Transcriber's Notes:
1. Page scan source: http://www.archive.org/details/fourphaseslovet00heysgoog
2. This volume includes the following short-stories:
a. Eye-Blindness and Soul-Blindness.;
b. Marion;
c. La Rabbiata;
d. "By the Banks of the Tiber."
At the open window, which looked out into the little flower-garden,stood the blind daughter of the village sacristan, refreshing herselfin the cool breeze that swept across her hot cheeks; her delicate,half-developed form trembled, her cold little hands lay folded ineach other upon the window-sill. The sun had already set, and thenight-flowers were beginning to scent the air.
Further within the room sat a blind boy on a stool, at the oldspinet, playing wild melodies. He might have been about fifteen yearsold--only, perhaps, a year older than the girl. Whoever had heard andseen him, now throwing up his large eyes, and now turning his headtowards the window, would never have suspected his privation--so muchenergy, and even impetuosity, lay in his every movement.
Suddenly he broke off in the midst of a religious hymn, which he seemedto have altered wildly after his own fancy.
"You sighed!" he said, turning his face towards her.
"I! No, Clement--why should I sigh? I only shrank together as the windblew in so strongly!"
"But you did sigh. Do you think that I did not hear it as Iplayed?--and I feel even here how you are trembling."
"Yes; it has grown so cold."
"You cannot deceive me. If you were cold you would not stand at theopen window. But I know why you sigh and tremble!--because the doctoris coming to-morrow, and will prick our eyes with needles--that is whatmakes you so afraid; and yet he said how soon it would all be over, andthat it would only be like the prick of a pin. And you, who used tobe so brave and patient, that my mother always mentioned you as anexample when I was little and cried when anything hurt me, though youwere only a girl--have you now lost all your courage? Do you neverthink of the happiness we have to look forward to?"
She shook her little head, and answered, "How can you think that I amafraid of the passing pain! But I am oppressed with silly, childishthoughts, which I cannot drive away. Ever since the day that the doctorthe baron sent for came down from the castle to your father, and mothercalled us out of the garden--ever since that hour something weighs uponme and will not go away. You were so full of joy that you did notperceive it; but when your father began to pray, and blessed God forthis mercy, my