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〃Oh！〃 she said； 〃I who would fain unfasten yours and kiss your feet！〃
〃Keep such words for Wilfrid；〃 said Seraphitus； gently。
〃Wilfrid！〃 cried Minna angrily； then； softening as she glanced at her
companion's face and trying； but in vain； to take his hand； she added；
〃You are never angry； never； you are so hopelessly perfect in all
things。〃
〃From which you conclude that I am unfeeling。〃
Minna was startled at this lucid interpretation of her thought。
〃You prove to me； at any rate； that we understand each other；〃 she
said； with the grace of a loving woman。
Seraphitus softly shook his head and looked sadly and gently at her。
〃You； who know all things；〃 said Minna； 〃tell me why it is that the
timidity I felt below is over now that I have mounted higher。 Why do I
dare to look at you for the first time face to face； while lower down
I scarcely dared to give a furtive glance？〃
〃Perhaps because we are withdrawn from the pettiness of earth；〃 he
answered； unfastening his pelisse。
〃Never； never have I seen you so beautiful！〃 cried Minna； sitting down
on a mossy rock and losing herself in contemplation of the being who
had now guided her to a part of the peak hitherto supposed to be
inaccessible。
Never； in truth； had Seraphitus shone with so bright a radiance；the
only word which can render the illumination of his face and the aspect
of his whole person。 Was this splendor due to the lustre which the
pure air of mountains and the reflections of the snow give to the
complexion？ Was it produced by the inward impulse which excites the
body at the instant when exertion is arrested？ Did it come from the
sudden contrast between the glory of the sun and the darkness of the
clouds； from whose shadow the charming couple had just emerged？
Perhaps to all these causes we may add the effect of a phenomenon； one
of the noblest which human nature has to offer。 If some able
physiologist had studied this being （who； judging by the pride on his
brow and the lightning in his eyes seemed a youth of about seventeen
years of age）； and if the student had sought for the springs of that
beaming life beneath the whitest skin that ever the North bestowed
upon her offspring； he would undoubtedly have believed either in some
phosphoric fluid of the nerves shining beneath the cuticle； or in the
constant presence of an inward luminary； whose rays issued through the
being of Seraphitus like a light through an alabaster vase。 Soft and
slender as were his hands； ungloved to remove his companion's snow…
boots； they seemed possessed of a strength equal to that which the
Creator gave to the diaphanous tentacles of the crab。 The fire darting
from his vivid glance seemed to struggle with the beams of the sun；
not to take but to give them light。 His body； slim and delicate as
that of a woman； gave evidence of one of those natures which are
feeble apparently； but whose strength equals their will； rendering
them at times powerful。 Of medium height； Seraphitus appeared to grow
in stature as he turned fully round and seemed about to spring upward。
His hair； curled by a fairy's hand and waving to the breeze； increased
the illusion produced by this aerial attitude； yet his bearing； wholly
without conscious effort； was the result far more of a moral
phenomenon than of a corporal habit。
Minna's imagination seconded this illusion； under the dominion of
which all persons would assuredly have fallen；an illusion which gave
to Seraphitus the appearance of a vision dreamed of in happy sleep。 No
known type conveys an image of that form so majestically made to
Minna； but which to the eyes of a man would have eclipsed in womanly
grace the fairest of Raphael's creations。 That painter of heaven has
ever put a tranquil joy； a loving sweetness； into the lines of his
angelic conceptions； but what soul； unless it contemplated Seraphitus
himself； could have conceived the ineffable emotions imprinted on his
face？ Who would have divined； even in the dreams of artists； where all
things become possible； the shadow cast by some mysterious awe upon
that brow； shining with intellect； which seemed to question Heaven and
to pity Earth？ The head hovered awhile disdainfully； as some majestic
bird whose cries reverberate on the atmosphere； then bowed itself
resignedly； like the turtledove uttering soft notes of tenderness in
the depths of the silent woods。 His complexion was of marvellous
whiteness； which brought out vividly the coral lips； the brown
eyebrows； and the silken lashes； the only colors that trenched upon
the paleness of that face； whose perfect regularity did not detract
from the grandeur of the sentiments expressed in it； nay； thought and
emotion were reflected there； without hindrance or violence； with the
majestic and natural gravity which we delight in attributing to
superior beings。 That face of purest marble expressed in all things
strength and peace。
Minna rose to take the hand of Seraphitus； hoping thus to draw him to
her； and to lay on that seductive brow a kiss given more from
admiration than from love； but a glance at the young man's eyes； which
pierced her as a ray of sunlight penetrates a prism； paralyzed the
young girl。 She felt； but without comprehending； a gulf between them；
then she turned away her head and wept。 Suddenly a strong hand seized
her by the waist； and a soft voice said to her： 〃Come！〃 She obeyed；
resting her head； suddenly revived； upon the heart of her companion；
who； regulating his step to hers with gentle and attentive conformity；
led her to a spot whence they could see the radiant glories of the
polar Nature。
〃Before I look； before I listen to you； tell me； Seraphitus； why you
repulse me。 Have I displeased you？ and how？ tell me！ I want nothing
for myself； I would that all my earthly goods were yours； for the
riches of my heart are yours already。 I would that light came to my
eyes only though your eyes just as my thought is born of your thought。
I should not then fear to offend you； for I should give you back the
echoes of your soul； the words of your heart； day by day；as we
render to God the meditations with which his spirit nourishes our
minds。 I would be thine alone。〃
〃Minna； a constant desire is that which shapes our future。 Hope on！
But if you would be pure in heart mingle the idea of the All…Powerful
with your affections here below； then you will love all creatures； and
your heart will rise to heights indeed。〃
〃I will do all you tell me；〃 she answered； lifting her eyes to his
with a timid movement。
〃I cannot be your companion；〃 said Seraphitus sadly。
He seemed to repress some thoughts； then stretched his arms towards
Christiana； just visible like a speck on the horizon and said：
〃Look！〃
〃We are very small；〃 she said。
〃Yes； but we become great through feeling and through intellect；〃
answered Seraphitus。 〃With us； and us alone； Minna； begins the
knowledge of things；