Gradually and amazedly, as she listened to his words, Antonina awoke
from her abstraction. Even the expression of his countenance and the
earnestness of his manner, viewed by the intuitive penetration of her
sex, wrought with kind and healing influence on her mind. She started
suddenly, a bright flush flew over her colourless cheeks; she bent down,
and looked earnestly and wistfully into the Goth's face. Her lips
moved, but her quick convulsive breathing stifled the words that she
vainly endeavoured to form.
'Yes,' continued Hermanric, rising and drawing her towards him again,
'you shall never mourn, never fear, never weep more! Though you have
lost your father, and the people of your nation are as strangers to you,
though you have been threatened and forsaken, you shall still be
beautiful--still be happy; for I will watch you, and you shall never be
harmed; I will labour for you, and you shall never want! People and
kindred--fame and duty, I will abandon them all to make atonement to
you!'
Its youthful freshness and hope returned to the girl's heart, as water
to the long-parched spring, when the young warrior ceased.
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