g ago ceased. "We must
part--part!" he cried, wildly and despairingly; he kissed Olimpia's
hand; he bent down to her mouth, but ice-cold lips met his burning
ones. As he touched her cold hand, he felt his heart thrilled with awe;
the legend of "The Dead Bride"[9] shot suddenly through his mind. But
Olimpia had drawn him closer to her, and the kiss appeared to warm her
lips into vitality. Professor Spalanzani strode slowly through the
empty apartment, his footsteps giving a hollow echo; and his figure
had, as the flickering shadows played about him, a ghostly, awful
appearance. "Do you love me? Do you love me, Olimpia? Only one little
word--Do you love me?" whispered Nathanael, but she only sighed, "Ach!
Ach!" as she rose to her feet. "Yes, you are my lovely, glorious star
of love," said Nathanael, "and will shine for ever, purifying and
ennobling my heart" "Ach! Ach!" replied Olimpia, as she moved along.
Nathanael followed her; they stood before the Professor. "You have had
an extraordinarily animated conversation with my daughter," said he,
smiling; "well, well, my dear Mr. Nathanael, if you find pleasure in
talking to the stupid girl, I am sure I shall be glad for you to come
and do so." Nathanael took his leave, his heart singing and leaping in
a perfect delirium of happiness.

During the next few days Spalanzani's ball was the general topic of
conversation. Although the Professor had done everything to make the
thing a splendid success, yet certain gay spirits related more than one
thing that had occurred which was quite irregular and out of order.
They were especially keen in pulling Olimpia to pieces for her
taciturnity and rigid stiffness; in spite of her beautiful form they
alleged that she was hopelessly stupid, and in this fact they discerned
the reason why Spalanzani had so long kept her concealed from
publicity. Nathanael heard all this with inward wrath, but nevertheless
he held his tongue; for, thought he, would it indeed be worth while to
prove to these fellows that it is their own stupidity which prevents
them from appreciating Olimpia's profound and brilliant parts? One day
Siegmund said to him, "Pray, brother, have the kindness to tell me
how you, a sensible fellow, came to lose your head over that Miss
Wax-face--that wooden doll across there?" Nathanael was about to fly
into a rage, but he recollected himself and replied, "Tell me,
Siegmund, how came it that Olimpia's divine charms could escape your