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。