Pagina 565 di 788

"Are you going away so soon? I want to give you a little present

for the journey and a bit of warning too: always carry with you

these relics and this picture, and remember Zosia. May the Lord

God guide you in health and happiness and may he soon guide you

back prosperously to us!"

She ceased, and lowered her head; hardly had she closed her blue

eyes, when floods of tears escaped from under her lashes, and

Zosia stood there silent, with closed eyelids, shedding tears

like diamonds.

Thaddeus, taking his gifts, kissed her hand, and said: "Panna

Sophia, now I must bid you good-bye! Farewell, do not forget me,

and deign sometimes to repeat a prayer for me! Sophia!--" He

could say no more.

But the Count, who had entered unexpectedly with Telimena and had

observed the tender farewell of the young pair, was much moved,

and said with a glance at Telimena:-