A few hours more, and you will find a father,
Will see yourself surrounded by new friends,
And I henceforth shall be but as a stranger,
Lost in the many—"Speak with my Aunt Tertsky!"
With hurrying voice she interrupted me.
She falter'd. I beheld a glowing red
Possess her beautiful cheeks, and from the ground
Rais'd slowly up her eye met mine—no longer
Did I controul myself.
(The Princess Thekla appears at the door, and
remains standing, observ'd by the Countess,
but not by Piccolomini.)
I caught her in my arms, my lips touch'd her's;
There was a rustling in the room close by;
It parted us—'Twas you. What since has happened,
You know.
COUNTESS
And is it your excess of modesty;
Or are you so incurious, that you do not
Ask me too of my secret?
MAX.
COUNTESS.
I stepp'd into the room, and found my niece there,
What she in this first moment of the heart
Ta'en with surprise—
MAX.(with eagerness.)
