Part 51 (2/2)
Whom do you mean?
EMILIA.
The Prince!
CLAUDIA.
The Prince! Blest be your father's impatience! He was here just now, and would not stay till you returned.
EMILIA.
My father here--and not stay till I returned!
CLAUDIA.
If, in the midst of your confusion, you had told him too.
EMILIA.
Well, dear mother--could he have found anything in my conduct deserving of censure?
CLAUDIA.
No--as little as in mine. And yet, yet--you do not know your father.
When enraged, he would have mistaken the innocent for the guilty--in his anger he would have fancied me the cause of what I could neither prevent nor foresee. But proceed, my daughter, proceed. When you recognised the Prince, I trust that you were sufficiently composed to convince him by your looks, of the contempt which he deserved.
EMILIA.
That I was not. After the glance by which I recognised him, I had not courage to cast a second. I fled.
CLAUDIA.
And the Prince followed you?
EMILIA.
I did not know it till I had reached the porch, where I felt my hand seized--by him. Shame compelled me to stop; as an effort to extricate myself would have attracted the attention of every one who was pa.s.sing.
This was the only reflection of which I was capable, or which I at present remember. He spoke, and I replied--but what he said, or what I replied, I know not.--Should I recollect it, my dear mother, you shall hear it. At present I remember nothing further. My senses had forsaken me.--In vain do I endeavour to recollect how I got away from him, and escaped from the porch. I found myself in the street--I heard his steps behind me--I heard him follow me into the house, and pursue me up the stairs----
CLAUDIA.
Fear has its peculiar faculty, my daughter. Never shall I forget the look with which you rushed into this room!--No. He dared not follow you so far.--Heavens! had your father known this!--How angry was he when I merely told him that the Prince had lately beheld you with admiration!
Be at ease, however, my dear girl. Fancy what has happened to be a mere dream. The result will be less, even, than a dream. You will be a.s.sured to-day from all similar designs.
EMILIA.
No, mother! The Count must know it--to him I must relate it.
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