bench at the hermit’s door, and returned again towards the chapel. Transported with joy I rose from my seat, and advanced a few steps to meet her. During the time of her absence I had taken from my purse three pieces of gold, which I now, secretly and unobserved, whilst walking by her side, dropped into her basket.
We wandered back towards Siti. Twice had I been upon the point of offering her my arm, but could not summon courage, fearing from her appearance, that she would decline my offer, and then I should have felt ashamed of myself. To such as have visited Switzerland, and have become acquainted with the customs and manners of its inhabitants in the various cantons, and have also heard the energetic though simple language of the mountaineers in those parts, my familiar style of addressing her will not appear surprising.[1]
When in the middle of the alley of trees, leading from Siti to Shwytz, she was on the point of quitting the high road, and directing her course straight towards the town, apparently for the purpose of avoiding entering the place at the same time with myself. She then bade me adieu, and presented me her pretty, swan-white hand; I drew it to my lips and impressed a burning kiss upon it.
“Do not do that, dear sir,”—she said in a tone of entreaty, “it suits not a poor maiden like me.”
“Shall I see you again to-morrow?”—I inquired, gazing on her black eyes, as if to read in the bottom of her soul, whether or not she shared with me in any slight degree that feeling by which I myself was so overwhelmed.
“With all my heart! if it will give you pleasure,” she replied, in a tone and manner so natural, and so angelically
- ↑ In order to explain this passage more clearly, it is necessary to add, for the information of such readers as may not be acquainted with the German language, that the Germans have three modes of addressing the second person singular, one of which is du or thou, the style here employed in addressing Liesli—which is only used to such as are relatives, to children, confidential friends, or to menials. The different character of the English and German languages in this respect has not allowed us to retain this distinction in the translation.—Tr.
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