What should you say, if I were to tell you where you may find
your husband?"
The woman looked at her, without speaking a word.
"Your husband is alive and well; and faithful old Vingo is at this
moment in my mother's family, where his wants, spiritual and temporal,
are cared for; and he has often told me, if he could but once again see
his wife, Phillis, he should die happy."
The woman gave one long, piercing cry, and sank upon the floor. At this
instant the artist issued from an adjoining apartment, and stood gazing
upon the scene.
"My God! what do I see?" exclaimed the gentleman, in a voice which
instantly riveted the Sea-flower's attention upon him.
"Tell me! in mercy tell me who thou art!" and he leaned against a column
for support.
Had Natalie been heir to that weakness which is somewhat characteristic
of the gentler sex, she might have been terrified at such deep,
impassioned language from a perfect stranger, trembling with the
certainty that she stood face to face with a lunatic; but no such fear
was hers. Advancing, she bowed low, in honor to his superior age,
saying, "pardon me, if I am an intruder here; yet, sir, an apology is
needless, for who can resist the grace and beauty which is here
displayed? My presence, sir, has evidently disturbed you, and if you
will permit me to ask one question, I will retire;--the Madonna, that
face of an angel, is she the pure production of your own soul, or can
it be that such as she has indeed been amongst us?"
"She has been, and has passed away!--has passed away," he repeated to
himself; "I never thought to meet her again until the dark river had
been crossed! but what do I see?" and he passed his hand over his eyes,
as if to assure himself that he were not dreaming.
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