He will grant your prayer!" Then she asked Melissa about her lover, her father, her mother, and at last she, unexpectedly, asked her in a whisper: "Your brother Alexander, the painter--My daughter, though in death, inspired his soul with love.

Yes, Korinna was dear to him.

Her image is living in his soul.

Am I right?
Tell me the truth!" On this Melissa confessed how deeply the painter had been impressed by the dead girl's beauty, and that he had given her his heart and soul with a fervor of devotion of which she had never imagined him capable.
And the poor mother smiled as she heard it, and murmured, "I was sure of it." But then she shook her head, sadly, and said "Fool that I am!" At last she bade Melissa good-night, and went back to her own bedroom.
There Johanna was awaiting her, and while she was plaiting her mistress's hair the matron said, threateningly: "If the wretch should not spare even her"-- She was interrupted by loud shouts of mirth from the banqueting-hall, and among the laughing voices she fancied that she recognized her husband's.

She started up with a vehement movement, and exclaimed, in angry excitement: "Seleukus might have prevented such an outrage! Oh, I know that sorrowing father's heart! Fear, vanity, ambition, love of pleasure--" "But consider," Johanna broke in, "to cross Caesar's wish is to forfeit life!" "Then he should have died!" replied the matron, with stern decision..