"The trees surely were never so green
before, the sky so blue, or the flowers so fragrant. I feet as if I had
been born into the world only yesterday, and was looking upon nature for
the first time to-day. I never appreciated it before. When I remember
that I might even now be lying, stiff and stark, under a fine marble
monument, and that instead of that I am riding through an elysium,
beside my darling sister, who has really learned to love me, I am too
divinely happy. I do not even feel my wound any more. I don't believe
that I ever was wounded. And now for a gallop, for I'm sure that our
good father is wearying for us at home."
In spite of Isabelle's remonstrances he put spurs to his horse, and she
could not restrain hers when its companion bounded forward, so off
they went at a swift pace, and never drew rein until they reached the
chateau. As he lifted his sister down from her saddle, Vallombreuse
said, "Now, after to-day's achievement, I can surely be treated like a
big boy, and get permission to go out by myself."
"What! you want to go away and leave us already? and scarcely well yet,
you bad boy!"
"Even so, my sweet sister; I want to make a little journey that will
take several days," said Vallombreuse negligently.
Pages:
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592