Gianbattista, who was sensitive where she was concerned, looked at her, and understood that he had destroyed something in which she had wished to believe.
"Well, well, my heart, perhaps you are right," he said softly, putting his arm round her.
"No, you do not believe it," she answered.
"For you, I will believe in anything, in everything--even in Sor Marzio's devotions," he said, pressing her to his side.

"Only--you see, darling, he was talking in such a way a few moments before--that it seemed impossible--" "Nothing is quite impossible," replied Lucia.

"The heart beats fast.
There may be a whole world between one beat and the next." "Yes, my love," assented Gianbattista, looking tenderly into her eyes.
"But do you think that between all the beatings of our two hearts there could ever be a world of change ?" "Ah--that is different, Tista.

Why should we change?
We could only change for worse if we began to love each other less, and that is impossible.

But papa! Why should he not change for the better?
Who can tell you, Tista, dear, that in a moment, in a second, after you were gone, he was not sorry for all he had done?
It may have been in an instant.