United States or Afghanistan ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
But a few minutes passed before he saw Veranilda enter. She was clad for travel, a veil over her face; this, and the shadow in which Basil stood, made her at first unaware of his presence, for Venantius had only requested her to enter this room until the carriage was ready. Standing with bowed head, she sobbed. 'Why do you weep? demanded an abrupt voice, which made her draw back trembling.
If ever he thought of marriage, policy and ambition turned his mind towards the royal Franks; but the time for that had not yet come. Meanwhile, having spoken with the young Roman whom Veranilda loved, he saw in Basil a useful instrument, and resolved, if his loyalty to the Goths bore every test, to reward him with Veranilda's hand.
He had visited Heliodora, yes, but merely because he would neglect no chance of learning where Veranilda was imprisoned; it was not impossible that through this woman such a secret might be discovered. He the rival of that debauched boy! He the lover of Heliodora! Had he sunk so low in the esteem of his best friend?
'Once. The first time does not count; you exchanged hardly a dozen words. When, added Aurelia, smiling, 'were you so dashed in a maid's presence? 'Nay, never! I am not accused of too much modesty; but when I entered and looked on Veranilda oh, it was the strangest moment of my life! Noble cousin, he added pleadingly, 'honoured Aurelia, do but tell me what is her parentage?
Sagaris did not know that among her seekers was King Totila himself; on the other hand, he had much reason for suspecting that Marcian pursued Veranilda with a lover's passion, and when the journey ended at the island villa, when the convoy of horsemen was dismissed, when he himself was sent off to a distance, he saw his suspicion confirmed.
But let us see the result of her conversation with Bessas. She smiled disdainfully when I mentioned his name, and tried to continue smiling when I carelessly explained the interest he had in finding Veranilda; but she was frightened, I heard it in her hoarse voice when she began to speak evil of Veranilda. 'What! cried Basil. 'Evil of Veranilda!
God Himself, I know, will sooner blot out my sin of murder than this wound I inflicted upon your pure and gentle heart! Veranilda caught his hand and pressed her lips upon it, whilst her tears fell softly. 'Listen, dearest Basil, she said. 'To think that I guard this in my memory against you would be to do me wrong.
Only now did their move in him a natural horror when he thought of the death of Marcian, a natural distress when he remembered his bearing to Veranilda. Only now could he see in the light of reason all that had happened between his talk with Sagaris at Aesernia and his riding away with Venantius from the villa on the island.
It is not of me that you think, but of him, him, only him! "Oh, were he alive!" Ay, keep your face bidden; you know too well it could not bear my eyes upon it. Veranilda threw back the long veil, and stood looking at him. 'Eyes red with weeping, he exclaimed, 'and for whom? If you were true to me, would you not rejoice that I had slain my enemy?
Basil had not regarded that aspect of the matter, but his friend's reasoning soon brought him to perceive the danger he would lightly have incurred. Dangers, not merely those that resulted from the war; could he suppose, asked Marcian, that Heliodora would meekly endure his disdain, and that the life of Veranilda would be safe in such a rival's proximity?
Word Of The Day