"
"Is this," she said, giving him a kiss to drive away the Chemistry she
had so unfortunately reawakened, "what you call an affinity?"
"No; it is a compound; two substances that are equivalents are
neutral, they produce no reaction--"
"Oh! hush, hush," she cried, "you will make me die of grief. I can
never bear to see my rival in the transports of your love."
"But, my dear life, I think only of you. My work is for the glory of
my family. You are the basis of all my hopes."
"Ah, look me in the eyes!"
The scene had made her as beautiful as a young woman; of her whole
person Balthazar saw only her head, rising from a cloud of lace and
muslin.
"Yes, I have done wrong to abandon you for Science," he said. "If I
fall back into thought and preoccupation, then, my Pepita, you must
drag me from them; I desire it."
She lowered her eyes and let him take her hand, her greatest beauty,
--a hand that was both strong and delicate.
"But I ask more," she said.
"You are so lovely, so delightful, you can obtain all," he answered.
"I wish to destroy that laboratory, and chain up Science," she said,
with fire in her eyes.
"So be it--let Chemistry go to the devil!"
"This moment effaces all!" she cried. "Make me suffer now, if you
will."
Tears came to Balthazar's eyes, as he heard these words.
"You were right, love," he said. "I have seen you through a veil; I
have not understood you.
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