Ah, the whole world grows
dark and casts a mourning veil over its bright face!"
And the timid child, clinging to Marianne's arm, concealed her face in
the bosom of her motherly friend.
"And you call that an omen!" said Carlo, with forced cheerfulness. "This
time, princess, I am the _fatum_ which has alarmed you! It is my own
fault that this string broke. It was already injured and half broken
this evening when I tuned the guitar, but I hoped it would suffice for
the low, sad melodies you now always play. Yes, could I have known that
you would have so exulted and shouted, I should have replaced it with
another string, and this great misfortune would not have occurred."
While speaking, he had again attached the string and drawn it tight.
"The defective string is quickly repaired, and you can recommence your
hymn of joy," he said, handing back the guitar to Natalie.
She sadly shook her head. "It is passed," said she, "I can exult and
sing no more to-day, and have an aversion to this garden. See how black
and threatening these pines rise up, and do not these myrtle-bushes
resemble large dark graves? No, no; it frightens me here--I can no
longer remain among these graves and these watchers of the dead! Come,
let us go to our rooms! It is night--we will sleep and dream! Come, let
us immediately go into the house.
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