Dear Mother of Heaven! death were a sweet and restful thing after all that I have suffered in these days." Then she fell suddenly to weeping.
"Think me not an utter coward, Lazzaro.

Willingly would I do this thing to save so noble a life as yours, did I not think that you must hate me for it.

I was stout and firm in my refusal, confident that you would have had me so.

Was I not right, my poor, poor Lazzaro ?" "Madonna, you were right," I answered firmly and calmly.
"And you are to die, amor mio," she murmured passionately.

"You are to die when the promise of happiness seemed held out to us.