Jerome thought miserably that she did not hear, or, hearing, agreed with what he said.
Soon, however, Lucina spoke, without turning her head.

"I can understand," said she, with the gentlest and yet the most complete dignity, for she spoke from her goodness of heart, "that a person has often to do what he thinks best, and not explain it to any other person, because it is between him and his own conscience.

I am quite sure that you had some very good reason for not coming to see me that Sunday night, and you need not tell me what it was.

I am very glad that you did not, as I feared, stay away because I had not treated you with courtesy.

Now, we will say no more about it." With that, the path being a little wider, she came to his side again, and looked up in his face with the most innocent friendliness and forgiveness in hers.
Jerome could have gone down at her feet and worshipped her.
"What a beautiful night it is!" said Lucina, tilting her face up towards the stars.
"Beautiful!" said Jerome, looking at her, breathlessly.
"I never saw the stars so thick," said she, musingly.