of touching a cheek, a hand, a forehead,--anything, in short.

He touched something much better,--two warm and half open lips.

Rosa uttered a slight scream.

Cornelius understood that he must make haste to continue the
conversation. He guessed that this unexpected kiss had frightened Rosa.

"Is it growing up straight?"

"Straight as a rocket," said Rosa.

"How high?"

"At least two inches."

"Oh, Rosa, take good care of it, and we shall soon see it grow quickly."

"Can I take more care of it?" said she. "Indeed, I think of nothing else
but the tulip."

"Of nothing else, Rosa? Why, now I shall grow jealous in my turn."

"Oh, you know that to think of the tulip is to think of you; I never
lose sight of it. I see it from my bed, on awaking it is the first
object that meets my eyes, and on falling asleep the last on which they
rest. During the day I sit and work by its side, for I have never left
my chamber since I put it there."

"You are right Rosa, it is your dowry, you know."

"Yes, and with it I may marry a young man of twenty-six or twenty-eight
years, whom I shall be in love with."

"Don't talk in that way, you naughty girl."

That evening Cornelius was one of the happiest of men. Rosa allowed him
to press her hand in his, and to keep it as long as he would, besides
which he might talk of his tulip as much as he liked.

From that hour every day marked some progress in the growth of the tulip
and in the affection of the two young people.

At one time it was that the leaves had expanded, and at another that the
flower itself had formed.

Great was the joy of Cornelius at this news, and his questions succeeded
one another with a rapidity which gave proof of their importance.

"Formed!" exclaimed Cornelius, "is it really formed?"

"It is," repeated Rosa.

Cornelius trembled with joy, so much so that he was obliged to hold by
the grating.

"Good heavens!" he exclaimed.

Then, turning again to Rosa, he continued his questions.

"Is the oval regular? the cylinder full? and are the points very green?"

"The oval is almost one inch long, and tapers like a needle, the
cylinder swells at the sides, and the points are ready to open."

Two days after Rosa announced that they were open.

"Open, Rosa!" cried Cornelius. "Is the involucrum open? but then one may
see and already distinguish----"

Here the prisoner paused, anxiously taking breath.

"Yes," answered Rosa, "one may already distinguish