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At first, Natalie had listened to him with terror and astonishment; then

an expression of noble pride was to be read upon her features, a glowing

flush flitted over her delicate cheeks, and with flashing eyes and a

heaving boso up from her seat Proud as a queen she rose

erect, the blood of her ancestors awoke in her; she at this moment felt

herself free as an e her

ararden, she said in a deternor Carlo! Leavein

common with each other!"

Carlo seemed as if awakened fro and anxious, he stared at the angry

of what he had said; he co; he was conscious only of his

long-suppressed, long-concealed secret love And, grasping Natalie's

hands with an i ainst her will, to rerassy

bank before which he knelt

As he looked up to her with those glowing, passionate glances, afor the first time came over her, an anxiety and

timidity inexplicable to herself! Her delicate, transparent cheeks

paled, tears filled her eyes, and, folding her hands with a childishly

supplicating expression, she said in a low, tremulous tone: "My God,