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And； darkly bright； are bright in dark directed。
Shakespeare。
Zanoni followed the young Neapolitan into her house； Gionetta
vanished；they were left alone。
Alone； in that room so often filled； in the old happy days； with
the wild melodies of Pisani； and now； as she saw this mysterious；
haunting； yet beautiful and stately stranger； standing on the
very spot where she had sat at her father's feet； thrilled and
spellbound；she almost thought； in her fantastic way of
personifying her own airy notions； that that spiritual Music had
taken shape and life； and stood before her glorious in the image
it assumed。 She was unconscious all the while of her own
loveliness。 She had thrown aside her hood and veil； her hair；
somewhat disordered； fell over the ivory neck which the dress
partially displayed； and as her dark eyes swam with grateful
tears； and her cheek flushed with its late excitement； the god of
light and music himself never； amidst his Arcadian valleys；
wooed； in his mortal guise； maiden or nymph more fair。
Zanoni gazed at her with a look in which admiration seemed not
unmingled with compassion。 He muttered a few words to himself；
and then addressed her aloud。
〃Viola； I have saved you from a great peril； not from dishonour
only； but perhaps from death。 The Prince di ； under a weak
despot and a venal administration； is a man above the law。 He is
capable of every crime； but amongst his passions he has such
prudence as belongs to ambition； if you were not to reconcile
yourself to your shame； you would never enter the world again to
tell your tale。 The ravisher has no heart for repentance； but he
has a hand that can murder。 I have saved you； Viola。 Perhaps
you would ask me wherefore？〃 Zanoni paused； and smiled
mournfully； as he added； 〃You will not wrong me by the thought
that he who has preserved is not less selfish than he who would
have injured。 Orphan； I do not speak to you in the language of
your wooers； enough that I know pity； and am not ungrateful for
affection。 Why blush； why tremble at the word？ I read your
heart while I speak； and I see not one thought that should give
you shame。 I say not that you love me yet； happily； the fancy
may be roused long before the heart is touched。 But it has been
my fate to fascinate your eye； to influence your imagination。 It
is to warn you against what could bring you but sorrow； as I
warned you once to prepare for sorrow itself； that I am now your
guest。 The Englishman； Glyndon； loves thee well；better；
perhaps； than I can ever love； if not worthy of thee； yet； he has
but to know thee more to deserve thee better。 He may wed thee；
he may bear thee to his own free and happy land；the land of thy
mother's kin。 Forget me； teach thyself to return and deserve his
love； and I tell thee that thou wilt be honoured and be happy。〃
Viola listened with silent； inexpressible emotion； and burning
blushes； to this strange address； and when he had concluded； she
covered her face with her hands； and wept。 And yet； much as his
words were calculated to humble or irritate； to produce
indignation or excite shame； those were not the feelings with
which her eyes streamed and her heart swelled。 The woman at that
moment was lost in the child； and AS a child； with all its
exacting； craving； yet innocent desire to be loved； weeps in
unrebuking sadness when its affection is thrown austerely back
upon itself；so； without anger and without shame； wept Viola。
Zanoni contemplated her thus； as her graceful head； shadowed by
its redundant tresses； bent before him； and after a moment's
pause he drew near to her； and said； in a voice of the most
soothing sweetness； and with a half smile upon his lip；
〃Do you remember； when I told you to struggle for the light； that
I pointed for example to the resolute and earnest tree？ I did
not tell you； fair child； to take example by the moth； that would
soar to the star； but falls scorched beside the lamp。 Come； I
will talk to thee。 This Englishman〃
Viola drew herself away； and wept yet more passionately。
〃This Englishman is of thine own years； not far above thine own
rank。 Thou mayst share his thoughts in life；thou mayst sleep
beside him in the same grave in death！ And Ibut THAT view of
the future should concern us not。 Look into thy heart； and thou
wilt see that till again my shadow crossed thy path； there had
grown up for this thine equal a pure and calm affection that
would have ripened into love。 Hast thou never pictured to
thyself a home in which thy partner was thy young wooer？〃
〃Never！〃 said Viola； with sudden energy；〃never but to feel that
such was not the fate ordained me。 And； oh！〃 she continued；
rising suddenly； and； putting aside the tresses that veiled her
face； she fixed her eyes upon the questioner；〃and； oh！ whoever
thou art that thus wouldst read my soul and shape my future； do
not mistake the sentiment that； that〃 she faltered an instant；
and went on with downcast eyes；〃that has fascinated my thoughts
to thee。 Do not think that I could nourish a love unsought and
unreturned。 It is not love that I feel for thee； stranger。 Why
should I？ Thou hast never spoken to me but to admonish；and
now； to wound！〃 Again she paused； again her voice faltered； the
tears trembled on her eyelids； she brushed them away and resumed。
〃No； not love；if that be love which I have heard and read of；
and sought to simulate on the stage；but a more solemn； fearful；
and； it seems to me； almost preternatural attraction； which makes
me associate thee； waking or dreaming； with images that at once
charm and awe。 Thinkest thou； if it were love； that I could
speak to thee thus； that；〃 she raised her looks suddenly to his；
〃mine eyes could thus search and confront thine own？ Stranger； I
ask but at times to see； to hear thee！ Stranger； talk not to me
of others。 Forewarn； rebuke； bruise my heart； reject the not
unworthy gratitude it offers thee； if thou wilt； but come not
always to me as an omen of grief and trouble。 Sometimes have I
seen thee in my dreams surrounded by shapes of glory and light；
thy looks radiant with a celestial joy which they wear not now。
Stranger； thou hast saved me； and I thank and bless thee！ Is
that also a homage thou wouldst reject？〃 With these words； she
crossed her arms meekly on her bosom； and inclined lowlily before
him。 Nor did her humility seem unwomanly or abject； nor that of
mistress to lover； of slave to master； but rather of a child to
its guardian； of a neophyte of the old religion to her priest。
Zanoni's brow was melancholy and thoughtful。 He looked at her
with a strange expression of kindness； of sorrow； yet of tender
affection； in his eyes； but his lips were stern； and his voice
cold； as he replied；
〃Do you know what you ask； Viola？ Do you guess the danger to
yourselfperhaps to both of uswhich you court？ Do you know
that my life； separated from the turbulent herd