You
must not sail so recklessly again. Boats like your little yacht should
be in the harbor with such a wind blowing. Even all the fishing smacks
were in and they can stand quite a bit more rough weather."
"I was calm and assured. I knew that I would see you. I had dreamt of
you, of your face and of your name."
"Really?" said Elsje, looking straight at me with her frank, innocent
eyes.
Before this look my heart melted with tenderness. I felt a desire to
kneel down before her and cover her hands with tears and kisses. But I
controlled myself, for I reflected that I was an Italian and that it
was a Dutch girl I had to deal with, and I did not want to risk my
fragile happiness by foolish extravagances. And there was a subtle
relish in this sobriety and this respectful self-control. But I wanted
to be honest too - my happiness must rest on a firm foundation of
uprightness - I wanted to make my position clear.
"Yes, really, Elsje; and yet I had never heard of you, and no one had
spoken of you to me.
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