grasp. She saw his chest heave, and his eyes roll awfully, as he
gradually turned towards her. And at length, finding it was vain to
struggle any longer to conceal his feelings, he threw himself upon
his face, pressed her trembling hand to his lips, and burst into a
passionate and uncontrollable flood of tears. Beatrice, surprised
and overcome by the scene, hid her own face in the clothes and wept
with him; while her father, her mother, and the whole family, stood
motionless upon the floor of the apartment, transfixed with sorrow
and oblivious of every other consideration.

By degrees the young man recovered his composure, as persons generally
do after shedding tears, and his heart seemed to be relieved. Beatrice
also experienced the same change; and her father, a humane and
compassionate old man, supposing that love might have some share in the
misery of his lodger, after motioning his whole family to leave the
room, drew near the bed, and inquired of Spinello whether his affection
for Beatrice had any share in his present unhappiness; and whether her
hand, for her heart he perceived was already his, would make any change
in the state of his mind. At this new proof of the old man's love,
Spinello could scarcely contain himself. For the moment Lucifer left
him, while visions of delight and joy painted themselves upon his fancy.
To reveal to Bernardo, however, or to any other human being, the real
cause of his misery, would, he was fully persuaded, expose him to the
suspicion of insanity. His expressions of gratitude, though few and
brief, were vehement and sincere; and his mind becoming wholly occupied
with this new idea, his fever soon left him; and in a few days he was
again able to breathe the balmy air, with his future bride by his side.

His health still appeared, however, to be but feeble; and the benefit of
change of residence being understood in those times as well as in our