The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 233: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE BRONZE STATUE. poetical in the description which he gave me of that contrast,’ observed Gondibert. with a smile. ‘He told me that if I could fancy the Lady Satanais with shining yellow hair, instead of her own raven tresses, and a complexion of milk | and roses, instead of her own transpa- rent olive skin, then should I have form- ed the perfect ideal of the Lady Gloria.’ ‘And such is indeed the truth,’ ob served Linda, searcely able to suppress an arch smile. At this moment the door of the cham- ber was partly opened, and Beatrice looked forth into the passage. ‘Come, Linda,’ she said, in a low and hurried tone, ‘the Lady Satanais + about to take her departure for Prague, | in order to throw herself at the feet of the Captain-General, and implore his | mercy on behalf of our beloved inistress ; but before she leaves, she wishes to give you certain instructions.’ ‘I will not keep her ladyship waiting a moment,’ said Linda, and she forth- with hurried back into the chamber. Gondibert, the Taborite sentinel, then resumed his walk to and fro outside the door of that apartment. In a few minutes Linda and Beatrice both came forth, weeping bitterly ; and, carefully closing the door behind them, they were moving slowly along the pas- sage, when Gondibert accosted them, | saying, ‘ Pardon me for intruding upon your grief, gentle damsels ; but may I ask if any fresh cause of sorrow has transpired ?’ ‘Is there not already sufficient to rend our hearts?’ murmured Linda, in a voice broken by sobs; then, regaining her self-possession by a great effort, she said, ‘The sisters are bidding each other farewell, perhaps for ever; and their grief was too sacred to be regarded even by the eyes of ourselves, who are devoted to them. We accordingly re- tired, and in a few minutes the Lady Satanais will go forth from that cham- ber where she is now weeping over her broken-hearted sister.’ + May all good saints prosper the mis- sion of the Lady Satanais to Prague (’ exclaimed Gondibert, with a fervor that ~= intercession which she will offer up to him "’ Scarcely were these words uttered, when the door of the chamber was | opéned abruptly—and the Daughter of | * Satan came forth! Yes, Satanais! attired in that pictu-! voice seemed like the soundsof a golden | the admirably-formed legs. oat is ' ¢ Rarewell, good and faithful maidens, | ‘ Yes—oh ! yes, she will soon be sav- | the came from his very soul; ‘and may the | mighty Zitzka listen favorably to the | 231 resque raiment in which she was. clad when we first introduced her to our rea- ders—the tight jacket of purple velvet, open at the bosom and laced with scar- let ribands, the crimson petticoat reach- ing just below the knees, and the va- ‘rious colored ribands twined round the | A deep, deep sorrow sate upon her icountenance , but the traces of her tears 'and of her more violent grief had disap- peared. The instant she emerged into the pas- sage, she closed the door behind her, ‘and with a graceful inclination acknow- ledged the salute of the Taborite soldier, who lowered his halberd in profound respect for that mysterious being who had obtained the love and the admiration of all the adherents of John Zitzka. — — : ' . ‘ ; es . . isaid Satanais, pausing for a moment thus to address Linda and Beatrice. ‘I go hence to Prague to obtain the par- don of my beloved Sister, your unhappy mistress. Return to her—hasten back ‘into her presence, and afford her all |your most tender consolations ; for she is deeply—oh ! too deeply afflicted.’ ‘Farewell, dear lady,’ said Linda, kissing the hand of Satanais. ‘May all good angels attend upon thee '? murmured Beatrice, as she like- wise pressed to her lips the hand of the Danghter of Satan. | «Once more farewell, dear maidens,’ isaid the lady, in a low and tremulous itone: then, turning away from Linda ‘and Beatrice, she accosted Gondibert, to ‘whom she spoke as follows: ‘ Kind- hearted follower of John Zitzka, I have | heard from one of these maidens enough ‘to induce me to mention thy name in | honorable terms to the Captain-General. Rest well assured that thou shalt not be forgotten.’ ‘God speed thy mission to Prague, eracious lady,’ said Gondibert, consider- ably affected; ‘and may thy sister be relieved from the perils which now sur- round her.’ — al i e.. . ae a be ot j a = * 4 « 4 - Ce a ee ee a he oe “a - ~ ‘ed from all danger,’ exclaimed Satanats, glorious hight which shone in her large black eyes suddenly becoming so overpoweringly resplendent that Gondi- 'dibert was compelled to cast down his looks. so dazzling and so bewildering 'was that preternatural lustre. To his ears was then wafted the word Farewell. which was breathed in the rich melodious tones of that lady whose comicbookKs.com