I did not mean to say such things--indeed, I did not.

But do you wonder that I am nervous?
Say that you forgive me--" "Of course I forgive you," answered Bosio, raising his eyebrows rather wearily.

"I know that you are under a terrible strain--but you say things sometimes which are unjust and hard.

I know what all this means to us both--but there must be some other way." Matilde shook her head mournfully, as Bosio sat down beside her, already sinking back to his long-learned docility.
"There is no other way," she said.

"There is certainly none, that is sure.