His eyes lightened slowly, and his lips parted a little.
"You are not tired of Regina yet," she said.
"No!" he laughed.

"But you were right," he added, almost immediately.
"I knew I was," she answered, but not as she had expected to say the words when she had seen him come in.
She dared not hope to keep him always, but she had not lost him yet, and that was enough for the moment.

The weight had fallen from her heart, and the pain was gone.
"Was it what I thought ?" she asked softly.

"Does your stepfather wish to separate us ?" "For a little while," Marcello answered.

"He says we ought to part for a few weeks, so that I may find out whether I love you enough to marry you!" "And he almost persuaded you that he was right," said Regina.