Romans　would　make　the　sign　of　the　cross；　and　pass　more　quickly　by　the　walls　of　this　garden；　which　thenceforth　they　called　〃/The　Charmed　Garden/。〃　It　was　indeed　a　charmed　garden！　It　was　an　island　of　happiness；　behind　these　walls；　concealed　from　the　knavery　of　the　world。　Like　an　eternal　smile　of　the　Divinity　rested　the　heavens　over　this　ever…blooming；　ever…fragrant　garden；　in　whose　myrtle…bushes　the　nightingales　sang；　and　in　whose　silver…clear　basins　the　goldfishes　splashed。

Yes；　it　was　indeed　a　charmed　garden；　and　also　had　its　fairy；　who；　if　she　did　not　compete　with　the　moonbeams　in　rocking　herself　on　the　tops　of　the　trees　and　the　edges　of　the　wall；　was　nevertheless　as　delicate　as　an　elf；　and　who　tripped　from　flower　to　brook　and　from　brook　to　hill　as　lightly　and　gracefully　as　the　gazelle。　The　whole　spring；　the　whole　youth　of　nature；　flashed　and　beamed　from　this　beautiful　maiden…face；　so　full　of　childlike　innocence；　purity；　and　peace。　No　storm　had　as　yet　passed　over　these　smiling　features；　not　the　smallest　leaf　of　this　rose　had　been　touched　by　an　ungentle　hand；　freely　and　freshly　had　she　blossomed　in　luxuriant　natural　beauty；　she　had　drunk　the　dews　of　heaven；　but　not　the　dew　of　tears；　for　those　deeply…dark　beaming　eyes　had　wept　only　such　tears　as　where　called　forth　by　emotions　of　joy　and　happiness。

She　sat　under　a　myrtle；　whose　blossoming　branches　bent　down　to　her　as　if　they　would　entwine　that　pure　and　tender　brow　with　a　bridal　wreath。　With　her　head　thrown　back　upon　these　branches；　she　reposed　with　an　inimitable　grace　her　reclining　form。　A　white　transparent　robe；　held　by　a　golden　clasp；　fell　in　waves　to　her　feet；　which　were　encased　in　gold…　embroidered　slippers　of　dark…red　leather。　A　blushing　rose　was　fastened　by　a　diamond　pin　in　the　folds　of　her　dress　upon　her　budding　bosom；　finely　contrasting　with　the　delicate　flush　upon　her　cheeks。　A　guitar　rested　upon　her　full　round　arm。　She　had　been　singing；　this　beautiful　fairy　child；　but　her　song　was　now　silenced；　and　she　was　glancing　up　to　the　clouds；　following　their　movements　with　her　dreamy；　thoughtful　eyes。　A　smile　hovered　about　her　fresh；　youthful　lipsthe　smile　peculiar　to　innocence　and　happiness。

She　dreamed；　precious；　ecstatic　images　passed　before　her　mental　eyes；　she　dreamed　of　a　distant　land　in　which　she　had　once　been；　of　a　distant　house　in　which　she　had　once　dwelt。　It　was　even　more　beautiful　and　splendid　than　this　which　she　now　occupied；　but　it　had　lacked　this　blue　sky　and　fragrant　atmosphere；　it　lacked　these　trees　and　flowers；　these　myrtle　bushes；　and　these　songs　of　the　nightingale；　and　upon　a　few　summer　days　had　followed　long；　dull　winter　months　with　their　cold　winding…sheet　of　snow；　with　their　benumbing　masses　of　ice；　and　the　fantastic　flowers　painted　on　the　windows　by　the　frost。　And　yet；　and　yet；　there　had　been　a　sun　which　shone　into　her　heart　warmer　than　this　bright　sun　of　Italy；　and　the　thought　of　which　spread　a　purple　glow　upon　her　cheeks。　This　sun　had　shone　upon　her　from　the　tender　glances　of　a　lady　whom　she　had　loved　as　a　tutelar　genius；　as　a　divinity；　as　the　bright　star　of　her　existence！　Whenever　that　lady　had　come　to　her　in　the　solitary　house　in　which　she　then　dwelt；　then　had　all　appeared　to　her　as　in　a　transfiguration；　then　had　even　her　peevish　old　servant　learned　to　smile　and　become　humble　and　friendly；　then　all　was　joy　and　happiness；　and　whoever　saw　that　beautiful　and　brilliant　lady；　had　thought　himself　blessed；　and　had　fallen　down　to　adore　her。

Of　that　lady　was　the　young　maiden　now　thinking；　of　that　memorable　woman　with　the　flashing　eyes　whose　tender　glance　had　always　penetrated　the　heart　of　the　child　with　delight；　whose　tender　words　yet　resounded　like　music　in　her　ears。

Where　was　she　now；　this　lady　of　her　love；　her　longings？　why　had　she　been　brought　away　from　that　house　with　its　snowy　winding…sheet　and　the　ice　drapery　upon　its　windows？　Where　lay　that　house；　and　where　had　she　to　seek　it　with　her　thoughts？　What　was　the　language　she　had　there　spoken；　and　which　she　now　secretly　spoke　in　her　heart；　although　nobody　else　addressed　her　in　it；　no　one　about　her　understood　it；　and　wherefore　had　her　friend　and　protector；　he　who　had　brought　her　here；　who　had　always　been　with　her；　wherefore　had　he　suddenly　given　himself　the　appearance　of　no　longer　understanding　it？

And　even　as　she　was　thinking　of　him；　of　this　dear　friend　and　protector；　he　came　along　down　the　alley；　his　tall　form　appeared　at　the　end　of　the　walk；　she　recognized　his　noble　features；　with　the　proud　eagle　glance　and　the　bold　arched　brow。

The　young　maiden　arose　from　her　seat　and　hastened　to　meet　him。

〃How　charming　that　you　have　come；　Paulo；〃　she　gayly　said；　stretching　forth　her　little　hands　toward　him。　〃I　must　ask　you　something；　and　that　directly；　Paulo。　Tell　me　quickly　what　is　that　language　called　in　which　we　formerly　conversed　together；　and　why　have　we　ceased　to　speak　it　since　we　came　here　to　Rome？〃

Paulo's　brow　became　slightly　clouded；　but　when　he　looked　into　her　beautiful　face；　animated　by　expectant　curiosity；　this　expression　of　displeasure　quickly　vanished　from　his　features；　and；　threatening　her　with　his　finger；　he　said：

〃Always　this　same　question；　Natalie；　and　yet　I　have　so　often　begged　of　you　to　forget　the　past；　and　live　only　in　the　present；　my　dear；　sweet　child！　The　past　is　sunken　in　an　immeasurable　gulf　behind　you；　which　you　can　never　pass；　and　if　it　stretches　out　its　arms　to　you；　it　will　only　be　for　the　purpose　of　dragging　you　down　into　the　abyss　with　it。　Forget　it；　therefore；　my　Natalie；　and　yield　thyself　to　this　beautiful　and　delightful　present；　to　increase　for　you　the　attractions　of　which　will　ever　be　the　dearest　task　of　my　life。〃

〃It　is　true；〃　said　the　young　maiden；　sighing；　〃I　am　wrong　to　be　always　recurring　to　those　long…past　times；　you　must　pardon　me；　Paulo；　but　you　will　also　acknowledge　that　my　enigmatical　past　justifies　me　in　feeling　some　curiosity。　Only　think　how　it　began！　You　one　day　came　rushing　to　my　room；　you　pressed　me　all　trembling　to　your　heart；　and　silently　bore　me　away。　'Natalie；'　said　you；　'danger　threatens　you；　I　will　save；　or　perish　with　you！'　You　mounted　your　horse　with　me　in　your　arms。　Behind　us　screamed　and　moaned　the　servants　of　my　house；　but　you　regarded　them　not；　and　I　trustingly　clung　to　your　heart；　for　I　knew　that　if　danger　threatened　me；　you　would　surely　save　me！　Oh；　do　you　yet　remember　that　fabulous　ride？　How　we　rested　in　out…of…the…way　houses；　or　with　poor　peasant　people；　and　then　proceeded　on　farther　and　farther！　And　how　the　sun　constantly　grew　warmer；　melting　the　snow；　and　you　constantly　became　more　cheerful　and　happy；　until；　one　day；　you　impetuously　pressed　me　to　your　bosom；　and　said：　'Natalie；　we　are　saved！　Life　and　the　future　are　now　yours！　Look　around　you；　we　are　in　Italy。　Here　you　can　be　free　and　happy！'　〃

〃And　was　not　that　a　good　prophecy？〃　asked　Paulo。　〃Has　it　not　been　fulfilled？　Are　you　not　happy？〃

〃I　should　be　so；〃　sighed　Natalie；　〃could　I　avoid　thinking　so　often　of　that　past！　Those　words　which　you　then　spoke　to　me　were　the　last　I　ever　heard　in　that　language；　which　I　had　always　spoken　until　then；　but　of　which　I　know　not　the　name！　From　that　hour　you　spoke　to　me　in　an　unknown　tongue；　and　I　felt　like　a　poor　deserted　orphan；　from　whom　was　taken　her　last　possession；　her　language！〃

〃And　yet　whole　peoples　have　been　robbed　of　that　last　and　de