Pagina 195 de 788

During the dispute between the Judge and Telimena the Count had

been standing behind the trees, mightily affected by the scene.

He took from his pocket paper and pencil, implements that he had

always with him, and, leaning on a stump and spreading out the

sheet before him, he was evidently drawing a picture, and saying

to himself: "They might have been grouped thus intentionally, he

on the rock, she on the grass, a picturesque group! What

characteristic heads! and what contrasting faces!"

He approached, checked himself, wiped his lorgnette, brushed his

eyes with his handkerchief, and continued to gaze:-

"Is this marvellous, this charming prospect destined to perish or

to be transformed when I approach near it? Will that velvet grass

prove only poppies and beets? In that nymph shall I discover only

a mere housekeeper?"