d their glance or early fire; they were always inflamed and
veiled by tears. Her voice had lost its metallic ring and youthful
freshness; it sounded from her aching and hollow chest like sighs from a
lonely grave.

Severe pain from time to time tortured her whole body, and contracted
her limbs with agonizing cramps. She had the appearance of a woman of
sixty years of age, who was tottering to the grave.

In this crushed and trembling body dwelt a strong, powerful, healthy
soul; this shrunken, contracted bosom was animated by a youthful,
ardent, passionate heart. This heart had consecrated itself to the love
of its early years with an obstinate and feverish power.

In wild defiance against her fate, Amelia had sworn never to yield,
never to break faith; to bear all, to suffer all for her love, and to
press onward with unshaken resignation but never-failing courage through
the storms and agonies of a desolate, misunderstood, and wretched
existence. She was a martyr to her birth and her love; she accepted this
martyrdom with defiant self-reliance and joyful resignation.

Years had passed since she had seen Trenck, but she loved him still!
She knew he had not guarded the faith they had mutually sworn with the
constancy that she had religiously maintained; but she loved him
still! She had solemnly sworn to her brother to give up the foolish and
fantastic wish of becoming the wife of Trenck; but she loved him still!
She might not live for him, but she would suffer for him; she could not
give him her hand, but she could consecrate thought and soul to him. In
imagination she was his, only his; he had a holy, an imperishable right
to her. Had she not sworn, in the presence of God, to be his through
life down to the borders of the grave? Truly, no priest had blessed
them; God had been their priest, and had united them. There had been
no mortal witness to their solemn oaths, but the pure stars were
present--with their sparkling, loving eyes they had looked down and
listened to the vows she had exchanged with Trenck. She was therefore
his--his eternally! He had a sacred claim upon her constancy, her love,
her forbearance, and her forgiveness. If Trenck had wandered from his
faith, she dared not follow his example; she must be ever ready to
listen to his call, and give him the aid he required.

Amelia's love was her religion, her life's strength, her life's object;
it was a talisman to protect and give strength in time of need.