A STORY OF EVERY-DAY LIFE. BY FREDERIKA BREMER. TRANSLATED BY MARY HOWITT. IN TWO VOLUMES.-VOL. II. LONDON: LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 1842. 266. THE NEIGHBOURS. CHAPTER X. FRAGMENT OF A LETTER FROM BRUNO M TO ANTONIO DE R ... I approached her without purpose. I would merely contemplate the beauty of her countenance; the glory of innocence, which rested upon it like a clear heaven. I would merely listen to her voice, her words; observe all her living grace. What the freshness of waves, what the tune of a song, what the endearments of my mother had been to me, that was to me her presence. I felt happy as I heard her voice; at her glance every painful feeling, every unholy thought withdrew;-I was better. Neither she nor I, but the Power which planted volcanic fire in the depths of my being, is the cause that this feeling suddenly grew into a devouring flame. But I love her not, if I ever loved before. No Serena stood on my nightly way;-she is my first pure love. And precisely on that account, VOL. II. B |