She had now got over the difficulty of speaking on the subject to Maurice.

She knew so well that he was trustworthy, and for the rest, was he not just the same as a brother?
"He might have waited a year," she murmured.

"You cannot imagine how happy I have been lately, thinking I must see him soon!" "Cannot I ?" Maurice cried desperately.

"Listen to me, Lucia! I, too, have been happy lately.

I have been living on a false hope.