reserve. He sat by Olympia,
with her hand in his, and, highly inflamed and inspired, told his
passion, in words which no one understood--neither himself nor Olympia.
Yet, perhaps, _she_ did; for she looked immoveably in his face, and
sighed several times, "Ah, ah!" Upon this, Nathaniel said, "Oh, thou
splendid, heavenly lady! Thou ray from the promised land of love--thou
deep soul, in winch all my being is reflected!" with much more stuff of
the like kind; but Olympia merely went on sighing, "Ah--ah!" Professor
Spalanzani occasionally passed the happy pair, and smiled on them, with
a look of singular satisfaction. To Nathaniel, although he felt in
quite another region, it seemed all at once as though Professor
Spalanzani was growing considerably darker; he looked around, and, to
his no small horror, perceived that the two last candles in the empty
saloon had burned down to their sockets, and were just going out.
Music and dancing had ceased long ago. "Separation--separation!" he
cried, wildly, and in despair; he kissed Olympia's hand, he bent
towards her mouth, when his glowing lips were met by lips cold as ice!
Just as when he touched Olympia's cold hand, he felt himself overcome
by horror; the legend of the dead bride darted suddenly through his
mind, but Olympia pressed him fast, and her lips seemed to recover to
life at his kiss. Professor Spalanzani strode through the empty hall,
his steps caused a hollow echo, and his figure, round which a
flickering shadow played, had a fearful, spectral appearance. "Dost
thou love me, dost thou love me, Olympia? Only this word!--Dost thou
love me?" So whispered Nathaniel; but Olympia, as she rose, only
sighed, "Ah--ah!" "Yes, my gracious, my beautiful star of love," said
Nathaniel, "thou hast risen upon me, and thou wilt shine, ever
illuminating my inmost soul." "Ah--ah!" replied Olympia, going.
Nathaniel followed her; they both stood before the professor.

"You have had a very animated conversation with my daughter," said he,
smiling; "so, dear Herr Nathaniel, if you have any taste for talking
with a silly girl, your visits shall be welcome."

Nathaniel departed, with a whole heaven beaming in his bosom. The next
day Spalanzani's festival was the subject of conversation.
Notwithstanding the professor had done every thing to appear splendid,
the wags had all sorts of incongruities and oddities to talk about, and
were particularly hard upon the dumb, stiff Olympia,