Thefairstranger'snamewasFannyLovelace。Thisnamepronounced/Loveless/isthatofanoldEnglishfamily，butRichardsonhasgivenittoacreationwhosefameeclipsesallothers!MissLovelacehadcometosettlebythelakeforherfather'shealth，thephysicianshavingrecommendedhimtheairofLucerne。ThesetwoEnglishpeoplehadarrivedwithnootherservantthanalittlegirloffourteen，adumbchild，muchattachedtoMissFanny，onwhomshewaitedveryintelligently，andhadsettled，twowinterssince，withmonsieurandMadameBergmann，theretiredhead-gardenersofHisExcellencyCountBorromeoofIsolaBellaandIsolaMadreintheLagoMaggoire。TheseSwiss，whowerepossessedofanincomeofaboutathousandcrownsayear，hadletthetopstoryoftheirhousetotheLovelacesforthreeyears，atarentoftwohundredfrancsayear。OldLovelace，amanofninety，andmuchbroken，wastoopoortoallowhimselfanygratifications，andveryrarelywentout；hisdaughterworkedtomaintainhim，translatingEnglishbooks，andwritingsomeherself，itwassaid。TheLovelacescouldnotaffordtohireboatstorowonthelake，orhorsesandguidestoexploretheneighborhood。
　　PovertydemandingsuchprivationasthisexcitesallthegreatercompassionamongtheSwiss，becauseitdeprivesthemofachanceofprofit。ThecookoftheestablishmentfedthethreeEnglishboardersforahundredfrancsamonthinclusive。InGersauitwasgenerallybelieved，however，thatthegardenerandhiswife，inspiteoftheirpretensions，usedthecook'snameasascreentonetthelittleprofitsofthisbargain。TheBergmannshadmadebeautifulgardensroundtheirhouse，andhadbuiltahothouse。Theflowers，thefruit，andthebotanicalraritiesofthisspotwerewhathadinducedtheyoungladytosettleonitasshepassedthroughGersau。MissFannywassaidtobenineteenyearsold；shewastheoldman'syoungestchild，andtheobjectofhisadulation。AbouttwomonthsagoshehadhiredapianofromLucerne，forsheseemedtobecrazyaboutmusic。
　　"Shelovesflowersandmusic，andsheisunmarried!"thoughtRodolphe；
　　"whatgoodluck!"
　　ThenextdayRodolphewenttoaskleavetovisitthehothousesandgardens，whichwerebeginningtobesomewhatfamous。Thepermissionwasnotimmediatelygranted。Theretiredgardenersasked，strangelyenough，toseeRodolphe'spassport；itwassenttothematonce。Thepaperwasnotreturnedtohimtillnextmorning，bythehandsofthecook，whoexpressedhermaster'spleasureinshowinghimtheirplace。
　　RodolphewenttotheBergmanns'，notwithoutacertaintrepidation，knownonlytopersonsofstrongfeelings，whogothroughasmuchpassioninamomentassomemenexperienceinawholelifetime。
　　AfterdressinghimselfcarefullytogratifytheoldgardenersoftheBorromeanIslands，whomheregardedasthewardersofhistreasure，hewentalloverthegrounds，lookingatthehousenowandagain，butwithmuchcaution；theoldcoupletreatedhimwithevidentdistrust。
　　ButhisattentionwassoonattractedbythelittleEnglishdeaf-mute，inwhomhisdiscernment，thoughyoungasyet，enabledhimtorecognizeagirlofAfrican，oratleastofSicilian，origin。Thechildhadthegolden-browncolorofaHavanacigar，eyesoffire，Armenianeyelidswithlashesofveryun-Britishlength，hairblackerthanblack；andunderthisalmostoliveskin，sinewsofextraordinarystrengthandfeverishalertness。ShelookedatRodolphewithamazingcuriosityandeffrontery，watchinghiseverymovement。
　　"TowhomdoesthatlittleMorescobelong？"heaskedworthyMadameBergmann。
　　"TotheEnglish，"MonsieurBergmannreplied。
　　"ButsheneverwasborninEngland!"
　　"TheymayhavebroughtherfromtheIndies，"saidMadameBergmann。
　　"IhavebeentoldthatMissLovelaceisfondofmusic。Ishouldbedelightedif，duringmyresidencebythelaketowhichIamcondemnedbymydoctor'sorders，shewouldallowmetojoinher。"
　　"Theyreceivenoone，andwillnotseeanybody，"saidtheoldgardener。
　　Rodolphebithislipsandwentaway，withouthavingbeeninvitedintothehouse，ortakenintothepartofthegardenthatlaybetweenthefrontofthehouseandtheshoreofthelittlepromontory。Onthatsidethehousehadabalconyabovethefirstfloor，madeofwood，andcoveredbytheroof，whichprojecteddeeplyliketheroofofachaletonallfoursidesofthebuilding，intheSwissfashion。Rodolphehadloudlypraisedtheeleganceofthisarrangement，andtalkedoftheviewfromthatbalcony，butallinvain。WhenhehadtakenleaveoftheBergmannsitstruckhimthathewasasimpleton，likeanymanofspiritandimaginationdisappointedoftheresultsofaplanwhichhehadbelievedwouldsucceed。
　　Intheeveninghe，ofcourse，wentoutinaboatonthelake，roundandaboutthespitofland，toBrunnenandtoSchwytz，andcameinatnightfall。Fromafarhesawthewindowopenandbrightlylighted；heheardthesoundofapianoandthetonesofanexquisitevoice。Hemadetheboatmanstop，andgavehimselfuptothepleasureoflisteningtoanItalianairdelightfullysung。Whenthesingingceased，Rodolphelandedandsentawaytheboatandrowers。Atthecostofwettinghisfeet，hewenttositdownunderthewater-worngraniteshelfcrownedbyathickhedgeofthornyacacia，bythesideofwhichranalonglimeavenueintheBergmanns'garden。Bytheendofanhourheheardstepsandvoicesjustabovehim，butthewordsthatreachedhisearswereallItalian，andspokenbytwowomen。
　　Hetookadvantageofthemomentwhenthetwospeakerswereatoneendofthewalktoslipnoiselesslytotheother。Afterhalfanhourofstrugglinghegottotheendoftheavenue，andtheretookupapositionwhence，withoutbeingseenorheard，hecouldwatchthetwowomenwithoutbeingobservedbythemastheycametowardshim。WhatwasRodolphe'samazementonrecognizingthedeaf-muteasoneofthem；
　　shewastalkingtoMissLovelaceinItalian。
　　Itwasnoweleveno'clockatnight。Thestillnesswassoperfectonthelakeandaroundthedwelling，thatthetwowomenmusthavethoughtthemselvessafe；inallGersautherecouldbenoeyesopenbuttheirs。
　　Rodolphesupposedthatthegirl'sdumbnessmustbeanecessarydeception。FromthewayinwhichtheybothspokeItalian，Rodolphesuspectedthatitwasthemothertongueofbothgirls，andconcludedthatthenameofEnglishalsohidsomedisguise。
　　"TheyareItalianrefugees，"saidhetohimself，"outlawsinfearoftheAustrianorSardinianpolice。Theyoungladywaitstillitisdarktowalkandtalkinsecurity。"
　　Helaydownbythesideofthehedge，andcrawledlikeasnaketofindawaybetweentwoacaciashrubs。Attheriskofleavinghiscoatbehindhim，ortearingdeepscratchesinhisback，hegotthroughthehedgewhentheso-calledMissFannyandherpretendeddeaf-and-dumbmaidwereattheotherendofthepath；then，whentheyhadcomewithintwentyyardsofhimwithoutseeinghim，forhewasintheshadowofthehedge，andthemoonwasshiningbrightly，hesuddenlyrose。
　　"Fearnothing，"saidheinFrenchtotheItaliangirl，"Iamnotaspy。Youarerefugees，Ihaveguessedthat。IamaFrenchmanwhomonelookfromyouhasfixedatGersau。"
　　Rodolphe，startledbytheacutepaincausedbysomesteelinstrumentpiercinghisside，felllikealog。
　　"/Nellagoconpietra/!"saidtheterribledumbgirl。
　　"Oh，Gina!"exclaimedtheItalian。
　　"Shehasmissedme，"saidRodolphe，pullingfromhiswoundastiletto，whichhadbeenturnedbyoneofthefalseribs。"Butalittlehigherupitwouldhavebeendeepinmyheart——Iwaswrong，Francesca，"hewenton，rememberingthenamehehadheardlittleGinarepeatseveraltimes；"Iowehernogrudge，donotscoldher。Thehappinessofspeakingtoyouiswellworththeprickofastiletto。Onlyshowmethewayout；ImustgetbacktotheStopfer'shouse。Beeasy；Ishalltellnothing。"
　　Francesca，recoveringfromherastonishment，helpedRodolphetorise，andsaidafewwordstoGina，whoseeyesfilledwithtears。Thetwogirlsmadehimsitdownonabenchandtakeoffhiscoat，hiswaistcoatandcravat。ThenGinaopenedhisshirtandsuckedthewoundstrongly。Francesca，whohadleftthem，returnedwithalargepieceofsticking-plaster，whichsheappliedtothewound。
　　"Youcannowwalkasfarasyourhouse，"shesaid。
　　Eachtookanarm，andRodolphewasconductedtoasidegate，ofwhichthekeywasinFrancesca'sapronpocket。
　　"DoesGinaspeakFrench？"saidRodolphetoFrancesca。
　　"No。Butdonotexciteyourself，"repliedFrancescawithsomeimpatience。
　　"Letmelookatyou，"saidRodolphepathetically，"foritmaybelongbeforeIamabletocomeagain——"
　　Heleanedagainstoneofthegate-postscontemplatingthebeautifulItalian，whoallowedhimtogazeatherforamomentunderthesweetestsilenceandthesweetestnightwhichever，perhaps，shoneonthislake，thekingofSwisslakes。
　　FrancescawasquiteoftheItaliantype，andsuchasimaginationsupposesorpictures，or，ifyouwill，dreams，thatItalianwomenare。
　　WhatfirststruckRodolphewasthegraceandeleganceofafigureevidentlypowerful，thoughsoslenderastoappearfragile。Anamberpalenessoverspreadherface，betrayingsuddeninterest，butitdidnotdimthevoluptuousglanceofherliquideyesofvelvetyblackness。
　　ApairofhandsasbeautifulaseveraGreeksculptoraddedtothepolishedarmsofastatuegraspedRodolphe'sarm，andtheirwhitenessgleamedagainsthisblackcoat。TherashFrenchmancouldbutjustdiscernthelong，ovalshapeofherface，andamelancholymouthshowingbrilliantteethbetweenthepartedlips，full，fresh，andbrightlyred。TheexquisitelinesofthisfaceguaranteedtoFrancescapermanentbeauty；butwhatmoststruckRodolphewastheadorablefreedom，theItalianfranknessofthiswoman，whollyabsorbedasshewasinherpityforhim。
　　FrancescasaidawordtoGina，whogaveRodolpheherarmasfarastheStopfers'door，andfledlikeaswallowassoonasshehadrung。
　　"Thesepatriotsdonotplayatkilling!"saidRodolphetohimselfashefelthissufferingswhenhefoundhimselfinhisbed。"'/Nellago!'Ginawouldhavepitchedmeintothelakewithastonetiedtomyneck。"
　　NextdayhesenttoLucerneforthebestsurgeonthere，andwhenhecame，enjoinedonhimabsolutesecrecy，givinghimtounderstandthathishonordependedonit。
　　Leopoldreturnedfromhisexcursiononthedaywhenhisfriendfirstgotoutofbed。Rodolphemadeupastory，andbeggedhimtogotoLucernetofetchtheirluggageandletters。Leopoldbroughtbackthemostfatal，themostdreadfulnews:Rodolphe'smotherwasdead。WhilethetwofriendswereontheirwayfromBaletoLucerne，thefatalletter，writtenbyLeopold'sfather，hadreachedLucernethedaytheyleftforFluelen。
　　InspiteofLeopold'sutmostprecautions，Rodolphefellillofanervousfever。AssoonasLeopoldsawhisfriendoutofdanger，hesetoutforFrancewithapowerofattorney，andRodolphecouldthusremainatGersau，theonlyplaceintheworldwherehisgriefcouldgrowcalmer。TheyoungFrenchman'sposition，hisdespair，thecircumstanceswhichmadesuchalossworseforhimthanforanyotherman，wereknown，andsecuredhimthepityandinterestofeveryoneinGersau。Everymorningthepretendeddumbgirlcametoseehimandbringhimnewsofhermistress。
　　AssoonasRodolphecouldgoouthewenttotheBergmanns'house，tothankMissFannyLovelaceandherfatherfortheinteresttheyhadtakeninhissorrowandhisillness。ForthefirsttimesincehehadlodgedwiththeBergmannstheoldItalianadmittedastrangertohisroom，whereRodolphewasreceivedwiththecordialityduetohismisfortunesandtohisbeingaFrenchman，whichexcludedalldistrustofhim。Francescalookedsolovelybycandle-lightthatfirsteveningthatsheshedarayofbrightnessonhisgrievingheart。Hersmilesflungtherosesofhopeonhiswoe。Shesang，notindeedgaysongs，butgraveandsolemnmelodiessuitedtothestateofRodolphe'sheart，andheobservedthistouchingcare。
　　Atabouteighto'clocktheoldmanlefttheyoungpeoplewithoutanysignofuneasiness，andwenttohisroom。WhenFrancescawastiredofsinging，sheledRodolpheontothebalcony，whencetheyperceivedthesublimesceneryofthelake，andsignedtohimtobeseatedbyheronarusticwoodenbench。
　　"AmIveryindiscreetinaskinghowoldyouare，caraFrancesca？"saidRodolphe。
　　"Nineteen，"saidshe，"wellpast。"
　　"Ifanythingintheworldcouldsoothemysorrow，"hewenton，"itwouldbethehopeofwinningyoufromyourfather，whateveryourfortunemaybe。Sobeautifulasyouare，youseemtobericherthanaprince'sdaughter。AndItrembleasIconfesstoyouthefeelingswithwhichyouhaveinspiredme；buttheyaredeep——theyareeternal。"
　　"/Zitto/!"saidFrancesca，layingafingerofherrighthandonherlips。"Saynomore；Iamnotfree。Ihavebeenmarriedthesethreeyears。"
　　Forafewminutesuttersilencereigned。WhentheItaliangirl，alarmedatRodolphe'sstillness，wentclosetohim，shefoundthathehadfainted。
　　"/Povero/!"shesaidtoherself。"AndIthoughthimcold。"
　　Shefetchedhimsomesalts，andrevivedRodolphebymakinghimsmellatthem。
　　"Married!"saidRodolphe，lookingatFrancesca。Andthenhistearsflowedfreely。
　　"Child!"saidshe。"Butthereisstillhope。Myhusbandis——"
　　"Eighty？"Rodolpheputin。
　　"No，"saidshewithasmile，"butsixty-five。Hehasdisguisedhimselfasmucholdertomisleadthepolice。"
　　"Dearest，"saidRodolphe，"afewmoreshocksofthiskindandIshalldie。Onlywhenyouhaveknownmetwentyyearswillyouunderstandthestrengthandpowerofmyheart，andthenatureofitsaspirationsforhappiness。Thisplant，"hewenton，pointingtotheyellowjasminewhichcoveredthebalustrade，"doesnotclimbmoreeagerlytospreaditselfinthesunbeamsthanIhaveclungtoyouforthismonthpast。I
　　loveyouwithuniquepassion。Thatlovewillbethesecretfountofmylife——Imaypossiblydieofit。"
　　"Oh!Frenchman，Frenchman!"saidshe，emphasizingherexclamationwithalittleincredulousgrimace。
　　"ShallInotbeforcedtowait，toacceptyouatthehandsoftime？"
　　saidhegravely。"Butknowthis:ifyouareinearnestinwhatyouhaveallowedtoescapeyou，Iwillwaitforyoufaithfully，withoutsufferinganyotherattachmenttogrowupinmyheart。"
　　Shelookedathimdoubtfully。
　　"None，"saidhe，"notevenapassingfancy。Ihavemyfortunetomake；
　　youmusthaveasplendidone，naturecreatedyouaprincess——"
　　AtthiswordFrancescacouldnotrepressafaintsmile，whichgaveherfacethemostbewilderingexpression，somethingsubtle，likewhatthegreatLeonardohassowelldepictedinthe/Gioconda/。ThissmilemadeRodolphepause。"Ahyes!"hewenton，"youmustsuffermuchfromthedestitutiontowhichexilehasbroughtyou。Oh，ifyouwouldmakemehappyaboveallmen，andconsecratemylove，youwouldtreatmeasafriend。OughtInottobeyourfriend？——Mypoormotherhasleftsixtythousandfrancsofsavings；takehalf。"
　　Francescalookedsteadilyathim。ThispiercinggazewenttothebottomofRodolphe'ssoul。
　　"Wewantnothing；myworkamplysuppliesourluxuries，"sherepliedinagravevoice。
　　"AndcanIendurethataFrancescashouldwork？"criedhe。"Onedayyouwillreturntoyourcountryandfindallyouleftthere。"AgaintheItaliangirllookedatRodolphe。"Andyouwillthenrepaymewhatyoumayhavecondescendedtoborrow，"headded，withanexpressionfullofdelicatefeeling。