Part 13 (1/2)
She, however, s on?”
To speak to Cornelius of his tulip was an expedient resorted to by her to , even Rosa herself
”Very well, indeed,” he said, ”the coat is growing black, the sprouting has coht days hence, and perhaps sooner, weAnd yours Rosa?”
”Oh, I have done things on a large scale, and according to your directions”
”Now, let me hear, Rosa, what you have done,” said Cornelius, with as tender an anxiety as he had lately shown to herself
”Well,” she said, s this double love of the prisoner for herself and for the black tulip, ”I have done things on a large scale; I have prepared a bed as you described it to htly ment of stone or pebble”
”Well done, Rosa, well done”
”I a for your further orders to put in the bulb, you know that I must be behindhand with you, as I have in ood air, of the sun, and abundance of moisture”
”All true, all true,” exclaiood pupil, Rosa, and you are sure to gain your hundred thousand guilders”
”Don't forget,” said Rosa, s, ”that your pupil, as you call s to learn besides the cultivation of tulips”
”Yes, yes, and I am as anxious as you are, Rosa, that you should learn to read”
”When shall we begin?”
”At once”
”No, to-morrow”
”Why to-morrow?”
”Because to-day our hour is expired, and I must leave you”
”Already? But what shall we read?”
”Oh,” said Rosa, ”I have a book, -- a book which I hope will bring us luck”
”To- evening Rosa returned with the Bible of Cornelius de Witt
Chapter 17
The First Bulb
On the following evening, as we have said, Rosa returned with the Bible of Cornelius de Witt
Then began between thescenes which are the delight of the novelist who has to describe theh which the two lovers were able to co a book, although it had been quite convenient for them to read each other's faces
Rosa therefore had to press the open book against the grating edgewise, holding above it in her right hand the la it to the bars, so as to afford her a little rest Rosa was then enabled to folloith her finger the letters and syllables, which she was to spell for Cornelius, ith a straw pointed out the letters to his attentive pupil through the holes of the grating
The light of the lamp illuminated the rich coolden hair under her head-dress of gold brocade, with her fingers held up, and showing in the blood, as it flowed doards in the veins that pale pink hue which shi+nes before the light owing to the living transparency of the flesh tint
Rosa's intellect rapidly developed itself under the ani influence of Cornelius, and when the difficulties see hearts see returned to her roo lessons, and at the saht which she had felt whilst receiving the she came half an hour later than usual This was too extraordinary an instance not to call forth at once Cornelius's inquiries after its cause
”Oh! do not be angry with me,” she said, ”it is not my fault My father has renewed an acquaintance with an old crony who used to visit hiue, and to ask hiood sort of fellow, fond of his bottle, tells funny stories, and moreover is very free with his money, so as always to be ready to stand a treat”
”You don't know anything further of him?” asked Cornelius, surprised
”No,” she answered; ”it's only for about a fortnight that my father has taken such a fancy to this friend who is so assiduous in visiting hi his head uneasily as every new incident seemed to him to forebode some catastrophe; ”very likely some spy, one of those who are sent into jails to watch both prisoners and their keepers”
”I don't believe that,” said Rosa, s after any one, it is certainly not after my father”
”After whom, then?”
”Me, for instance”
”You?”
”Why not?” said Rosa, s
”Ah, that's true,” Cornelius observed, with a sigh ”You will not always have suitors in vain; thisto the contrary”
”What cause have you to entertain such a happy prospect?”
”Rather say, this fear, Mynheer Cornelius”
”Thank you, Rosa, you are right; well, I will say then, this fear?”
”I have only this reason ---- ”
”Tell me, I am anxious to hear”
”This ue I remember now, it was just about the time when you were confined there When I left, he left too; when I caue his pretext was that he wanted to see you”