Who can divide us ?" "No one," answered the young maid firmly.

"But many things may happen before we are united for ever." He was not subject to presentiments, and his self-confident nature abhorred the prospect of trouble.

He had arrived at his conclusion by a logical process, and there seemed no escape from it.

As he had told Lucia, he knew the character of the chiseller better than the women of the household could know it, for he had been his constant companion for years, and was not to be deceived in his estimate of Marzio's temper.

A man's natural disposition shows itself most clearly when he is in his natural element, at his work, busied in the ordinary occupations of his life.