"You see, Tista, that it will not be proper for you to sit and hold Lucia's hand when she is called Signora Carnesecchi, so you may as well get used to it." For a moment there was a dead silence in the room.

Then Lucia and Gianbattista both sprang to their feet.
"What!" screamed the young girl in an agony of terror.

"Carnesecchi! what do you mean ?" "_Infame!_ Wretch!" shouted Gianbattista, beside himself with rage as he sprang forward to grasp Marzio in his hands.
But the priest had risen too, and placed himself between the young man and Marzio to prevent any struggle.

"No violence!" he cried in a tone that dominated the angry voices and the hysterical weeping of Maria Luisa, who sat rocking herself in her chair.

Gianbattista stepped back and leaned against the wall, choking with anger.