"You...

you can forgive me ?" I faltered foolishly.
She pouted tenderly.

"Should I not forgive one who has acted foolishly out of love for me ?" "It was, it was..." I cried; and there stopped, all confused, feeling myself growing red under her lazy glance.
"I know it was," she answered.

She set her elbows on the seat's tall back until I could feel her sweet breath upon my brow.

"And should I bear you a resentment, then?
My poor Agostino, have I no heart to feel?
Am I but a cold, reasoning intelligence like that thing my husband?
O God! To have been mated to that withered pedant! To have been sacrificed, to have been sold into such bondage! Me miserable!" "Giuliana!" I murmured soothingly, yet agonized myself.
"Could none have foretold me that you must come some day ?" "Hush!" I implored her.