, however, the
vision of the preceding night seemed to be renewed, and the hated form
of Lucifer, with all his infernal legions, swept before his fancy.
Ignorant of what was passing through his mind, and with a heart yearning
towards him with more than a sister's love, Beatrice approached his bed;
and, kneeling down beside it, took hold of his hand which was stretched
out languidly towards her. She felt that it was burning with fever, and
that his whole frame was at that moment agitated in a fearful manner. He
spoke not a word; but turned away his face, as if by a desperate effort
to recover his composure, while he held her hand with a convulsive
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