regret, and some which amounted even to sorrow. The sage Persian comforted
him by a long whisper, of which the last part only was heard, 'By the
first beam of sunshine she will be with you. Be kind to her, but not over
kind.' He then departed, and was never again seen or heard of in the
vicinity of Arnheim. The baron was observed during all the day after the
departure of the stranger to be particularly melancholy. At dawn of the
ensuing morning, Sir Herman summoned his page; and having performed his
toilet, he waited till the sun had just appeared above the horizon, and,
taking from the table the key of the laboratory, which the page believed
must have lain there all night, he walked thither, followed by his
attendant. At the door the baron made a pause, and seemed at one time to
doubt whether he should not send away the page, at another to hesitate
whether he should open the door, as one might do who expected some strange
sight within. He pulled up resolution, however, turned the key, threw the
door open, and entered. The page followed close behind his master, and was
astonished to the point of extreme terror at what he beheld, although the
sight, however extraordinary, had in it nothing save what was agreeable
and lovely. The silver lamp was extinguished, or removed from its
pedestal, where stood in place of it a most beautiful female figure in the
Persian costume, in which the colour of pink predominated. But she wore
no turban, or head-dress of any kind, saving a blue riband drawn through
her auburn hair and secured by a gold clasp, the outer side of which was
ornamented by a superb opal, which, amid the changing lights peculiar
to that gem, displayed a slight tinge of red, like a spark of fire.
The figure of this young person was rather under the middle size, but
perfectly well formed; the eastern dress, with the wide trousers gathered
round the ankles, made visible the smallest and most beautiful feet which
had ever been seen, while hands and arms of the most perfect symmetry
were partly seen from under the folds of the robe. The little lady's
countenance was of a lively and expressive character, in which spirit and