Do you think life would be bearable with such a woman ?" "I do not know.

Many men would marry her if they could--" "Then you think I should ?" asked Giovanni.

Corona hesitated; she could not understand why she should care, and yet she was conscious that there had been no such struggle in her life since the day she had blindly resolved to sacrifice herself to her father's wishes in accepting Astrardente.

Still there could be no doubt what she should say: how could she advise any one to marry without the prospect of the happiness she had never had?
"Will you not give me your counsel ?" repeated Saracinesca.

He had grown very pale, and spoke with such earnestness that Corona hesitated no longer.
"I would certainly advise you to think no more about it, if you are sure that you cannot be happy with her." Giovanni drew a long breath, the blood returned to his face, and his hands unlocked themselves.
"I will think no more about it," he said.