A long silence followed.
"It is of no use to talk about it, my child," said the Marchesa, languidly taking up a novel from the table beside her.

"The thing is done.

You are engaged, and you must either marry San Miniato or take the consequences and be pointed at as a faithless girl for the rest of your life." "And who knows of this engagement, if it is one, but you and I and he ?" asked Beatrice, standing still.

"Would you tell, or I?
Or would he dare ?" "He would be perfectly justified," answered the Marchesa.

"He is a gentleman, however, and would be considerate.