IX
關燈
小
中
大
adnevertastedsuchhappinessbefore.Herbeautifulmouth,itwassosoft,sosmall,Igaspedintheagonyofmyhappiness.IfIcouldonlyhavediedthen!
Giulia!Giulia!
.........................
Thecockcrew,andthenightseemedtofadeawayintogreyness.Thefirstlightofdawnbrokethroughthewindows,andIpressedmylovetomyheartinonelastkiss.
'Notyet,'shesaid'Iloveyou.'
IcouldnotspeakIkissedhereyes,hercheeks,herbreasts.
'Don'tgo,'shesaid.
'Mylove!'
AtlastItoremyselfaway,andasIgaveherthelastkissofall,shewhispered,—
'Comesoon.'
AndIreplied,—
'To-night!'
IwalkedthroughthegreystreetsofForli,wonderingatmyhappinessitwastoogreattorealise.ItseemedabsurdthatI,apoor,commonplaceman,shouldbechosenoutforthisecstasyofbliss.Ihadbeenbuffetedabouttheworld,anexile,wanderinghereandthereinsearchofacaptainunderwhomtoserve.Ihadhadlovesbefore,butcommon,grotesquethings—notlikethis,pureandheavenly.Withmyotherloves
