fumed the air with the most delicious odours; the atmosphere was unagitated by a single zephyr; all around there reigned the deepest silence, whilst quick successive flashes darted across the firmanent and illumined at intervals the heavens above. Oh! how did I wish at this moment, that the form of my sweet Liesli might appear to bless my sight! I painted her in my imagination reclining in my arms; the reflection of the distant lightning seemed to add new lustre to her eyes; enclasped by her soft and beautiful arm, I felt the beating of her heart against my agitated breast, whilst from her sweet lips, I inhaled life and love; but she came not!—Melancholy and depressed, I retraced my steps back to the inn.
The following day I recommenced the same fruitless and unavailing search. To-morrow, I thought, I will once more proceed to the desolate hermitage, and should it then be still deserted, nothing shall deter me from seeking her myself; the place is small, and surely I shall find some one from whom I may gain some intelligence respecting her; for, what I wished to say on the top of mount Rigi, I can as easily impart to her in her own dwelling, at its foot; there I will declare my thoughts and wishes. I again passed the whole of the day at the hermit’s door, but he remained altogether invisible!
I now considered myself as free from all that restraint and obligation, which, though I knew not why, I imagined I owed to the hermit; he had until now appeared to me as possessing great power and influence over Liesli’s action. She had come to receive his advice, she had given him my three pieces of gold, for the purpose of returning them to me; some connection, therefore, must exist between them. If I had succeeded in gaining the hermit over to my side, then was Liesli mine. Some such anticipation had entered my mind, and it was this hope, and this alone, which had made me wait three successive days. Whether the hermit had concealed himself from me, or whether he were really absent,
D 2
