He said I might take you away." Gianbattista smiled as he spoke, and looked into Lucia's eyes.

She returned his gaze rather sadly, and only shook her head and shrugged her shoulders for a reply.
"If we took him at his word," suggested Gianbattista.
"Just so--it would be a fine affair!" exclaimed Lucia ironically.
"After all, he said so," argued the young man.

"What does it matter whether he meant it ?" "Things are going badly for us," sighed his companion.

"It was different a year ago.

You must have done something to displease him, Tista.