elf so full of love, that I was enabled to inspire the very stone
with love. At last I had no peace, and even without my father's orders I
must have returned home; then I saw her again, and found her even more
lovely than the image which reigned in my soul. I heard her voice, and
her silvery bell-like laughter--and then--and then--. You know very well
what I learned yesterday. The unworthy wife of an unworthy husband, the
woman Sirona, is gone from me for ever, and I was striving to drive her
image from my soul, to annihilate it and dissipate it--but in vain! and
by degrees a wonderful stress of creative power came upon me. I hastily
placed the lamps, took the clay in my hand, and feature by feature I
brought forth with bitter joy the image that is deeply graven in my
heart, believing that thus I might be released from the spell. There is
the fruit which was ripened in my heart, but there, where it so long has
dwelt, I feel a dismal void, and if the husk which so long tenderly
enfolded this image were to wither and fall asunder, I should not wonder
at it.--To that thing there clings the best part of my life."

"Enough!" exclaimed Dorothea, interrupting her son who stood before her
in great agitation and with trembling lips. "God forbid that that mask
there should destroy your life and soul. I suffer nothing impure within
my house, and you should not in your heart. That which is evil can never
more be fair, and however lovely the face there may look to you, it looks
quite as repulsive to me when I reflect that it probably smiled still
more fascinatingly on some strolling beggar. If the Gaul brings her back
I will turn her out of my house, and I will destroy her image with my own
hands if you do not break it in pieces on the spot."

Dorothea's eyes were swimming in tears as she spoke these words. She had
felt with pride and emotion during her son's speech how noble and
high-minded he was, and the idea that this rare and precious treasure
should be spoilt or perhaps altogether ruined for the sake of a lost
woman, drove her to desperation, and filled her motherly heart with
indignation.

Firmly resolved to carry out her threat she stepped towards the figure,
but Polykarp placed himself in her way, raising his arm imploringly to
defend it, and saying, "Not to-day--not yet, mother! I will cover it up,
and will not look at it again till to-morrow, but once--only once--I must
see it again by sunlight."

"So that to-morrow th