Pagina 259 di 483

"At that instant the cottage door was opened, and Felix, Safie,

and Agatha entered. Who can describe their horror and

consternation on beholding me? Agatha fainted, and Safie, unable

to attend to her friend, rushed out of the cottage. Felix darted

forward, and with supernatural force tore me from his father, to

whose knees I clung, in a transport of fury, he dashed me to the

ground and struck me violently with a stick. I could have torn

him limb from limb, as the lion rends the antelope. But my heart

sank within me as with bitter sickness, and I refrained. I saw

him on the point of repeating his blow, when, overcome by pain

and anguish, I quitted the cottage, and in the general tumult

escaped unperceived to my hovel."

Chapter 16