Old wounds in his heart opened afresh, as he recalled the time she suddenly left Rome without a word of farewell.

After barely recovering from a severe illness, he had returned home pale and dispirited, and months elapsed ere he could again find genuine pleasure in his art.

At first, the remembrance of her contained nothing save bitterness, but now, by quiet, persistent effort, he had succeeded, not in attaining forgetfulness, but in being able to separate painful emotions from the pure and exquisite joy of remembering her.

To-day the old struggle sought to begin afresh, but he was not disposed to yield, and did not cease to summon Isabella's image, in all its beauty, before his soul.
Henrica returned to her aunt in a deeply-agitated mood.

Was the adventuress of whom Wilhelm had spoken, the only creature whom she loved with all the ardor of her passionate soul?
Was Isabella her lost sister?
Many incidents were opposed to it, yet it was possible.