t, her soul pure as tried gold, still better than she loves me.

"My darling has neither rank nor wealth: her parents were gypsies.

"I shall not laud her to you in poetic phrases: these I do not
understand. I can only feel, but not express my feelings.

"No other letter of recommendation can be required of you, save
that I love her.

"Our love has hitherto only caused both of us pain: now I desire
happiness for both of us.

"Your blessing will make the cup of this happiness full.

"You are good. You love me, you rejoice in my joy.

"You know me. You know what lessons life has taught me.

"You know that Fate always ordained wisely and providentially for
me.

"No miracle is needed to make you, my mother, the best of mothers,
who love me so, and are calm and peaceful in God, clasp together
those hands of blessing which from my earliest days you have never
taken off my head.

"Include in your prayer, beside my name, the name of my faithful
darling, Czipra, too.

"I believe in your blessing as in every word of my religion, as in
the forgiveness of sins, as in the world to come.

"But if you are not what God made you,--quiet and loving, a mother
always ready to give her blessing with the halo of eternal love
round your brow,--if you are cold, quick to anger, a woman of
vengeance, proud of the coronet of a family blazon, one who wishes
herself to rule Fate, and if the curses of such a merciless lady
burden the girl whom I love, then so much the worse, I shall take
her to wife with her dowry of curses--for I love her.

"... God intercede between our hearts.

"Your loving son,
"LORAND."

As the minister read, Czipra at each sentence pressed Lorand's hand
closer to her heart. She could neither speak nor weep: it was more than
her spirit could bear. Every line, every phrase opened a Paradise before
her, full of gladness of the other world: her soul's idol loved her:
loved her for love's sake: loved her for herself: loved her because she
made him happy: raised her to his own level: was not ashamed of her
wretched origin: could understand a heart's sensitiveness: commended her
name to his mother's prayers: and was ready to maintain his love amidst
his mother's curses.

A heart cannot bear suc